Specialty Minerals Inc. (SMI) has been producing talcs from its two mines in Barretts, Montana, since the 1950s. These bright, high-quality talcs are used in the building products industry, primarily in tape joint compounds and paints. In joint compounds, talcs add trowelability, crack resistance and good surfaces after sanding.
The Barretts Specialty Minerals-Performance Minerals plant is quality certified under ISO 9001 and uses rigorous quality monitoring and continuous process improvement to satisfy customer needs for performance and consistency.
Specialty Minerals Talcs for Building Products
The grades of talc recommended for use in tape joint compounds are:
- Sericron® 2M and 3M talcs – 8 micron talcs, with 200 and 325 mesh topsizes. Careful color control for color consistency.
- MicroTalc® MP 70-22 and MP 50-26 talcs – 7 and 8 micron, 200 and 325 mesh topsize general-purpose grades
Click on the product name to download the technical data sheet for the product of interest.
Learn more:
- SMI minerals for building products
- SMI minerals for joint compounds
- SMI minerals for paint and coatings
- SMI minerals in housing. See all the places SMI products are used around your house
- What is Talc? A mineral introductory page
- Other SMI Minerals
- Download technical data sheets for SMI products
- Request a sample
- About Specialty Minerals
- Plant profile: SMI Barretts, MT
- Quality and ISO at Specialty Minerals
