Gypsum Grinding Project for Building Gypsum Board Production (22 TPH, 120 Mesh)
Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) is a versatile non-metallic mineral widely used in the construction industry, particularly for manufacturing building gypsum boards—lightweight, fire-resistant, and easy to install. This article focuses on a gypsum grinding project in Texas, USA, serving a regional gypsum board manufacturer. The project processes natural gypsum into 120-mesh powder at 22 TPH, a critical step in producing “calcined gypsum” (CaSO₄·0.5H₂O), the main component of gypsum boards.
Project Context and Requirements
The US gypsum board market demands over 30 billion square feet of boards annually, with natural gypsum as the primary raw material. The client’s gypsum board plant requires 528 tons of 120-mesh gypsum powder per day (22 TPH × 24 hours) to produce 1.2 million square feet of boards. The 120-mesh (125 μm) fineness is specified because it balances two key factors: finer powder calcines more quickly (reducing energy use), but overly fine powder (≥150 mesh) increases dust during board production. Additionally, the powder must have a moisture content of <1% to prevent clumping during calcination.
Another challenge was powder agglomeration during storage—solved by installing vibrators on the silo walls and adding a small amount of talc (0.5%) as an anti-caking agent (approved by the steel mill for desulfurization use).
In conclusion, this dolomite-calcium carbonate co-grinding project demonstrates the value of mineral blending in industrial applications. By optimizing particle size, composition, and process efficiency, it delivers tangible benefits to both the steel mill and the environment.
