Crushed walnut

Types of crushed walnuts

Certain types of food, cosmetics, and cleaning products all benefit from the use of crushed walnut shells. The key is to source walnut shells for sale that have been crushed to fit the purpose of the product being manufactured. Products that call for fine walnut shells look different from those that require more significant, coarser pieces.

Uses and requirements:

• Body scrubs and cleansers: Crushed walnut shells offer a natural exfoliation solution for body scrubs and cleansers. Manufacturers often select fine or ultra-fine particles to ensure a gentle yet effective exfoliating experience. These smaller particles can help prevent skin irritation while effectively removing dead skin cells and impurities. Using crushed walnut shells in body scrubs not only provides a smooth exfoliation but also adds a natural ingredient to the formulation.
• Cosmetic products: In cosmetic formulations, such as facial scrubs, cleansers, or soaps, crushed walnut shells serve as exfoliating agents. For these products, even finer grades of walnut shell powder may be used to ensure a smoother texture and avoid harsh abrasiveness. Incorporating crushed walnut shells into cosmetics not only enhances the product's efficacy but also taps into the growing consumer demand for natural and sustainable ingredients.
• Industrial cleaning products: Coarse walnut shell particles are commonly used in some industrial cleaning products. The larger-sized particles provide a more robust abrasive action, making them suitable for tackling tough stains, grime, or impurities in specific applications. Some cleaning products that use crushed walnut shells as an abrasive may also contain other natural ingredients and essential oils.
• Food products: Crushed walnuts are popular in various food items, including baked goods, desserts, granola bars, and ice cream flavors. In these applications, medium or coarse walnut shell particles can add a distinctive crunch, flavor, and nutritional value. Moreover, crushed walnut shells are abundant in fiber. Incorporating crushed walnut shells into food products not only enhances the taste and texture but also boosts the product's nutritional profile.
• Drilling and blasting industries: The drilling and blasting industries often use extra-coarse walnut shell disbursement products. These heavy-duty shells serve as effective proppants, preventing fractures from closing during extraction processes. Their unique properties make them suitable for high-pressure environments, ensuring optimal performance and product integrity. By utilizing extra-coarse crushed walnut shells as proppants, drilling, and blasting operations can achieve efficient resource extraction and maintain the stability of drilling formations.

Specifications and maintenance of crushed walnuts

The specifications for crushed walnut shells depend on a few factors, including the end application. The diameter of crushed walnuts usually falls in the range of 0.5-2.0 mm, which is finer than walnut powder. However, for certain applications such as cosmetic or dental care, crushed walnut shells of even smaller diameter are preferred. For industrial applications, larger sizes between 2.0-6.0 mm are desirable. The exact diameter and sifting can be provided as per customization options.

As is the case with any other natural product, maintaining crushed walnut shells is important for their longevity, quality, and performance. Here are a few tips on how to maintain their healthy state:

• Dry and Airflow: It is essential to keep walnut shells dry. Dampness can lead to mold growth, degradation, and other related issues. Molds can easily transfer to the product that contains crushed walnut shells, thereby causing health concerns. To achieve this, it is important to keep the shells in a well-ventilated area. Airflow is just as important as keeping the shells dry, as it minimizes the risk of rot and spoilage.
• Avoid Direct Sunlight: Direct exposure to sunlight for long periods may result in fading color and weakening the quality. On the other hand, sunlight can affect the surfaces on which crushed walnut shells are used or added as an ingredient.
• Temperature Control: It is required to avoid freezing temperatures as this can easily damage the shells and make them more prone to breakage.
• Pests and Insects: Pests, insects, and rodents are a threat to crushed walnut shells. They may chew or use them as nesting materials, thus, harming their integrity. It is important to store crushed walnut shells in a clean and pest-free environment far away from any potential contamination or damage.
• Sealing: Using an airtight container can help preserve the quality of crushed walnut shells. Using this type of container during storage helps to protect the shells from any unwanted contaminants or potentially hazardous chemicals.

scenarios

Crushed walnut shells have numerous uses in different industries. Here are just a few of them.

• The beauty industry uses ground walnut shell as an exfoliant in facial scrubs and other skincare products. Its abrasive nature allows it to remove dead skin cells thoroughly, revealing a smoother, brighter complexion. Beyond face products, crushed walnut shells find purpose in body scrubs too. Many brands incorporate it into their formulations to promote softer, silkier skin all over the body.
• Crushed walnuts have become increasingly popular in animal care products, specifically for pet bedding and kitty litter. The soft yet sturdy texture of crushed walnuts provides a cozy and comfortable environment for small animals like rabbits or guinea pigs to nest in. Simultaneously, its absorbent properties help control moisture and odor, keeping homes clean and fresh. Furthermore, crushed walnut shells serve as an effective litter alternative for cats.
• In the oil and gas industry, crushed walnut shells serve multiple purposes in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as a technique used to extract oil and natural gas from deep within the earth's shale formations. They act as proppants - substances that keep fractures open - allowing the new channels created by fracking to remain open so that oil or gas can flow freely. Additionally, they aid in cleaning and filtering during drilling operations by absorbing unwanted substances.
• Crushed walnut shells are used as abrasives in air blasting and water jet blasting, among other blasting techniques. Regardless of the method, blasting involves forcefully propelling a material against a surface for cleaning, shaping, or engraving purposes. Walnut shell abrasives offer distinct advantages over conventional ones, such as reducing equipment wear and providing less dust.

How to choose crushed walnuts

Both crushed walnut shell suppliers and buyers can use the following tips to select walnuts for their uses:

• Check for Decay

  A healthy walnut has no decay or rot on its surface. Choose walnuts with intact and healthy shells, forgoing those with visible decay signs, such as cracks, rot, or mold. Decayed walnuts can ruin products or instigate negative health reactions in consumers.

• Assess Hardiness

  A good walnut possesses a hard and strong shell. A crushed walnut shell with a weak or fragile shell should not be picked, as it easily breaks during processing and use.

• Identify Size Variance

  The purpose of crushed walnuts in a product determines the acceptable size variation. For instance, if the goal is to achieve a homogenous and smooth texture, select walnuts with negligible size variance. However, if a rugged and coarse consistency is the aim, select walnuts with significant size variation.

• Consider Color Variance

  Typically, walnuts have a light beige color. Some crushed walnut products might call for darker walnuts with richer hues. Color grading is also ideal for certain applications, such as cosmetics, where distinct color patterns are sought after.

• Focus on Freshness

  Crushed walnut shells age quickly, and their quality diminishes with time. Select walnuts that are as fresh as possible. If buying crushed walnuts in bulk, ask the seller about the recent harvest and ideal storage conditions to maintain freshness.

Q&A

Q: What are the benefits of crushed walnut shells compared to other natural exfoliants?

A: Crushed walnut shells have several advantages over other natural exfoliators. They are more enabled, offering better skin abrasion. Furthermore, walnut shells are more biodegradable than plastic microbeads, making them a better environmental alternative. Lastly, crushed walnut shells can be less expensive than other organic exfoliators, such as sugar cane or sea salt.

Q: Are crushed walnut shells suitable for all skin types?

A: While crushed walnut shells are natural and provide deep scrubs, they are not suitable for all skin types. People with sensitive or dry skin should avoid walnut shell exfoliators, as they may irritate and damage their skin. Individuals with normal to oily skin can use walnut shell exfoliators as part of their skincare routine.

Q: How often should walnut shell exfoliators be used?

A: Crushed walnut shell exfoliators should be used in moderation. Using them 1-2 times weekly is enough to remove dead skin cells and promote skin regeneration.

Q: Can walnut shell exfoliators be included in products other than facial scrubs?

A: Yes. Walnut shell exfoliators are not limited to facial scrubs. They can be included in body scrubs, hand washes, foot scrubs, and soaps. Products containing crushed walnut shells provide better skin abrasion than other formulations.