Barium Sulphate is a common mineral and makes very attractive specimens. It often is an accessory mineral to other minerals and can make a nice backdrop to brightly colored crystals. At times bladed or tabular crystals of Barium Sulphate form a concentric pattern of increasingly larger crystals outward. This has the appearance of a flower and when colored red by iron stains, these formations are called “Desert Roses”. Because Baryte is so common, it can be confused for other minerals. Celestite (SrSO4) has the same structure as barite and forms very similar crystals.Barium Sulphate (BaSO4) is commonly known as Barytes.Barium Sulphate is available in natural and synthetic specifications, wherein the same is also known as Synthetic Barium / Blanc Fixe.
Properties / Advantages
 | O | High Purity | – | Stable, reproductive properties of end products. |
| O | Good Brightness | – | Neutral white tone, good hiding effect, consistent color of end product. |
| O | Low Moisture Absorption | – | Good molded surface, well suited for plastic paints. |
| O | Low Iron Content | – | Low Yellowness Index. |
| O | Low Polarity | – | Wetted more efficiently by vehicle; thereby producing better dispersion & stronger bond. |
Application Scope
- Used in Primers, Road Marking paints and Alkali Proof paints, etc.
- It is widely used in High grade Emulsion paints & Primers as an effective extender pigment. It has been able to replace 15%- 25% of TiO2 depending upon the paint formulation.
- By virtue of Barium Sulphate addition, which causes air filled voids to form and become an integral part of the film, opacity is significantly enhanced.
- Barium Sulphate is also used in plastic products.
- Barium Sulphate addition acts as effective spacers for maximizing opacity. As TiO2 particles tend to agglomerate, spacing agents like Barytes helps to minimize loss of the high refractive index interface.
- Because of internal void volume and open packing structure arising from irregular shape Barium Sulphate is more efficient in opacity enhancement in water based paints. Scrub resistance imparted by Barium Sulphate is improved as particle size is increased.
- The increased toughness of paint films containing Barium Sulphate is related to better wetting and adhesion. The relatively lower polarity Barium Sulphate is wetted more efficiently by vehicle; thereby producing better dispersion & stronger bond.
