10 Perlite Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for perlite as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 perlite manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked perlite companies as of November, 2024: 1.Carolina Perlite Company, 2.Gulf Perlite, 3.Alfa Chemistry.
Table of Contents
What Is Perlite?
Perlite is an artificial foam made from obsidian, perlite, and other rocks that have been treated at high temperatures to form a granular material.
It is used for horticultural, industrial, and building materials. Perlite is made by rapidly evaporating the water contained in rocks to form a porous structure and is extremely lightweight.
It is mainly used for horticultural purposes, but it is also used for industrial and building materials due to its excellent heat insulation, heat retention, and fire resistance properties due to its porous structure. The microstructure of steel obtained by slow cooling of carbon steel or alloy steel from the austenitic state is also called perlite, but this article will discuss perlite, which is a rock foam.
Uses of Perlite
The uses of perlite can be classified into three main categories.
1. Horticultural Use
Perlite is used as a culture medium and potting stone. It is widely used as a soil conditioner because it is very lightweight and has various properties. When using perlite, it is recommended to mix about 10~20% of perlite to the total soil.
2. Filter Aid
Perlite came into use in the 1950s as an alternative to diatomaceous earth filtration aids. It is chemically very stable and is used as a catalyst and carrier. It is also often used to separate solids from gases.
3. Building Materials, Heat Insulating Materials, Etc.
In recent years, perlite has found increasing use in insulation and filler materials rather than as a filtration aid. As a porous material, it is lightweight, insulating, fireproof, and soundproof. For this reason, it is often used in siding boards for wall materials.
As a heat insulator, perlite is also used on a large scale in the refrigerated and frozen storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks and ships. In addition, perlite can be added to cement to produce a light, strong mortar. In high-rise condominiums and buildings, the addition of perlite has made it possible to produce lightweight concrete that maintains its strength, reducing the costs of transportation, production, and raw materials.
Other applications for perlite include additives for resin products, dental applications, seal materials, matting agents for paints, silicon rubber, and paper manufacturing.
Properties of Perlite
Two types of perlite gemstones are used: perlite and obsidian. Each has its characteristics and is used in a way that takes advantage of those characteristics.
1. Nacreous Perlite
Nacreous perlite is a porous particle obtained by processing nacreous rock at high temperatures. Perlite has a high water content, resulting in a spongy, porous structure. Because of its excellent water retention and permeability, it is used in soils with poor water holding capacity.
2. Obsidian Perlite
Obsidian perlite is obtained by heating black-green obsidian at high temperatures to evaporate water. Since obsidian perlite contains less water than perlite, the heat treatment produces numerous microscopic pores. These microscopic pores are difficult for water to penetrate and therefore have excellent drainage properties. It also possesses ion-exchange properties that change it into mineral water, which has the effect of preventing root rot. Because of these characteristics, perlite is often used in soils with poor drainage.
Other Information on Perlite
1. The Difference Between Perlite and Zeolite
Perlite is made by heat-treating glassy volcanic rock, so its main components are silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, potassium oxide, and sodium oxide, which are found in rocks and ores.
Zeolite, on the other hand, is an aluminosilicate, and its main constituents are silicon, aluminum, and oxygen. Although the elemental composition is similar to that of perlite, there are differences in molecular structure and properties.
The differences between perlite and zeolite are compared in horticultural applications. For example, perlite is used to regulate soil moisture content. If the soil drains well and dries out quickly, perlite is used for its water retention properties. If the soil drains poorly and plant roots rot, obsidian perlite is used for its drainage properties.
Zeolite, on the other hand, is used to provide aeration and nutrients to the soil. Because it is porous and has moderate air permeability, mixing it with soil improves plant growth by supplying sufficient oxygen to plant roots. In addition, the amount of fertilizer can be reduced because the minerals leached from zeolite become nutrients for plants.
2. Dangers of Perlite
Since perlite is originally a rock, it is not particularly hazardous when used normally. Inhaling large amounts of perlite dust through the nose or mouth can lead to pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis is a disease caused by the accumulation of dust in the respiratory system. There are no subjective symptoms in the early stages of the disease, but over time, symptoms such as cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing may appear.
List of 10 Perlite Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- India
- United States
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Carolina Perlite Company
Perlite
Manufacturer Overview
Carolina Perlite Company, founded in 1949, is a perlite manufacturer based in Gold Hill, North Carolina, United States. As member of the Perlite Institute and global association of perlite applicators, expanders, and miners, the company produces lightweight, odorless, and non-combustible perlite granules of varying densities and sizes. These granules are used in non-load-bearing walls, sound-absorbing walls, fire insulation, and as growing media in the agricultural and horticultural sectors. The company also produces perlite aggregates for industrial purposes, including air and liquid filtration, oil adsorption for pollution control and cleanup, and water quality management.
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Supreme Perlite
Perlite
Manufacturer Overview
Supreme Perlite, founded in 1954, is a perlite manufacturer based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The company's product range includes agricultural- and horticultural-grade perlites, designed for organic gardening, soil conditioning, and water conservation. The company also produces construction-grade perlite for chimney filling, fireproofing, and loose-fill insulation. It further offers industrial-grade perlites, commonly used for commercial adsorbents, cryogenic tank insulation, and liquid waste absorption. In the field of water management, the company produces expanded perlites utilized as adsorption products and commercial filteraids. The company is notably a charter member of the Perlite Institute, a global association of perlite applicators, expanders, and miners.
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Whittemore Company
Perlite
Manufacturer Overview
Whittemore Company, Inc., founded in 1919, is an American manufacturer based in Roslindale, Massachusetts, providing perlite and vermiculite products. The company’s perlite and vermiculite products, made from natural minerals, are both light and fireproof. These products find applications in the construction, horticultural, and industrial sectors, such as to support plant growth, fill insulations in masonry walls, and help the processing of food, beer, and wine. The company also offers custom blending with materials, such as cement and plaster, as well as custom packaging.
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NorCal Perlite Inc.
Perlite
Company Overview
NorCal Perlite Inc., founded in 1986, is a perlite manufacturer and distributor based in Richmond, California, United States. The company, operating in both domestic and international markets, including Canada and Asia, offers expanded perlite products under the brand NorLite. In the horticultural sector, these perlites are utilized to enhance soil structure, increase water retention, and serve as growth media for both outdoor and indoor plants. It also provides perlite products as aggregates in concrete, loose-fill, and plaster insulation for the construction industry. In the environmental sector, the company offers perlite for use as filter media and sludge absorbents.
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Aztec Perlite Company, Inc.
Perlite
Company Overview
Aztec Perlite Company Inc., founded in 1976, is a perlite manufacturer, supplier, and distributor based in Escondido, California, United States. The company produces expanded perlite utilized in horticulture as growing media for indoor, outdoor, and hydroponic cultivation. It also offers construction-grade perlite, commonly used in insulation, pipe coating and leveling, and tilt-up paneling. It further provides odorless and insoluble perlite aggregates as liquid filtration aids in the chemical, food processing, and water treatment sectors. The company also produces custom perlites with varying granule sizes and bulk densities for agricultural, environmental, and insulation applications.
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Amol Minechem Ltd.
Perlite
Manufacturer Overview
Amol Minechem Limited, established in 1979 as Amol Dicalite Limited, is a perlite manufacturer based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The company specializes in perlite products, offering both perlite ores and expanded perlites. These products cater to various industries, including ceramics, foundries, and steel manufacturing. It also offers perlite filteraids, marketed under the Perflow brand, commonly used for liquid filtering in beverage, food, and medicine industries. The company further produces perlite products for the agricultural and horticultural sectors, commonly used for root growth and soil-based cultivation, as well as perlite solutions for thermal and cryogenic insulation.
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Alfa Chemistry
Perlite
Manufacturer Overview
Alfa Chemistry, founded in the year 2015 is based in New York, USA as a biotechnology company and manufacturer of graphene materials. Their product portfolio includes graphene oxide, CVD graphene film, graphene modification services, graphene series, graphene-like material, carbon nanomaterials, quantum dots, upcoming nanoparticles, and graphene transfer services. The company also provides services in custom manufacturing, and graphene analysis with quality assurance. The products are used in various industries which include energy, digital electronics, environment, textile, coating, and biomedical science.
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Gulf Perlite
Perlite
Manufacturer Overview
Gulf Perlite LLC, established in 2010, is a manufacturer based in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, providing perlite and vermiculite products. The company provides expanded perlite and exfoliated vermiculite products for various applications in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, including hydroponics, landscaping, and greenhouse nurseries. Perlite aggregates are also utilized in the construction sector, commonly for internal partition building and plaster insulation. The company further offers perlite concrete blocks (PCBs), functioning as thermal insulators and structural supports against various loads. It also produces perlite pipes and boards for use in high-temperature systems, such as sulfur conveying pipes.
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Imerys S.A.
Perlite
Manufacturer Overview
Imerys S.A. is based in Paris, France, and is a processor and manufacturer of minerals for the industrial sector that was originally established as Peñarroya in 1880 before rebranding in 1990. The company offers its Aurora-brand mineral additives for adhesives or coatings, its C-Nergy brand synthetic graphite powders for fuel cells or batteries, and its Alodur branded alumina-based abrasives for blasting or grinding processes. The company operates internationally, with over 16,000 employees and locations in more than 40 countries.
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Perlite Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina Perlite Company |
16.3%
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| 2 | Gulf Perlite |
16.1%
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| 3 | Alfa Chemistry |
11.6%
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| 4 | NorCal Perlite Inc. |
9.0%
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| 5 | Whittemore Company |
9.0%
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| 6 | Santosh Chemicals Co. |
8.6%
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| 7 | Amol Minechem Ltd. |
8.2%
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| 8 | Aztec Perlite Company, Inc. |
8.2%
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| 9 | Supreme Perlite |
7.7%
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| 10 | Imerys S.A. |
5.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the perlite page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
- Amol Minechem Ltd.: 1979 (45 years ago)
- Aztec Perlite Company, Inc.: 1976 (48 years ago)
- Santosh Chemicals Co.: 1970 (54 years ago)
Company with a History
- Carolina Perlite Company: 1949 (75 years ago)
- Supreme Perlite: 1954 (70 years ago)
- Santosh Chemicals Co.: 1970 (54 years ago)
Perlite Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
- Carolina Perlite Company
- Supreme Perlite
- Whittemore Company
- NorCal Perlite Inc.
- Aztec Perlite Company, Inc.
Global Distribution of Perlite Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
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5 | 62.5% |
India
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2 | 25.0% |
| United States | 1 | 12.5% |
