Main navigation BUSINESS GROUP FINANCE TALENT NEWS & STORIES MEDIA EN FR MINERALS AND MORE HALLOYSITE Halloysite is a relatively rare natural form of kaolinite, appreciated by high-end tableware manufacturers over the world for the high-whiteness and translucent qualities it confers. KEY FIGURES #1 European supplier of mineral solutions for tableware USING HALLOYSITE FOR FINE TABLEWARE FABRICATION Halloysite is a natural form of very white, kaolinite. Like kaolinite, halloysite is an aluminosilicate, however it has a tubular crystal structure, which is markedly different from the booklet or platelet crystal structure of kaolinite. Halloysite and kaolinite are ubiquitous in soil and weathered rock, where they occur in a variety of particle shapes. They typically form through the hydrothermal alteration of aluminosilicate minerals and can occur intermixed with other minerals in Kaolin rocks. Large halloysite specific deposits are relatively rare, however. Due to its high whiteness, high aspect ratio and nanosize halloysite is particularly sought after by ceramic tableware producers for its translucent effect in fine porcelain and bone china. The tubular shape also helps prevent sag before firing. Halloysite is also traditionally used as a carrier in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, a filler in plastics, particularly PVC, and as a suspension agent in paints, inks and filters. 1 / 3 Our Matauri Bay Quarry, New Zealand Halloysite is an aluminosilicate clay mineral with the same chemical formula as kaolin Al2Si2O5(OH)4 2H2O but with water (H2O) intercalated in its clay structure. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES High whiteness High translucency Tubular structure Nanosize High aspect ratio Low iron and titanium content 1 / 2 A Halloysite rock SERVING THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS BRANDS Imerys operates a high-value, high-purity halloysite deposit in New Zealand producing consistent quality aluminous halloysite with low levels of iron oxide to serve the ceramics industry. Our customers include some of the most prestigious brands of porcelain and bone china tableware worldwide. A BENCHMARK FOR FINE TABLEWARE Imerys halloysites are prized for the manufacture of thin porcelain, bone china, fine china and aluminous tableware where the combination of tubular shape and low iron and titanium content produces fine ceramic ware presenting exceptional whiteness and translucency. Its fine particle size also makes halloysite a useful suspension agent in glaze preparations. This tableware is made with Halloysite Imerys halloysites from our New Zealand deposit are recognized across the world for their high purity. We will continue to process our halloysite products for ceramics to provide a high level of consistency that our customers can depend on. CERAMICS CONTACT GROUP FINANCE TALENT MEDIA Follow us © Imerys 2021 Cookies Policy Personal Data Legal Terms WE USE COOKIES Our website uses cookies to allow for a personalized experience on our website and improve your user experience. For more information about our cookies please read our Cookie preferences. Mandatory Cookies These cookies are essential to enable you to navigate our website and use its features. These cookies are session-specific and expire after your visit to the website. Performance Cookies These cookies allow us to improve the user experience & performance of our site for our visitors, by measuring website usage statistics such as visits, top pages, and traffic. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Accept all Save my preferences