• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Synonyms:

Hydrous magnesium silicate, (Mg3H2(SiO3)4), talc powder, cosmetic talc, french talc, montana talc, texas talc, vermont talc, industrial talc, tremolitic talc, steatite talc, fibrous non-tremolite talc, no asbestos talc, magnesium silicate talc, talcum, french chalk, soapstone, steatite, CAS# 14807-96-6, 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Designations:

a) Chemical Name:

Hydrous magnesium silicate

b) Chemical Formula:

3MgO*4SiO₂*H₂O 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) General Description:

a) A mineral which occurs naturally throughout the world. It has a platy structure

b) Talc is a metamorphic mineral resulting from the metamorphism of magnesian minerals such as serpentine, pyroxene, amphibole, olivine, in the presence of carbon dioxide and water. This is known as talc carbonation or steatization and produces a suite of rocks known as talc carbonates.

c) Talc is primarily formed via hydration and carbonation of serpentine, via the following reaction;
 serpentine + carbon dioxide = talc + magnesite + water
 Mg3Si2O5 (OH)4 + 3CO2 ? Mg3Si4O10 (OH)2 + 3 MgCO3 + 3 H2O

d) Talc can also be formed via a reaction between dolomite and silica, which is typical of skarnification of dolomites via silica-flooding in contact metamorphic aureoles, i.e., 

 dolomite + silica + water = talc + calcite + carbon dioxide
 CaMg(CO3)2 + 4 SiO2 + H2O = Mg3Si4O10 (OH)2 + 3 CaCO3 + 3 CO2 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Technical Information:

Visit this NIOSH Safety Website 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Chemical Purities Available (a natural ore):

Chemical Composition:

Silicon dioxide= 56.3% magnesium ore) Finely ground grades oxide= 30.7% and calcium oxide= 7.0% 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Grades Available:

 a) Ceramic grade (Coarse, medium & fine)
 b) Cosmetic grade
 c) Paint grades
 d) USP grade
 e) Soapstone grade
 f) Micronized grade
 g) Finely ground grade 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Typical Granulations Available:

Targets, tablets, pieces, granules and various powder granulations sized between 37 microns to 1.5 microns mean particle size 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Typical Physical Constants:

 Hegman Grind= 3- 6
 Density (g/cm3)= 2.7- 2.85
 Specific Gravity= 2.6- 2.85
 Oil Absorption= 30-55
 RI Values na=1.538 - 1.550 nß=1.575 - 1.594 n?=1.575 - 1.600
 Appearance= Translucent, Colorless, White, Pale green, Brown
 Surface Area= (m2/g) 4.3
 Fracture= Sub-Conchoidal
 Mohs Hardness= @20°C 1.0- 1.5
 pH= 8.4-9.4
 Crystallography=  Lamellar / Triclinic
 G.E. Brightness= 85- 93
 Refractive Index= 1.59- 1.60 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Typical Applications:

a) Lubricant, filler, reinforcement, electric and heat insulator, anti stick, anti cake, carrier, thickener, adsorbent, strengthener, ceramics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

b) Ground talc makes talcum powder. The massive variety (soapstone) is used for sinks, table tops, etc. Soapstone found a use in Babylonian days when signature cylinder seals were often carved from it.

c) The Egyptians also used it as a base for some of their blue faience figurines, which were then fired to fuse the glaze. California Indians also used it as sculpture material.  

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Packaging Options:

Bags, drums and bulk bags 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) TSCA (SARA Title III) Status:

Listed. For further information please call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at +1.202.554.1404 

• Talc Powder Safety Issues:

a) Several studies have established preliminary links between talc and pulmonary issues, lung cancer, skin cancer and ovarian cancer.

b) This is a major concern considering talc's widespread commercial and household use. In 1993, a US National Toxicology Program report found that cosmetic grade talc caused tumours in rats animal testing) forced to inhale talc for 6 hours a day, five days a week over at least 113 weeks, even though it contained no asbestos-like fibres.

c) Scientists have been aware of the toxicity of talc since the late 1960s, and in 1971 researchers found particles of talc embedded in 75 percent of the ovarian tumors studied. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers non-asbestiform talc, that is, talc which does not contain potentially carcinogenic asbestiform amphibole fibers, to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in cosmetics. Source: Wikipedia 

• Talc Powder (Hydrous Magnesium Silicate) Chemical Abstract Service Number:

CAS# 14807-96-6