The Manufacturing Process

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Raw materials such as limestone, clay, silica and iron ore are ground with water to make slurry. The slurry is then fed in specific proportions into the back end of Continental's kiln. This material travels downward toward the hot end of the kiln as the kiln turns approximately one revolution per minute. Initially, these raw materials give off water vapor (dehydration) and then give off CO2 (calcination). Finally, near the tip of the flame, the final chemical reactions occur and the material falls out of the kiln into a cooler where it is air quenched.