PUMICE APPLICATIONS
Performance Functional Filler
Hess Pumice Products manufactures a non-crystalline silica (NCS) line of micronized, non-hazardous amorphous silica products as functional fillers and extenders for paints, coatings, caulking, rubber, and plastics.
Non-Crystalline Silica (NCS) Functional Fillers
APPLICATIONS
Applications for the Hess Pumice Non-Crystalline Silica fillers include:
| Industrial Coatings | Rubber Compounds |
| Architectural Paints | Plastics/Fiberglass Compounds |
| Wood Stains | Silicones/Caulkings |
| Exterior Coatings | Epoxies |
Our Microfine (NCS) Pumice Products
Hess Pumice provides five Non-Crystalline Silica products developed specifically as functional fillers for the paint/coatings and rubber/plastics industries. These micronized grades are broken out below, including links to the technical data sheet for each grade.
| FUNCTIONAL NCS FILLER GRADES | |
| GRADE | SIZE |
| NCS-3 |  Particle size average of 3 microns |
| NCS-5 | Particle size average of 5 microns |
| NCS-8 | Particle size average of 8 microns |
| NCS-10 | Particle size average of 10 microns |
| NCS-12 | Particle size average of 12 microns |
Our amorphous aluminum silicate products are non-hazardous (crystalline silica free to the detectable limit of .05%), inert, near white, pH of 7.2, with unit weights (loose) ranging from approximately 1.6 kg/gallon for the finer grades up to approximately 3 kg/gallon for the coarser grades.
Our NCS products provide outstanding scrub, burnish, and stain resistance properties due to the hardness of the particles (5.8 Mohs hardness).
Availability and Packaging
The Hess Pumice NCS products are shipped world-wide with standard packaging being in 20 kg poly-lined bags, 50 lb. poly-lined paper bags, 500 kg bulk bags, and 2000 lb. bulk bags.
Properties for Coatings
Hegman results start at approximately 5 for the coarser grades. Oil absorption ranges between 30% to 40% depending on the grade. These products are also known for their outstanding durability & weathering properties, including no known instance of frosting or chalking after several years exposed to the elements. NCS grades are also used in sheen control applications.
| Hegman | 5 to 8 |
| Oil Absorption % | 34 to 40 |
| Bulking Value | 0.05 |
| Moisture | less than one percent |
Hess NCS: Chemical Analysis & Properties
| CHEMICAL ANALYSIS | PHYSICAL PROPERTIES | ||
| SiO2: | 76.2% | pH: | 7.2 |
| AI203: | 13.5 | Radioactivity: | 0 |
| H2O: | < 1.0 | Softening Point: | 900° C |
| K2O: | 1.8 | Mohs: | 6 |
| Na2O: | 1.6 | Crystalline SiO2: | None Detected |
| FeO: | 0.1 | HMIS: | 0 |
| CaO: | 0.8 | GE Brightness | 84 |
| MgO: | 0.05 | ||
| TiO2: | 0.2 | ||
GET A PUMICE SAMPLE
If you’d like to sample a NCS grade (or several), we have all five NCS pumice grades available to purchase in small sample quantities via our Pumice Products Store.
If you’d like to run tests and trials using our pumice in your commercial product formulation or industrial process, please contact us at salesteam@hesspumice.com with your request. We look forward to answering your questions, helping you select the best grade for your process, or helping you explore the fit of pumice for your needs. PLEASE include your name, your company or organization, pertinent project details, ship-to address, and preferred contact information in the sample request email.
