Attapulgite Clay Supplier in Malaysia
- Also known as
- Attapulgite Clay
- Palygorskite
- Attapulgus Clay
- Needle Clay
Attapulgite clay supplier for coatings, drilling-fluid, agrochemical, feed and mineral-processing formulators in Malaysia. Known mineralogically as palygorskite and in the trade as attapulgus clay or needle clay, it is a hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate with needle-shaped crystals. That morphology is the reason it is bought.
Attapulgite builds viscosity by mechanical interlocking of those needles rather than by ionic swelling. The gel therefore survives high electrolyte loads, brine and a wide pH range where a swelling clay loses yield. Its functions are thixotropic thickening, suspension, anti-settling, adsorption and carrier duty.
Grades on the market include colloidal gelling powder, pulverised drilling-fluid viscosifier, adsorptive and decolourising material, sized granular carrier and low-viscosity powder. Attapulgite is a different mineral from bentonite and kaolin, and it is not an organoclay, so state the grade and duty rather than a generic clay label.
Send the required grade, form and mesh, application, quantity and delivery location with your enquiry. Availability, packing, documentation and delivery timing are confirmed with the quotation.
- Grade
- colloidal, adsorptive, granular
- Appearance
- light cream to grey fine powder, also supplied as granules
Attapulgite grades and forms
We supply several forms to suit different formulating and dosing setups. If you need a size that is not listed, ask us.
| Grade | Form | Assay | Typical use | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colloidal gelling grade | finely pulverised powder | — | Thixotropic thickening and suspension in paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and high-electrolyte liquid systems where a salt-tolerant gel is needed. | Confirm the required pack format with the quotation. |
| Drilling-fluid viscosifier grade | pulverised powder | — | Salt-tolerant viscosity and suspension in water-well and oilfield drilling fluids, including saltwater and brine muds where a swelling clay loses yield. | Confirm the required pack format with the quotation. |
| Adsorptive and decolourising grade | powder or fine granules | — | Adsorption, clarification and decolourising duties where pore structure and surface activity matter more than gel strength. | Confirm the required pack format with the quotation. |
| Granular carrier grade | sized granules | — | Carrier and granule base for pesticide, herbicide and fertiliser formulations, and for absorbent duties that need a free-flowing sized particle. | Confirm the required pack format with the quotation. |
| Low-viscosity grade | powder | — | Anti-caking, pellet binding and carrier work in feed and dry blends where viscosity build is not wanted. | Confirm the required pack format with the quotation. |
How to buy attapulgite from ChemTrade
Request a quote for attapulgite
Use the form below to request a quotation. You can also email sales@chemtrademalaysia.com or send us a message on WhatsApp.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | light cream to grey fine powder, also supplied as granules | — |
| Mineral identity | palygorskite, a hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate clay of needle-like (acicular) crystal morphology | — |
| Particle morphology | needle-shaped (acicular) crystals rather than swelling platelets | — |
| Gel mechanism | mechanical interlocking of needles, so viscosity tolerates high electrolyte levels and a wide pH range | — |
| Solubility | insoluble in water; disperses to form a suspension | — |
| Common grade controls | particle size or mesh, gel strength or viscosity, moisture, bulk density, pH and adsorption capacity confirmed against the required grade | — |
Attapulgite applications
Safety and handling
Store dry, sealed and off the floor so the clay stays free-flowing. Control dust during handling and dispersion and follow the safety information for the quoted grade. Supply is subject to applicable requirements.
Common questions about attapulgite
Is attapulgite the same as bentonite?
No. Both are clays used to build viscosity, but attapulgite has needle-shaped particles that interlock mechanically, while bentonite works by swelling. That is why attapulgite holds viscosity in brine, salt and wide-pH systems where bentonite yield collapses. Order each by name.
What is palygorskite and how does it relate to attapulgite?
Palygorskite is the correct mineralogical name for the material the trade calls attapulgite or attapulgite clay. They describe the same hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate, so either term can be used in an enquiry as long as the grade and duty are stated.
Which grade should I request for coatings, drilling or a carrier?
Thixotropic thickening and anti-settling in coatings normally start from a colloidal gelling grade. Drilling fluids use a pulverised viscosifier grade. Pesticide and fertiliser carriers use sized granules, and feed anti-caking work usually takes a low-viscosity powder. Describe the system and target behaviour so the grade can be matched.
Is attapulgite the same product as fuller's earth?
Not reliably. Fuller's earth is a loose commercial description for several adsorbent clays and different suppliers mean different minerals by it. If your specification says attapulgite or palygorskite, order it by name and state the required grade so the quotation is unambiguous.
Why is attapulgite used in high-salt or brine systems?
Its viscosity comes from a physical network of interlocking needles rather than from ionic swelling, so dissolved electrolytes do not collapse the structure. That makes it the usual choice for saltwater drilling muds and for pigment or fertiliser suspensions with high dissolved-salt loads.
Is attapulgite supplied as powder or granules?
Both. Gelling, viscosifier and low-viscosity duties use pulverised powder, while carrier and absorbent duties usually take sized granules. State the form and mesh required with the enquiry so the quotation matches the handling equipment.
What details are needed for an attapulgite clay price enquiry?
Provide the grade or duty, form and mesh, application, quantity and delivery location. Add any required gel strength, moisture or adsorption limits, plus documentation and preferred pack format, so the quotation covers the whole requirement.