Partners in
Perlite since 1946

A construction company needed to solve a major weight issue with the building materials they were using for a multi-unit condo project. We engineered the perfect perlite grades to use in place of the sand and other heavier aggregates in their concrete and plaster mixes. As a result, they reduced weights, achieved better insulation and fire protection, and saved money.

While developing a liquid cleanser, a consumer goods company came to us in need of a non-toxic abrasive agent. Perlite is a natural abrasive, but the challenge was in creating a fine enough grade that was not too abrasive. Such a fine grade didn’t exist, so our engineers jumped at the opportunity and created the finest grade of perlite ever. That grade is now known as Silbrico’s exclusive Sil-Cell.

Spray foam insulation is petroleum based and over time will deteriorate, melt and ultimately end up as petroleum goo in landfills. Wanting no part of that, our eco-friendly clients across industries have been switching to loose-fill perlite insulation, which is all natural and will never deteriorate. It also has better R-Values and is more cost-effective than spray foam.

The problem with using clay in cat litter is that it’s heavy and turns to sludge when wet. Our client knew that perlite would create the perfect mix because it is naturally lightweight and absorbent. The challenge was in finding the right perlite for the job. We tested over a dozen different ores to determine which ores met their specific needs. When our expanded perlite was added to the litter, it absorbed the moisture, left the clay unaffected, and cut the weight in half.

The chemicals from highways and roadways wash off the side into the grass and ultimately in our water. To help our client solve this pollution problem, we utilized specially treated perlite to make better use of roadside berms. The perlite added to the soil acted as both a filter aid to trap the chemicals and also as a growing medium for healthy grass and trees. Perlite’s superior drainage capabilities also helped control storm water run-off.

Silbrico perlite is a key ingredient in cleaning wastewater using bags of willow trees growing in perlite. Research shows that this PhAGR™ cell irrigation treatment significantly removes nitrogen and pathogens. Following 3 years of treatment, polluted lagoon water was restored to legal discharge standards set by the state’s Department of Natural Resources at the rate of 18 gallons per square foot per day. At these rates, it is estimated the capital cost is reduced by over 50% and the energy expended is reduced by over 70% compared to other treatments allowed by the state.