Hi community,

I have been a tough issue I have been trying to solve. First off, I don't know much about chemistry and Im tyring to do some simple things with Magnesium Carbonate , used as GYM CHALK. I know I can buy it online in block forms or powder forms but I would like to make SOLID shapes out of it, possibly cylinder shapes.

My question is:

If I buy powdered Magnesium Carbonate (pure), how can or what do I mix it with in order to get a solid form. They do it to make blocks but I don't know how I would do it with powder. It doesn't work with water and drying obviously.

It would be great if anyone could help :)

You do add water, just don't add too much.
Those blocks are made with high pressure, so you might not be able to produce something with that density.
Are you trying to make sculptures? You could make a skeleton from metal/wood and cover it with the chalk or use gauze bandages saturated with chalk (like it is used for plaster molding)

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Originally Posted by toobit1971

Hi community,

I have been a tough issue I have been trying to solve. First off, I dont know much about chemistry and Im tyring to do some simple things with Magnesium Carbonate , used as GYM CHALK. I know I can buy it online in block forms or powder forms but I would like to make SOLID shapes out of it, possibly cylinder shapes.

My question is:

If I buy powdered Magnesium Carbonate (pure), how can or what do I mix it with in order to get a solid form. They do it to make blocks but I dont know how I would do it with powder. It doesnt work with water and drying obviously.

It would be great if anyone could help :)

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Very close. I want to make cylinders instead of blocks. I could build a cylinder mold and pour the chalk mixed with water into that? Hope it drys fairly dense? I do want it to be dense though because I want to make chalk sticks that don't crumble.

I realize there must be some form of pressure they use to make the blocks but I can't find anyone that will do that for me or how I can do it on my own.

So your saying its just the powder form mixed with water?


Thanks.

Very close. I want to make cylinders instead of blocks. I could build a cylinder mold and pour the chalk mixed with water into that? Hope it drys fairly dense? I do want it to be dense though because I want to make chalk sticks that don't crumble.

I realize there must be some form of pressure they use to make the blocks but I can't find anyone that will do that for me or how I can do it on my own.

So your saying its just the powder form mixed with water?