Abstract
Vermiculite is a natural clay that has significant exfoliation characteristics. The exfoliated vermiculite has much lighter density and water retaining properties that makes it suitable for lightweight construction, insulation, and horticulture applications. In the present study, vermiculite ore of Swat region, Pakistan was subjected to exfoliation in a rotary kiln. The exfoliated vermiculite was characterized in detail for physical, morphological, and mineralogical properties, before and after exfoliation. The optimum temperature where lowest density was observed for various size fractions of exfoliated vermiculite was 750 °C. Vermiculite, hydrobiotite and mica were found to be the major mineral phases in the raw and exfoliated vermiculite. The exfoliated vermiculite was then blended with unsaturated polyester resin in the resin: vermiculite ratios of 65:35, 60:40, 55:45, and 50:50, to produce lightweight exfoliated vermiculite composite samples. Analysis of physical and mechanical properties of the composite samples like density, water absorption, compressive strength, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity showed that a suitable resin: vermiculite ratio of lightweight exfoliated vermiculite composite panel may be selected for a particular application.
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