kaolin

/'keiəlin/

Thân thiện

A potter shapes a vase from white kaolin on a pottery wheel.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A fine, usually white clay: A type of soft, white clay formed by the weathering of aluminous minerals like feldspar. It is valued for its purity and is a key ingredient in many industrial and artistic applications.

Usage

• Primary Use: Kaolin is primarily used as a raw material in the production of ceramics, porcelain, and fine china.
• Industrial Use: It is widely employed as a filler or coating in paper manufacturing to improve gloss, opacity, and printability. It is also used as an absorbent in medicines and cosmetics, and as a pigment in paints and plastics.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The porcelain vase was made from high-quality kaolin.
  • The paper mill uses kaolin to give the paper a smooth, bright finish.
  • Kaolin is sometimes used in anti-diarrheal medications due to its absorbent properties.

Advanced Usage

• "China clay": A common synonym for kaolin, emphasizing its use in fine ceramics.
  • The region is famous for its deposits of china clay (kaolin).

Variants and Related Words

• Kaolinite (n): The specific mineral that is the primary constituent of kaolin clay.
  • Under a microscope, you can see the plate-like crystals of kaolinite.

Synonyms

• China clay
• Porcelain clay
• White clay

Related Phrases

• Kaolin poultice: A medicinal paste made from kaolin, used topically.
  • The doctor applied a kaolin poultice to reduce the inflammation.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a fine usually white clay formed by the weathering of aluminous minerals (as feldspar); used in ceramics and as an absorbent and as a filler (e.g., in paper)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• china clay
• china stone
• kaoline
• porcelain clay
• terra alba