E553b Talc is a naturally occurring hydrated magnesium silicate mineral, with the chemical composition typically written as Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂, and it is used mainly as an anticaking agent, anti-sticking agent, and flow-improving powder in food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications because it helps keep fine powders dry, free-flowing, and separated by reducing friction and absorbing small amounts of surface moisture.
E553b Talc is one of the softest known minerals and has a very slippery feel due to its layered crystal structure.
E553b Talc improves powder handling and anti-clumping performance.
CAS Number: 14807-96-6
Molecular Formula: 3MgO.4O2Si.H2O
Molecular Weight: 379.263
EINECS Number: 238-877-9
Synonyms:STERITALC, Huashifen, Pulvis talci, Talc powder, 7SEV7J4R1U, INS NO.553(III), INS-553(III), E-553(III), Potstone, Sterile Talc, Steritalc 2g, Steritalc 3g, Steritalc 4g, Health Smart Baby, Wart Remover Patch, Natures Choice Baby, Sterile Talc Powder, RefChem:932528, Talc (JP17/USP), Nekvnro Wart Remover Patch, Talc (containing asbestos), Sclerosol Intrapleural Aerosol, Talc (silica and fibre free), Talc (not containing asbestos), TALC (NOT CONTAINING ASBESTOS FIBERS), Talc (containing no asbestos and less than 1% quartz), 238-877-9, 14807-96-6, Agalite, Asbestine, Desertalc 57, Emtal 596, Fibrene C 400, French chalk, Hydrous magnesium silicate, Mistron 2SC, Mistron frost P, Mistron RCS, Mistron Star, Mistron super frost, Mistron vapor, MP 12-50, MP 25-38, MP 45-26, Purified talc, Sclerosol, Steatite talc, Steawhite, Supreme dense, Talc, Talc (containing no asbestos), TALC (Mg3H2(SiO3)4), Talcum Powder, Talc [JAN], TALC [VANDF], TALC [HSDB], TALC [FCC], TALC [WHO-DD], TALC [WHO-IP], TALC [II], TALC [MI], PULVIS TALCI [CHP], TALC [EP IMPURITY], TALC [ORANGE BOOK], TALC [EP MONOGRAPH], TALC [USP MONOGRAPH], PURIFIED TALC [MART.], HAICHEN TALC POWDER NO1 AND NO2;Magnesium silicate monohydrate (Talc);TALC POWDER, DAB, PH. EUR., B. P., PH. F RANC.;TALC POWDER <10 MICRON;TALC, PH EUR;TALC, 325 MESH;TALC -350 MESH;TALC EXTRA FINE POWDER EXTRA PURE PH EUR BP USP
E553b Talc consists of layered sheets of magnesium silicate bonded weakly between layers, which allows the sheets to slide easily over each other, giving talc its characteristic smooth and lubricating properties.
E553b Talc is chemically stable and does not react easily with most substances under normal conditions.
This improves chemical inertness and stability.
E553b Talc appears as a very fine, soft white or light gray powder, and it has a high ability to reduce friction between particles, which helps prevent powders from sticking together or forming lumps during storage and transport.
E553b Talcs structure makes it highly effective as a flow aid.
This improves flowability and product consistency.
E553b Talc functions mainly as a flow agent and anticaking additive, where it prevents clumping in powdered foods and industrial materials by reducing particle adhesion and moisture effects, especially in dry products that must remain stable over long storage periods.
E553b Talc works through physical separation and lubrication rather than chemical reaction.
This improves usability and shelf stability.
E553b Talc is best described as a naturally occurring, inert mineral used to improve powder flow and prevent clumping in food, pharmaceutical, and industrial systems due to its soft, layered structure and strong anti-adhesive properties.
E553b Talc is composed primarily of talc, and has been used for most of recorded history as a carving medium; examples thousands of years old are still extant from Egyptian, Assyrian, and Chinese cultures.
The term ‘talc’ was first used in AD 869 to describe minerals that were largely composed of what we now know as talc.
E553b Talc, or talcum, is a clay mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate, with the chemical formula Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.
E553b Talc in powdered form, often combined with corn starch, is used as baby powder.
This mineral is used as a thickening agent and lubricant.
E553b Talc is an ingredient in ceramics, paints, and roofing material.
E553b Talc is a main ingredient in many cosmetics.
It occurs as foliated to fibrous masses, and in an exceptionally rare crystal form.
E553b Talc has a perfect basal cleavage and an uneven flat fracture, and it is foliated with a two-dimensional platy form.
E553b Talc is also widely used in high-volume industrial powder processing, where its main role is not only to prevent clumping but also to improve how powders move through machines by reducing friction between particles and between particles and metal surfaces, which helps prevent clogging in hoppers, conveyors, and dosing systems during continuous production.
This is especially important in factories that run 24/7 and handle large quantities of fine materials.
E553b Talc improves production continuity and machine efficiency.
In pharmaceutical manufacturing environments, talc is important in tablet compression because it acts as a glidant that improves powder flow into dies and reduces sticking to punches, which helps maintain consistent tablet shape, hardness, and weight across large batches.
It is also used to improve separation between granules during processing steps.
E553b Talc improves dosage uniformity and product quality control.
In cosmetic powder engineering, talc plays a key role in achieving a smooth, silky texture because its layered crystal structure allows particles to slide easily, creating a soft feel on skin while also helping control shine by absorbing excess moisture and oils.
E553b Talc is why it is commonly used in body powders and face powders.
This improves sensory feel and cosmetic performance.
In rubber and polymer manufacturing, talc is used as a reinforcing filler that improves stiffness, heat resistance, and dimensional stability of plastic parts, while also reducing production costs by partially replacing more expensive raw materials.
E553b Talc also improves mold release during shaping processes.
This improves mechanical strength and manufacturing efficiency.
In paint and coating systems, E553b Talc helps improve viscosity control, prevents settling of pigments, and enhances the smoothness of the final coating layer, making surfaces more uniform and resistant to cracking over time.
E553b Talc is also used to improve weather resistance in exterior coatings.
This improves coating durability and surface quality.
In paper production and printing industries, E553b Talc is used to improve printability by reducing stickiness and controlling resin deposits in machinery, which helps maintain smooth operation and improves the brightness and finish of printed paper products.
E553b Talc also reduces friction between paper layers.
Melting point: 800 °C
Density: 2.7–2.8
vapor pressure: 0 Pa at 25 ℃
storage temp.: Sealed in dry, Room Temperature
solubility: Practically insoluble in water, in ethanol (96 per cent) and in dilute solutions of acids and alkali hydroxides.
form: Powder/Solid
color: White to pale gray
Odor: at 100.00%. odorless
Water Solubility: Insoluble in water, cold acids, alkalies.
Thermal Conductivity: 2.971 W/(m·K)
Merck: 14,9037
Exposure limits: ACGIH: TWA 2 mg/m3; NIOSH: IDLH 1000 mg/m3; TWA 2 mg/m3
Cosmetics Ingredients Functions: BULKING; SKIN PROTECTING; ABRASIVE; ABSORBENT; ANTICAKING; OPACIFYING; SLIP MODIFIER
InChIKey: FPAFDBFIGPHWGO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
LogP: -9.4 at 25℃
Hardness, Mohs: 1.0
Hardness, Vickers: 47
E553b Talc is used to improve firing behavior by acting as a fluxing agent, which helps control shrinkage, cracking, and thermal expansion during high-temperature processing of tiles, porcelain, and heat-resistant components.
E553b Talc contributes to more stable ceramic structures after firing.
This improves thermal stability and material strength.
E553b Talc is used to reduce blocking (sticking of plastic layers together) and improve surface smoothness, which is important for manufacturing films used in food packaging, industrial wrapping, and consumer goods.
It helps maintain easy separation of layers after production.
This improves packaging performance and usability.
E553b Talc is studied as a metamorphic mineral that forms under specific temperature and pressure conditions, and its presence in rocks helps geologists understand the geological history and transformation processes of the Earth’s crust.
E553b Talc is a very fine, white to grayish-white, odorless, impalpable, unctuous, crystalline powder.
It adheres readily to the skin and is soft to the touch and free from grittiness.
E553b Talc, a hydrated magnesium sulfate, is the primary component of most face powders (eye shadows and blushers).
In some products, talc makes up to 70% of the formulation.
E553b Talc should be white, free of asbestos, should have high spreadability or slip, with low coverage.
Particle size is acceptable if the material passes through a 200 mesh sieve.
Micronized talc is generally lighter and fluffier but less smooth on the skin than regular grades.
E553b Talc products are sterilized using gamma irradiation.
E553b Talcs are mined in Italy, France, Norway, India, Spain, China, Egypt, Japan, and the United States.
E553b Talc is fairly hydrophobic, although treatments are used to enhance its texture.
E553b Talc is widely used in industrial powder processing systems, where it helps maintain smooth flow of fine materials during mixing, packaging, and transport, especially in high-speed production environments where even small amounts of moisture or friction can cause powders to stick together or clog machinery.
Its lubricating nature makes it especially valuable in large-scale manufacturing.
E553b Talc improves industrial efficiency and material handling.
In food manufacturing (regulated use depending on country), E553b Talc is used in small amounts to prevent clumping in powdered products such as salt, spices, and confectionery coatings, ensuring that ingredients remain evenly distributed and easy to dispense.
E553b Talc helps maintain consistent texture and flow behavior in packaged foods.
This improves food usability and product stability.
In pharmaceutical tablet production, E553b Talc is used as a glidant and anti-adherent agent, meaning it helps powders flow smoothly into tablet presses and prevents sticking to equipment surfaces during compression, which ensures uniform tablet weight and quality.
It is widely used in solid dosage form manufacturing.
E553b Talc improves pharmaceutical manufacturing accuracy.
E553b Talc is a major ingredient in powders such as face powder and body powder, where it improves softness, absorbency, and application smoothness while helping reduce moisture and friction on the skin.
It contributes to a silky texture and comfortable feel.
E553b Talc improves cosmetic performance and sensory quality.
E553b Talc is used as a filler material to improve mechanical strength, heat resistance, and processing behavior of polymer products, making it useful in automotive parts, packaging materials, and molded plastics.
It enhances durability and production efficiency.
This improves material performance and industrial design.
In paint and coatings, talc is used as an extender pigment to improve texture, opacity control, and resistance to cracking, while also helping improve adhesion and smoothness of finished coatings.
It contributes to better surface quality in industrial and decorative paints.
E553b Talc improves coating performance and durability.
E553b Talc is used to improve printability, reduce stickiness, and enhance surface smoothness of paper products, especially in high-quality printing applications.
It helps control pitch and resin deposits in paper machinery.
E553b Talc improves paper quality and production efficiency.
E553b Talc is used to improve thermal resistance, workability, and firing properties of ceramic products, making it valuable in tiles, insulation materials, and refractory applications.
It contributes to structural stability under heat.
E553b Talc improves material strength and heat resistance.
E553b Talc can help stabilize fine powders and reduce unwanted clumping during handling, although its own dust must still be controlled carefully in workplaces.
It is often managed with strict safety procedures in industrial environments.
E553b Talc improves handling safety and process stability.
E553b Talc is studied as a model mineral for understanding layered silicate structures, metamorphic processes, and low-friction mineral behavior in earth sciences.
Its formation provides insight into geological conditions deep within the Earth.
This improves scientific understanding of mineralogy.
E553b Talc, soapstone, and steatite have been used by humans as raw materials since prehistoric times.
Molds carved from soapstone were used in the Bronze Age and early Iron Age for casting weapons and tools.
In the Mediterranean cultures of the classical period, stone carvings were made from soapstone, and talc was used for treating wounds and in the production of cosmetic powder.
In ancient Rome, women used large amounts of powder and rouge.
The properties of E553b Talc, especially its characteristic greasy feel, were described by Pliny the Elder.
E553b Talc, which indicates its greasy nature, gave its name to the mineral.
In 1550, Catherin de Medici made it once again fashionable to use facial makeup in the form of powdered talc colored by the addition of pigments, a fashion that found innumerable imitators and has continued without interruption until today.
Uses Of E553b Talc:
Dusting powder, either alone or with starch or boric acid, for medicinal and toilet Preparations; excipient and filler for pills, tablets and for dusting tablet molds; clarifying liquids by filtration.
As pigment in paints, varnishes, rubber; filler for paper, rubber, soap; in fireproof and cold-water paints for wood, metal and stone; lubricating molds and machinery; glove and shoe powder; electric and heat insulator.
E553b Talc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.
E553b Talc is used in many industries such as paper making, plastic, paint and coatings, rubber, food, electric cable, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics
E553b Talc adds softness and sliding ability to a cosmetic formulation.
E553b Talc is also used as a bulking and opacifying agent, and as an absorbent in makeup preparations.
E553b Talc is an inert powder, generally made from finely ground magnesium silicate, a mineral.
E553b Talc is mainly used as an anticaking, anti-sticking, and flow-improving agent because it reduces friction between particles and prevents powders from clumping, keeping them dry and easy to handle.
In food powders (salt, spices, confectionery coatings), it is used to prevent clumping and improve flow.
E553b Talc improves product usability and shelf stability.
In pharmaceuticals, it is used as a glidant and anti-adherent in tablet manufacturing.
E553b Talc improves production accuracy and tablet quality.
In cosmetics, it is used in powders to improve texture and moisture control.
E553b Talc improves application smoothness and product feel.
In industrial powders, it is used to improve flow in storage and packaging systems.
E553b Talc improves manufacturing efficiency.
In plastics, rubber, and coatings, it is used as a filler and performance enhancer.
E553b Talc improves material strength and durability.
E553b Talc is mainly used as a flow agent, anticaking agent, and anti-sticking additive because it reduces friction between particles and keeps powders dry, smooth, and free-flowing.
E553b Talc is used to prevent clumping and improve flow.
This improves usability and storage stability.
In pharmaceuticals, it is used as a glidant and anti-adherent in tablet production.
E553b Talc improves manufacturing precision and dosage consistency.
In cosmetics, it is used to improve texture, softness, and moisture control.
This improves application quality and sensory feel.
E553b Talc is used as a filler to improve strength and processing behavior.
This improves material performance and cost efficiency.
In paints and coatings, it is used to improve smoothness, stability, and durability.
E553b Talc improves coating quality.
In paper and ceramics, it is used to improve surface properties and processing stability.
E553b Talc improves production efficiency and product quality.
E553b Talc is mainly used as a flow agent, anticaking agent, and anti-sticking mineral because it reduces friction between particles and helps powders stay dry, smooth, and free-flowing during storage, transport, and processing.
In food powders (where permitted), it is used to prevent clumping and improve flow in products like spices, salt, and powdered coatings.
This improves usability and shelf stability.
E553b Talc is used as a glidant and anti-adherent in tablet manufacturing to improve powder flow and prevent sticking to machines.
This improves dosing accuracy and production quality.
In cosmetics, it is used in face powders, body powders, and makeup products to improve texture, softness, and moisture control.
E553b Talc improves application smoothness and product feel.
In plastics and rubber, it is used as a filler to improve strength, heat resistance, and processing behavior.
E553b Talc improves material performance and durability.
In paints and coatings, it is used to improve smoothness, stability, and crack resistance.
E553b Talc improves coating quality and longevity.
In paper and ceramics, it is used to improve surface quality and processing stability.
E553b Talc improves production efficiency and final product finish.
Safety Profile Of E553b Talc:
E553b Talc with less than 1 percent asbestos is regarded as a nuisance dust.
E553b Talc with greater percentage of asbestos may be a human carcinogen.
A human skin irritant, prolonged or repeated exposure can produce a form of pulmonary fibrosis (talc pneumoconiosis) which may be due to asbestos content.
Questionable carcinogen with experimental tumorigenic data a common air contaminant.
E553b Talc is used mainly in tablet and capsule formulations.
E553b Talc is not absorbed systemically following oral ingestion and is therefore regarded as an essentially nontoxic material.
However, intranasal or intravenous abuse of products containing talc can cause granulomas in body tissues, particularly the lungs. Contamination of wounds or body cavities with talc may also cause granulomas; therefore, it should not be used to dust surgical gloves.
Inhalation of talc causes irritation and may cause severe respiratory distress in infants.
E553b Talc is considered a low-to-moderate hazard substance, mainly due to physical and inhalation risks rather than chemical toxicity, since it is chemically inert and does not react under normal conditions.
The primary hazard is inhalation of fine E553b Talc dust, which can irritate the respiratory system, especially in industrial settings where airborne particles are generated during handling, processing, or packaging.
Long-term exposure to mineral dust should be minimized through ventilation and protective equipment.
E553b Talc requires occupational safety control.
Skin contact is generally low risk, although prolonged exposure may cause mild dryness or irritation due to its fine, abrasive particles rather than chemical effects.
Washing with water is usually sufficient.
This makes it relatively safe for handling.
Eye contact may cause mechanical irritation, since fine particles can irritate the eyes even though talc is not chemically corrosive.
E553b Talc protective eyewear is recommended in industrial environments.