Comparative study shows microwave method improves mechanical properties in vermiculite, indicating better performance than thermal and chemical methods.
Vermiculite (VMT) expansion technology requires innovation to overcome its low efficiency and limited mechanical properties. Therefore, herein, a tunnel-type continuous microwave method was employed to optimize the VMT expansion process and enhance the performance and industrial value of the expanded VMT (EVMT). The microwave-expanded VMT (M-EVMT) exhibited minimal damage to the raw VMT structure compared with the thermal/chemical expansion methods, and at a 12 kW microwave power and 0.3 m min-1 conveyor belt speed, the raw VMT with 2.8-8 mm particle size could achieve larger interlayer microwave expansion and maintain its intact structure. Meanwhile, M-EVMT demonstrated unprecedented mechanical flexibility while maintaining a complete layered structure. This microwave method integrated mineral processing with circular economy, enhancing the energy efficiency, material performance, and industrial scalability of sustainable building materials.
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Shen et al. (2025) studied this question.
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