I'm not a chemist but, I think the gypsum holds the kaolin together. Kaolin is the "filler" in many of the products that use it.
And yes, my part of the country was and has been very poor until kaolin or "white gold" to us, became a main product for paints, paper, plastics and other such things.
Most of the old homes built before the 1949-50 time, were built using the old style. Their is a fair size gap where few to no "new" homes were built. Then when the two main kaolin companies made there big improvements and increased their plants sizes, then new homes and additions to the older ones could be seen. That is when I remember seeing dry wall and such in use.
Don Worthy
Ivey, Ga.

Frank Greene <frgreene290@...> wrote:
"Don Worthy" <don_worthy@...>

Hey fellows, I didn't think that "sheetrock" was around in the 40s or even
the early 50s. Here in the south, homes were still using the plastered
walls and ceilings. Also, during the 50s many homes and company buildings
were using beautiful "real" wood paneling.

I guess the south of Don's youth (Gordon, GA) was different from mine
(Doraville, GA). My parents bought a new house in 1956 that had sheetrock
walls.

So, I'm wondering "when" did "sheetrock" become a wide spread product?? I
have a feeling that it came around in the 60s. I know the Kaolin companies
made big advances in their field and Kaolin (chalk) is 90% of sheetrock.

Kaolin 90% content of sheetrock? I thought gypsum was the main ingredient.

Frank Greene
Memphis, TN






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