Soapstone – the rock that talc powder comes from – feels smooth and slippery to the touch. That softness and its plate-like structure are exactly what make it useful in industry.
What it is
Soap stone powder is finely ground talc, a soft magnesium silicate mineral. It is chemically quite inert, hydrophobic and has flat, slippery particles.
Uses in paper mills
Pitch and stickies control
Talc particles attract sticky pitch from wood and stickies from recycled fibre, wrapping them so they pass harmlessly through the sheet instead of building deposits on felts and rolls. It is often used alongside stickies control chemicals.
Filler
Talc can be used as a filler for smoothness and softness in some grades, often blended with china clay or calcite.
Uses in detergents
In detergent cakes and bars, soapstone works as a filler that improves texture and feel and helps control cost. See our detergent binders.
Other industries
- Paints & coatings: improves sanding, suspension and film properties.
- Ceramics: used in wall tile and body formulations.
- Rubber & plastics: as a reinforcing filler and anti-tack powder.
- Cosmetics & personal care: in powders (with suitable cosmetic grades).
Benefits
- Soft and non-abrasive – gentle on equipment.
- Controls stickiness in many processes.
- Cost-effective filler.
- Chemically stable.
Quality points
- Whiteness – matters for paper and white products.
- Particle size – finer grades for paper and paints, coarser for some fillers.
- Purity – low grit and low impurities.
- Moisture – dry powder flows and disperses better.
Buying tips
Match the grade to the job: a pitch-control grade for paper is not the same as a filler grade for detergent bars. Ask for samples and consistent lots, packed in 50 Kg bags.
Need soapstone powder? Tell us your application and quantity – we will suggest the right grade and quote. Ask about soapstone →