Talc Powder

Vocabulary flashcards covering all key terms related to talc powder applications, properties, and industrial processes discussed in the lecture notes.

talc

A soft, white mineral widely used as a filler, lubricant, or anti-stick agent in products such as chewing gum, olive-oil processing, and fruit coatings.

hydrated magnesium silicate

The chemical name for talc, consisting of magnesium, silicon, and water molecules.

chewing gum

A confection made of gum base and flavorings; talc is added to prevent sticking and add bulk.

filler

An inert substance added to increase volume, improve texture, or reduce cost without affecting reactivity.

non-reactive

A chemical property indicating that a substance does not readily undergo chemical reactions with other materials, e.g., talc with acidic fruit flavors.

lamination

The industrial process of rolling or pressing material into thin layers; talc prevents sticking during this step in gum production.

centrifuge

A machine (or the act of using it) that spins mixtures at high speed to separate components by density, such as removing oil during olive processing.

emulsifier

A compound that stabilizes mixtures of oil and water by reducing surface tension, often causing foaming in olive oil production.

biodegrade

To be broken down naturally by microorganisms, a key environmental concern for emulsified oils.

yield

The amount of product obtained or the act of producing it; talc boosts the yield of extracted olive oil.

hydrophobic

Having an aversion to water; difficult to wet or mix with water, which makes spraying talc onto fruit technically challenging.

cutin

The natural waxy layer on fruit surfaces that resists water and chemicals; talc must penetrate this layer to adhere.

surface tension

The cohesive force at a liquid’s surface that resists external force; must be overcome for talc particles to stick to fruit skins.

sunburn

Damage to plant tissue or fruit caused by excessive sunlight; talc coatings help prevent this injury.

mist canopy

A fine water-spray layer used to cool crops; an alternative to talc for heat and sun protection.

wettable powder

A specially formulated powder that can disperse in water for agricultural spraying; an improved form of talc.

droplet

A very small particle of liquid; talc increases droplet size in olive-oil separation.

reformulating

Altering a product’s recipe or composition; gum manufacturers avoid reformulating gum base to keep the same talc supplier.

niche market

A narrowly defined, specialized segment of consumers with strong loyalty, such as chewing-gum makers buying talc.

Invelop Maximum SPF

A U.S. commercial talc-based product designed to protect fruit from sun exposure (SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor).