Factors affecting the physical and chemical properties of Argentine kaolins: Fid-Bau Portal

Factors affecting the physical and chemical properties of Argentine kaolins

Galazzo, Jorge L. / Cerro, Ramon L. / Depetris, Pedro J.

AbstractA number of physical and chemical parameters determined on a set of kaolin samples from the provinces of Chubut and Santa Cruz (Argentina) have been evaluated with a multivariate statistical method, to interpret the factors controlling the variation in their physical and chemical properties.Q-mode factor analysis showed that two factors account for almost 100% of the variance in the analysis. They represent brightness and particle size which classifies the samples between these two end members of an ideal series.R-mode, on the other hand, demonstrates that four factors account for over 82% of the total variance. They represent the control of the flow properties of suspensions by the chemical properties (Factor 1, with 33%); the control of additional flow properties by means of particle size distribution (Factor 2, with 18.8%); the factor affecting brightness (Factor 3, with 14.4%); and abrasiveness (Factor 4, with 15.8%). These factors indicate the main characteristics affecting their paper coating properties and suggest, as well, the main parameters to be measured in future surveys of the deposits.