How It's Made
Key facts
- Name on labels (INCI)
- Ground Calcium Carbonate
- Also called
- Ground calcium carbonate (GCC), Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), Calcite, Whiting, Chalk
- CAS number
- 471-34-1 source
- Grade to ask for
- Paint grade, 5–10 µm, high whiteness
Ground white limestone or marble.
What it does
- Extender
- Bulks up the paint film at low cost and helps it build thickness.
- Sheen control
- Coarser particles scatter light and give matt finishes.
- Texture
- Graded marble grits create the texture of masonry coatings.
- Filler in other industries
- Adds stiffness and reduces cost in plastics, paper and sealants.
Products on How It's Made that use calcium carbonate
| Product | Its role there |
|---|---|
| Emulsion paint | Filler. The main extender. Ground limestone or marble adds body and opacity at a fraction of the cost of titanium dioxide and helps control sheen. |
| Gloss paint | Filler. A small amount of extender for body. Gloss paints use far less filler than matt paints, because coarse particles reduce gloss. |
| Textured masonry | Marble filler. Coarse and fine marble grades fill the coating and give a stone-like body. A mix of particle sizes packs densely into a hard film. |
| Metal primer | Filler. An extender that adds body and reduces cost. |
On How It's Made, calcium carbonate is in emulsion paint, gloss paint, textured masonry paint and metal primer.
Grades and specifications
- Paint grade GCC
- Specified by particle size (often around 5–10 µm for emulsions), whiteness and oil absorption.
- Marble grits
- Coarse graded particles for textured and decorative coatings.
- PCC and food/pharma grades
- Precipitated, very fine or very pure grades for specialist paints, food and medicines.
Handling, safety and regulation
A low-hazard mineral handled with dust control. Buyers check whiteness, particle-size distribution, moisture and impurities such as silica and iron that affect colour.
Paint applications follow Standards Organisation of Nigeria requirements for the finished paint. Food and pharmaceutical uses require the relevant purity grades.
Where calcium carbonate comes from
Nigeria has limestone and marble deposits, and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is promoting local processing of calcium carbonate, together with kaolin and talc, so the paint industry relies less on imports. Quality and consistency of grinding are the main challenges for local supply.
Sourcing calcium carbonate through Matta
Send Matta a request with the grade, quantity and delivery location you need. For the wider category, see Matta's raw materials page.
Listings found on matta.trade, read 20 Oct 2026. Prices are a snapshot, not live; the listing is always the final word. Different suppliers and grades: compare prices only where the unit matches.
Titanium dioxide
Acrylic binder
Wheat flour
Sodium bicarbonate