What industries are barite/barium sulfate mainly used in?

Barite (barium sulfate) is mainly used in the oil and gas drilling industry as a weighting agent for drilling fluids. It is also used as a filler or extender in various industries such as paint and coatings, plastics, rubber, and paper. In the medical industry, barium sulfate is used as a contrast agent in X-ray examinations of the digestive system. Additionally, it is used in the production of glass, ceramics, and concrete.

The principle of using barite (barium sulfate) as a weighting agent in drilling fluids is based on its high specific gravity. Barite has a specific gravity of around 4.5 g/cm³, which makes it much denser than most other minerals and compounds that are present in the drilling fluid. By adding barite to the drilling fluid, the overall weight of the fluid can be increased, which helps to maintain pressure and prevent blowouts.

In medical imaging, barium sulfate is used as a contrast agent because it is opaque to X-rays. When mixed with a liquid and swallowed by a patient, barium sulfate coats the inside of the digestive tract, which allows for the clear visualization of the gastrointestinal tract during X-ray imaging.

In other applications such as paint and coatings, barium sulfate is used as a pigment extender. Its high specific gravity and chemical inertness make it an ideal filler material that can improve the properties of the final product without affecting its color or other physical characteristics significantly.

One book that you may find helpful for learning about the principles of barium sulfate is "Barium Sulfate: Synthesis, Properties and Applications" by R. K. Yeduru and G. K. Nadkarni.