Product

Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) is a mechanically processed form of calcium carbonate produced by the dry or wet grinding of naturally occurring carbonate minerals, principally calcite-rich limestone, marble, or chalk. Unlike PCC, GCC is not chemically transformed during processing; it retains the original mineralogy and crystal structure of the source rock, with its properties determined primarily by the quality of the natural feedstock and the fineness of grinding. GCC is distinguished by its high surface hydrophilicity, ease of dispersibility, relatively low hardness, and large filling capacity, making it the most widely used mineral filler in industrial applications.

Production Process

GCC is produced by two main routes:​

• Dry grinding — using ball mills, Raymond mills, vertical stirring mills, or jet mills combined with air classifiers; yields products typically from 40 µm down to 2 µm (d50)
• Wet grinding — slurry milling for ultra-fine grades below 2 µm; produces slurry or filter-cake products further dried to powder form

Physical & Chemical Properties

Commercial Grades

GCC is sold in a range of particle size grades tailored to end-use requirements:​

Surface-treated (coated) grades using stearic acid or other fatty acids are available for improved polymer compatibility.

Applications

• Paper and board (filler and coating pigment)
• Plastics and PVC (filler and impact modifier)
• Paints and coatings (extender pigment)
• Rubber and cable insulation
• Adhesives and sealants
• Agriculture (soil amendment)
• Construction mortars and concrete

References

1. Chemical Book. Ground calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) (Accessed Mar 12, 2026)
2. ATAMAN CHEMICALS. Calcium Carbonate (Accessed Mar 12, 2026)
3. European Union Joint Research Centre (Jan 1, 2011). GCC dry; Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC)
4. Wikipedia. Calcium carbonate (Page version: Feb 20, 2026)