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Calcium Carbonates

Calcium Carbonate is the chemical name associated with high purity limestones and marbles, and specifically relates to the mineral calcite (CaCO₃). Limestone is found extensively on all continents and is mined or quarried from deposits that range in age from Precambrian to Holocene. However, the occurrence of chemical grade or high purity limestone is much less common, representing less than 10% of the carbonate reserves currently recovered.

Franklin limestones are uniquely selected for their exceptional high purity, averaging from 97.0%-99.5% calcium carbonate in all locations. Extremely low levels of magnesium, iron and silica and the rounded, amorphous nature of the limestone particles (as opposed to the crystalline angularity of marble) greatly reduce abrasive wear in industrial processing machinery. The high purity of the Franklin limestone and the soft, ready availability of its elemental calcium are some of the major reasons that Franklin is the number one supplier of animal feed calcium in the southern United States.

Franklin Industrial Minerals' high purity chemical grade limestone mines and processing plants are located at Crab Orchard and Anderson, Tennessee, Lowell, Florida, Nolanville and Crawford, Texas. In addition, Franklin processes high purity limestone at Dalton, Georgia and Alabaster, Alabama and operates a large crushed stone plant at Nolanville, Texas.

Franklin's chemical grade limestone operations produce a broad range of products for a variety of industrial and agricultural applications. These include glass, fiberglass batch raw materials, chemical processing and enhancement , environmental remediation, fluidized bed combustion, animal feed supplements, fertilizer production and foundry and steel fluxes. Franklin also produces chemical grade fillers and extenders for paints, plastics, rubber compounds including latex carpet backing, ceramic and vinyl tiles and roofing shingles, water and wastewater treatment, as well as a number of unique applications. Two of Franklin's plants, Texas Aggregates and Crab Orchard, Tennessee, also produce crushed stone and sized aggregates for highway, commercial and residential construction. Use our PSD table to assist you.

Alumina Trihydrates

Alumina Trihydrate (ATH) is a crystalline aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃ and appears as a dry, light colored powder that functions as a flame retardant, smoke-suppressant, and filler extender. ATH comes in a variety of grades and particle sizes and may be incorporated at fairly high loading levels. ATH is used in polymer systems such as plastics, rubber, and adhesives where it acts as a heat sink absorbing the heat of the fire. This greatly slows the breakdown of the polymer into the gaseous fuel elements needed to maintain combustion. Once the ATH has absorbed its maximum heat, approximately 280 cal/g., it decomposes into anhydrous alumina and water. This water of hydration is 34.6% by weight, is released as steam and dilutes the combustible gases. This release of water occurs at about 230^oC and is 80% complete at 330^oC.

Franklin manufactures ATH products at the Dalton, Georgia Specialty Products Division, and markets its DH line of products through direct sales and an extensive distributor network. Franklin uses only ATH crude with high-brightness properties and low-soda content, enhancing its acceptability for a diverse group of market applications including plastic wire and cable compounds and a wide variety of other plastics, rubber, and latex (carpet backing) compounding applications. As with all Franklin plants, Dalton ATH products are manufactured under strict statistical process controls and a process environment modeled along ISO 9000 guidelines. Use our PSD table to assist you.