Within the perlite expansion furnace—commonly referred to as a "perlite rocket" due to its high-temperature, vertical shaft design—the crushed perlite ore is subjected to rapid thermal treatment. Upon entering the furnace, the material is exposed to temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, initiating a phase transition where the perlite softens into a plastic state. At this point, the entrapped crystalline water within the ore vaporizes, triggering a violent expansion process.
This thermal expansion results in a dramatic increase in particle volume—typically by a factor of 15 to 20 times—while simultaneously reducing bulk density to a range of 50–120 kg/m³, depending on process parameters and feed characteristics.
The expanded perlite is then entrained in a controlled upward airflow, which conveys the lightweight particles out of the furnace chamber and into a cyclone separator system. Here, the perlite is efficiently separated from the carrier air stream. The product is subsequently cooled to approximately 100°C in a dedicated material cooler, and discharged via a rotary valve for downstream processing.
Following cooling, the expanded perlite is conveyed to the milling and classification unit, where it is processed to achieve the desired particle size distribution tailored to specific applications—such as filtration, insulation, or horticulture.
Depending on the product specification, the material may either bypass or undergo further refinement before entering the packing section. The final packaging system comprises dedicated silos for product buffering and automated packing units, capable of filling both 100-liter sacks and jumbo bags for bulk distribution.
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