Specialty Products: Kyanite Edition
Here at Kyanite Mining Corporation, most people know our standard products—but did you know we also offer a range of specialty kyanite and mullite products designed for highly specific applications? And while these unique materials represent a small percentage of our total production, they play a big role in helping customers achieve precision, performance, and efficiency.
In this first part of our two-part specialty product series, we’re shining a light on Micronized Kyanite, W35KA, W35KS, and Premium Grade Virginia Kyanite®—four highly specialized kyanite products designed to solve specific challenges in refractories, ceramics, and beyond.
Whether you’re troubleshooting castable flowability or need enhanced hot properties, these specialty products might just offer the solution you’ve been looking for. Let’s dig in…
Micronized Kyanite
What is it?
Micronized Kyanite is an ultra-fine version of our Virginia Kyanite®, representing less than 1% of our total sales. This specialty product is designed for applications where particle size is essential for precision, performance, and castable flowability.
How is it made?
Instead of standard grinding in our ball mill, we use an air jet mill. Here, kyanite particles collide with each other at high speeds, breaking down into ultra-fine particles. The result? A material that has a d50 that is finer than our standard K325, around 35 microns. We offer two sizes: KJ5M (d50=5-10 microns) and KJ4M (d50=3-5 microns). These products are more challenging and more costly to produce but provide some unique properties for specific applications.
What is it used for?
Micronized Kyanite is commonly used to provide fine mesh mullite to the matrix of a ceramic or refractory after firing, improving thermal shock resistance and resistance to chemical attack. Its ultra-fine sizing can also help alter the flowability of a castable.
Micronized Kyanite can also be used as a partial replacement for calcined alumina (learn more here), and in more specialized applications—particularly in refractory applications for aluminum metal—it can serve as a partial replacement for silica fume (read more here).
W35KA
What is it?
W35KA is a specialized grade of our standard 35-mesh kyanite, carefully screened to remove 15-30% of the finer particles, resulting in a coarser material.
How is it made?
To make W35KA, we take standard 35-mesh kyanite and screen out 15-30% of the fines. The removed material is then reincorporated into finer grades, while the remaining coarser kyanite becomes W35KA.
What is it used for?
W35KA is commonly used in applications where reduced water absorption is critical, such as in grog for pottery or castables requiring improved flow. Removing the finer particles can improve flowability and reduce nuisance dust in these applications.
W35KS
What is it?
W35KS is our standard 35-mesh kyanite that’s been heat-treated to remove residual carbon from the purification process which can cause problems in certain high-speed or high-precision applications.
How is it made?
After the initial process, the kyanite is heated at a high temperature to eliminate carbon residue. This also reduces its magnetic properties and changes its color from gray to a distinctive reddish pink. Internally, we call it “red feed.”
What is it used for?
Most customers use W35KS in grinding wheels where clean, residue-free material helps prevent slippage. It is also finding a niche in phosphate-bonded applications where lower magnetics are essential for success.
Premium Grade Virginia Kyanite®
What is it?
Our newest specialty product, Premium Grade Virginia Kyanite®, is an ultra-low-iron kyanite with iron oxide content below 0.19%.
How is it made?
Premium Grade Virginia Kyanite® starts with our standard process, then goes a step further. Along with the 24+ steps in our beneficiation process, the material undergoes additional refinement in the magnet house to remove even more iron. The result is a product that retains the same predictable expansion during mullite formation while delivering superior thermal properties.
What is it used for?
Lower iron means enhanced refractoriness, improved high-temperature strength, and reduced glass formation—ideal for extreme thermal environments such as refractories, foundry coatings, and kiln furniture. Its enhanced creep resistance and thermal shock performance make it a premium choice for these applications. It is currently only available in 35 mesh, but we are willing to have a discussion if you would like a finer size.
Looking Ahead
Interested in any of these specialty products—or a custom size you don’t see here? We’re here to help. Our team works with customers worldwide to develop tailored solutions for unique performance challenges.
Get in Touch: sales@kyanite.com | +1 (434) 983-2043
And stay tuned for Part 2 of our Specialty Product Series, where we’ll dive into Specialty Mullite Products!
