What is Gilsonite?

Gilsonite is the same crude oil that after thousands of years, after an earthquake and due to pressure and temperature factors as well as time, loses its volatile substances and the rest is a shiny and fragile and glassy substance that looks like coal.
This name was chosen because the first person who discovered this product and sold it commercially in the market was Samuel Gilson, who led the American Gilsonite company after registering this brand; And today the whole world knows this product by his name.
This valuable product contains more than 100 elements and can be combined and homogenized with 160 other materials, and its softening temperature is between 148 and 240 degrees Celsius and its permeability is up to 4 hundredths of a millimeter.

What is the difference between Gilsonite and coal?

The difference between coal and gilsonite is in the raw material for the production of this product:
Coal is obtained from plants and trees, but gilsonite is obtained from the decomposition of animals. The calorific value and carbon content of coal is much higher than gilsonite, and with a simple test, you can distinguish between the two.

Its solubility percentage can be tested in CS2 and the higher the solubility, the closer it is to gilsonite, and the lower it is, it tends to coal.

Gilsonite mines of Iran:

About 30 gilsonite mines were active in Iran and a total of 400,000 tons are extracted and 260,000 tons are exported annually. These mines are mainly concentrated in the provinces of Kermanshah, Ilam and Lorestan and partly in Bushehr (Asaluyeh), which are mined in open and underground. The largest mines in Qasr Shirin Miavan pointed out that they are open-pit and can extract up to 500 tons per day. The quality of mining depends on the exploitation method and its location.

Application of gilsonite in oil well drilling

Gilsonite is used as an additive to drilling mud, and depending on the type of drilling, drilling depth, soil and density, as well as the pressure of the earth’s layers, the percentage of its use in the drilling mud formula is different. It is also used as FLC (fluid loss control) or fluid loss control in drilling mud, and by melting, it takes the heat of the drilling drill and also lubricates the drill.

Application of Gilsonite in asphalt industry

In asphalting, Gilsonite helps to increase the stability of asphalt and creates high adhesion between macadam and bitumen. This adhesion prevents the asphalt from cracking and also prevents plants from growing in the asphalt.

One of the most important things they do in asphalting is to reduce the thickness of the asphalt and reduce the amount of bitumen consumed. Another action that occurs in asphalt in the summer is the soft temperature that does not loosen or soften when mixing with asphalt due to sun exposure and Heavy trucks do not roll or fold when braking.

Most airports in the world prepare asphalt with the addition of Gilsonite. The most important reason is during the heating time, when the airplane wheels collide with the airport runway and the asphalt does not change shape in summer and winter.

Application of Gilsonite in Isogam

The most widely used in insulation is in the production of isogam. By mixing gilsonite, calcium carbonate, additives and bitumen with oil that increases the elasticity of isogam, it is produced that makes a composite and increases the thermal resistance of isogam and creates a stable and homogeneous coating.

Application of gilsonite in paint and ink

The printer ink is a combination of carbon black and bitumen, which with the help of Gilsonite, this combination becomes more sticky and its durability becomes much longer.

A large amount of this precious material is used in the production of newspaper ink, which is also known as organic ink. One of the most important factors that can be used is its low degree of softness and ash below 3%.

The most important thing that it does in the ink industry is to flow the material along with its stabilizer. Types of ink can be made by combining with Gilsonite, the most famous of which are printer ink, newspaper ink, printing, lithography and offset ink, gravure, castell and flexographic ink. .

Application of gilsonite in casting

Gilsonite additive in molding and casting sand acts as a resin and creates adhesion between sand and other materials. After filling the mold, this adhesion helps that the gas emitted from the sublimation of Gilsonite causes pressure on the poured material and it is easier. The mold should be separated from the cast material. At the same time, the surface of the mold remains very smooth.

Application of gilsonite in coke production

Gilsonite contains 70-80% carbon based on elemental analysis, so when added to molten steel, it creates a reducing environment and can be used alongside coking materials such as coal. It is also possible to prepare coke from some of its types, which is often used in the sugar industry.

Application of gilsonite in steel making

Gilsonite is used as a composite-additive component in steel products, which is added to the system in limestone, magnesium lime, and calcium carbide, which causes the displacement of impurities such as sulfur, silica, and phosphorus from the molten steel and transfers them to the slag. 75% Gilsonite as a volatile material at 1900°F, when mixed with molten steel, transfers impurities to the slag.

Gilsonite granulation

The granularity of Gilsonite is different depending on the type of use and it starts from 10 mesh which is produced with a hammer mill and has the ability to produce up to 100 mesh, but from 100 mesh to 400 mesh with a wing mill or a combination of Indo with air breather and From 400 mesh to 600 mesh, it can be softened and crushed with a jet mill.

Fine granulation needs a closed system for use because it creates a lot of dust and pollutes the environment

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