What inherent qualities made vermiculite commercially attractive for construction and gardening sectors?
Answer
It was lightweight, absorbent, and fire-resistant.
Vermiculite is fundamentally valued because of its unique physical and thermal characteristics. Specifically, it is known for being lightweight, which makes it easy to handle and use in insulation or soil mixtures without adding excessive mass. Its absorbent nature allows it to retain significant amounts of water, benefiting gardening applications, while its fire-resistant quality made it attractive in construction applications where thermal protection was desired. This combination of properties led to its extensive commercial use across multiple industries for decades.
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