Industrial Talc Powder — 200 Mesh

Hydrated Magnesium Silicate Functional Filler — Supplied for Industrial Applications Only

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Industrial Grade · 200 Mesh
Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂

200 Mesh Talc for Polymers, Coatings and Ceramics

Talc Content ≥ 90% · D98 < 75 µm

Talc is the softest mineral on the Mohs scale and one of the most useful platy fillers in industry. Its lamellar structure aligns under shear, which is why it stiffens polypropylene, controls sag and sanding in primers, and improves thermal-shock resistance in ceramic bodies. PIME supplies 200-mesh industrial talc through an audited supply network, with a Certificate of Analysis on every shipment.

PIME supplies talc for industrial applications only. We do not supply talc for cosmetics, body powders or personal care. See the safety and compliance notice below.

Typical Specification (Industrial Grade, 200 Mesh) Value
Talc Content≥ 90%
SiO₂58 – 62%
MgO29 – 32%
CaO≤ 1.5%
Al₂O₃≤ 1.5%
Fe₂O₃≤ 0.8%
Loss on Ignition5 – 7%
Brightness (ISO 2469)≥ 88%
Fineness200 mesh · D98 < 75 µm
Moisture≤ 0.5%
pH (10% slurry)9.0 – 9.5
Oil Absorption28 – 45 g / 100 g
Specific Gravity2.7 – 2.8
Mohs Hardness1
AsbestosNon-asbestiform · screened per lot
Packaging25 kg bags, 1 MT bulk bags, containers
Supply TermsFOB origin port · CIF destination · Ex-warehouse Australia

Values are typical for the industrial grade and are confirmed lot by lot on the Certificate of Analysis. Tighter specifications can be sourced against your requirement.

Available Grades

Talc 200# — Standard Industrial

The workhorse grade. D98 below 75 µm, brightness ≥ 88%. Suits paint extenders, rubber compounding, agricultural carriers and general filler duty.

Talc 200# — High Brightness

Selected low-iron feed giving brightness ≥ 92% for white and pastel coatings where tint strength and colour neutrality matter.

Polymer-Grade Micronised Talc

Finer cuts at 325 to 800 mesh with controlled top-cut and high aspect ratio for polypropylene compounding and masterbatch.

Ceramic & Steatite Grade

Low-iron, low-calcium talc for cordierite and steatite bodies, kiln furniture and thermal-shock-resistant ceramic formulations.

Applications

Polypropylene & Polymer Compounding

Plastics are the largest single end use for talc worldwide. At 15 to 40% loading in polypropylene, talc platelets align in the flow direction and raise flexural modulus and heat deflection temperature while cutting shrinkage and warpage. Talc also nucleates crystallisation, shortening cycle times. This is the basis of talc-filled PP for automotive interior trim, under-bonnet components, appliance housings and battery cases.

Paints, Primers & Coatings

Talc is one of the most widely used functional extenders in coatings. Its platy habit reinforces the film, improves crack resistance and delivers the easy-sanding character that primers and undercoats depend on. High oil absorption makes it an effective matting and suspension aid in interior emulsions. For exterior and anti-corrosion systems, PIME generally recommends muscovite mica; for high-loading cost-driven extension, dolomite powder.

Ceramics, Steatite & Refractories

Talc supplies MgO to cordierite and steatite bodies, where it dramatically improves thermal-shock resistance — the reason it appears in kiln furniture, catalytic-converter substrates, cooktop ware and electrical porcelain. In wall-tile bodies it lowers firing temperature and widens the firing range.

Rubber, Cables & Polymers

As a semi-reinforcing filler and anti-tack dusting agent, talc improves extrusion smoothness and dimensional stability in rubber goods, and its low electrical conductivity and platy barrier effect suit cable sheathing compounds.

Paper & Pitch Control

In kraft and mechanical pulp lines, talc's organophilic surface adsorbs sticky pitch and resin that would otherwise deposit on rollers and wires. It also serves as a filler and coating pigment improving sheet smoothness and printability. Paper accounts for roughly one seventh of global talc demand.

Agriculture & Fertiliser Handling

Talc is used as an inert carrier and diluent for agricultural formulations, and as an anti-caking and flow agent in blended fertilisers and seed treatments — an application well suited to Australian bulk-handling conditions, where humidity-driven caking is a persistent problem.

Why Source Talc Through PIME?

Asbestos Screening on Every Lot

Talc and asbestos can occur together geologically, and Australia accepts no trace threshold at the border. We source from non-asbestiform deposits and supply lot-level screening documentation, with NATA-accredited testing in Australia arranged where a buyer or the ABF requires it.

Industrial Supply Position

We supply talc for polymers, coatings, ceramics, rubber, paper and agriculture only — never for cosmetics or personal care. A clear, documented scope of supply is easier for your compliance team to sign off than a general-purpose one.

Formulate Across the Range

Talc rarely works alone. Because PIME also supplies dolomite, mica, quartz powder and barite, a formulation can be built around the right filler blend rather than the one material a single-mineral supplier happens to hold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PIME's talc tested for asbestos?

Yes. Talc and asbestos can occur together geologically, and Australia operates a zero-tolerance asbestos import regime with no accepted trace threshold. PIME sources talc only from deposits with a non-asbestiform mineralogy and supplies lot-level screening documentation identifying the material as non-asbestiform. Where a buyer or the Australian Border Force requires it, testing can be arranged through a NATA-accredited laboratory in Australia. Tolerance levels accepted in other countries are not accepted at the Australian border.

Does PIME supply cosmetic or personal-care grade talc?

No. PIME supplies talc for industrial applications only — polymers, paints and coatings, ceramics, rubber, paper and agricultural carrier use. We do not supply talc for cosmetics, body powders, personal care or any application involving direct or prolonged human contact. In 2024 the International Agency for Research on Cancer reclassified talc as Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans, on evidence largely associated with perineal body-powder use. Our supply position reflects that.

What does 200 mesh mean for talc, and what particle size does it correspond to?

200 mesh describes the sieve aperture the material passes: a 200-mesh screen has a 75 µm aperture, so 200-mesh talc is specified as D98 below 75 µm. The median particle size (D50) is typically in the 10 to 20 µm range, because the distribution includes particles well below the sieve aperture. For applications sensitive to particle size distribution, such as polypropylene compounding, request the laser-diffraction PSD report rather than relying on the mesh designation alone. See our mesh size guide for how mesh, microns and D50 relate.

Why is talc used in polypropylene compounding?

Talc is a platy mineral, and those platelets align in the flow direction during injection moulding. At loadings of 15 to 40% by weight it raises flexural modulus and heat deflection temperature substantially, improves dimensional stability, and reduces moulding shrinkage and warpage. It also acts as a nucleating agent, shortening cycle times. This combination is why talc-filled polypropylene dominates automotive interior and under-bonnet components, appliance housings and battery cases.

How does talc compare with dolomite and mica as a paint filler?

The three are complementary rather than interchangeable. Talc has the highest oil absorption of the three, typically 28 to 45 g per 100 g, and its platy structure delivers excellent sanding properties, matting and crack resistance — it suits primers, undercoats and interior matt emulsions. Dolomite has a much lower oil absorption of 14 to 18 g per 100 g, making it the more cost-efficient high-loading extender. Mica has the highest aspect ratio and superior UV and barrier performance, making it the choice for exterior and anti-corrosion systems. PIME supplies all three, so a formulation can be optimised rather than fitted to a single available filler.

What are typical lead times to Australia?

Approximately 30–45 days FOB origin port, or 50–65 days CIF to Australian east-coast ports, depending on sailing schedules. Because talc is subject to border asbestos controls, we recommend allowing time for documentation review on a first consignment — we prepare that pack before the vessel sails rather than after arrival.

Safety, Compliance & Scope of Supply

Industrial use only. PIME supplies talc for industrial applications and does not supply talc for cosmetics, body powders or personal care. In 2024 the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified talc as Group 2A — probably carcinogenic to humans (IARC Monographs Volume 136), based on limited evidence in humans associated principally with perineal body-powder use, together with sufficient evidence in experimental animals.

Asbestos. Talc can occur geologically alongside asbestiform minerals. Australia prohibits the import of asbestos and goods containing asbestos, and does not accept trace tolerances applied in other jurisdictions. PIME sources non-asbestiform material and provides lot-level screening documentation; testing by a NATA-accredited Australian laboratory can be arranged on request.

Dust. A current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is supplied with every consignment and is available on request. Talc is handled as a respirable dust hazard. Workers should follow Safe Work Australia guidance, use appropriate PPE, and implement dust-control measures in line with the Work Health and Safety Regulations.

Request the current SDS →

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