Pumice Powder Media

Pumice granules have been used in abrasive hand pumice soap for decades - remember those old "Lava" soap commercials? Today pumice powder particles are used in foot scrubs, abrasive pumice hand cleaner, body & shower gels, facial scrubs and even kitchen counter cleaners.

What is Pumice?

Pumice is a volcanic ash which is formed when lava is permeated with gas bubbles during the solidification process. Pumice is very fragile and breaks apart quite easily into small particles. Because lava has similar properties and chemical make-up as glass, pumice is very abrasive but unlike glass, it is very soft. Pumice is the softest abrasive media in use today.

What is the purpose of using pumice in consumer and commercial applications?

Pumice is used as a mild but effective abrasion suitable for a multitude of uses, including in hand pumice soap and pumice hand cleaner. In soap, pumice gives it a light abrasive quality which easily removes almost any grease or grime imaginable. Because pumice is a soft media and a natural mineral, it isn’t harsh or toxic to people or the environment.

For commercial applications, Pumice has become the most widely used grit in many manufacturing processes which require a mild abrasive characteristic. Couple this with the fact that pumice can be ground down into a micro-fine powder for handling the lightest of abrasion needs.

Regardless of the application, it is important to perform tests and formulation procedures in order to determine the best grade of pumice to use. The grain sizes required in hand soaps differ from facial uses. Using the incorrect grain size would prove ineffective and possibly damaging to the applied surface.

One other very important key to achieving the desired results is consistency during manufacturing and grading of the particle size from one batch to the next. Select a supplier that constantly monitors and checks for particle size and shape conformity, in this way you can be sure of the quality of your products as well.

Various Applications for pumice include:

1. Facial and body scrubs – to exfoliate dead skin cells
2. Abrasive soaps – to remove dirt and grime
3. Dental supplies and paste – teeth cleaning and polishing
4. Television glass – grinding and polishing
5. Electronics – circuit board metal preparation and cleaning
6. Calcium silicate insulation – ceramic and tile raw material
7. Foot and hand scrubs – to slough off calluses, dead skin and cuticles
8. Kitchen countertops – to remove stubborn stains and polish the surface
9. Car polish – to remove old wax build-up and polish the painted surface

The one thing to remember is pumice is an abrasive and you do not want to use any product containing it for too long. For maximum effect and proper use, you will use circular motions when applying abrasive soap, scrubs, cleaners or polishers so as prevent "burning" an area from concentrating your actions.

You also do not want to put a lot of effort or "elbow grease" into applying the abrasive cleaner. It is not necessary and will only cause scratches or redness. Instead use a very light application of the scrub and wash and dry the cleansed area thoroughly. If you are polishing the finish on your car, just remove any residue with a soft lint-free cloth.

Moderation and a light touch are the keys to using any abrasive soap, cleaner or polisher.

Today, pumice is used in more than just abrasive soap and its ability as a versatile and mild abrasion additive is continually being expanded and innovated.