Manufacturing and Production

Lime and Gypsum Products Manufacturing

Lime and gypsum are both made by driving water or carbon dioxide out of a mineral with heat, and both are ruined by the same thing, taking the calcination too far or not far enough. This course covers controlling that. Delegates work through limestone quality, calcination chemistry and the kiln types used, with reactivity as the property that determines what quicklime is good for. Slaking is covered including hydrator operation, heat of reaction and the fineness and stability of the resulting hydrate. Lime applications across construction, water treatment and metallurgy are addressed so producers understand what each customer needs. Gypsum follows: rock quality, calcination to hemihydrate, and the difference between stucco grades. Plaster and plasterboard manufacture are covered, including board line operation, paper bonding, setting control and drying. Additives and retarders are addressed. Testing follows for reactivity, available lime, setting time and board strength. The course closes on energy consumption, on storage and moisture protection, and on product consistency.