Kaolin, also known as china clay, is a fine, white clay mineral used widely across industries such as ceramics, paper, paint, rubber, and cosmetics. Due to its ultra-fine particle size and natural tendency to form soft agglomerates, kaolin presents unique challenges during screening—particularly when targeting extremely fine mesh sizes such as 300 mesh (approximately 48 microns). In such cases, traditional screening equipment often struggles with efficiency, screen clogging, and throughput.
To overcome these issues, the Airflow vibrating screen, also referred to as a centrifugal sifter, offers an advanced solution specifically designed for fine, lightweight, and agglomerated powders like kaolin. It enables high-precision impurity removal, prevents screen blockage, and supports continuous operation—all of which are critical for maintaining product quality in high-volume production environments.
Sieving Objective: Impurity Removal at 300 Mesh
The primary goal in sieving kaolin is removing impurities and oversized particles that can affect the consistency, texture, and purity of the end product. At 300 mesh, only the finest particles are allowed to pass through, ensuring optimal performance in downstream applications such as ultra-smooth ceramics or high-gloss coatings.
However, due to kaolin's tendency to absorb moisture and form soft, pseudo-agglomerates, conventional vibrating screens are often ineffective at such a fine level. This is where the airflow vibrating screen truly excels.
Key Advantages of the Airflow Vibrating Screen for Kaolin
1. Breaks Apart Pseudo-Agglomerates During Sieving
Kaolin often arrives at processing facilities in a semi-lumpy form due to compaction, static charge, or mild humidity—forming what are known as pseudo-agglomerates. These clumps are not chemically bonded and can be re-separated, but only with the right equipment.
Inside the airflow vibrating screen, a rotating blade assembly disperses the material through a cylindrical screen under airflow pressure. This mechanical-centrifugal force not only propels the material but also gently deagglomerates the clumps, restoring free-flowing powder consistency without damaging the particles. This enables efficient sieving at 300 mesh, which would otherwise be impractical.
2. Self-Cleaning Mesh via Cyclonic Airflow
Another major challenge when screening fine powders like kaolin is screen blinding—where particles clog mesh openings and reduce throughput. The airflow vibrating screen solves this with a built-in cyclonic air cleaning system.
As the screen operates, high-speed airflow continuously scours the mesh surface, removing any particles attempting to stick or clog the openings. This automatic mesh cleaning not only maintains screening efficiency over time but also significantly reduces the need for manual intervention or cleaning downtime.
3. On-Site Performance Testing Available
Recognizing that kaolin can vary significantly in moisture, fineness, and clumping behavior, many equipment manufacturers now offer on-site factory testing. This allows potential customers to bring their actual kaolin material and observe real-time sieving performance.
This testing demonstrates:
The machine’s ability to break down agglomerates
Actual throughput at 300 mesh
Screen integrity and maintenance ease
The level of impurity removal
For quality-sensitive industries, this “try before you buy” approach adds confidence and transparency to the purchasing decision.
Additional Benefits
Dust-free and closed-loop design ensures a clean, safe working environment compliant with industrial hygiene standards.
Low-noise and low-vibration operation makes it suitable for integration into modern production lines.
Quick disassembly for screen change or cleaning without special tools.
Compatible with high-grade stainless steel construction for industries with GMP or FDA compliance needs.
