Barium sulfate is commonly used as a filler for plastics Extruders, to increase the density of the polymer in vibrational mass damping applications.
In polypropylene and polystyrene plastics, it is used as a filler in proportions up to 70%. The barium sulfate filler has an effect of increasing acid and alkali resistance and opacity.
The natural ore (barite) through grinding, dry cleaning, drying to get the barite powder (also known as heavy barium sulfate), white or gray powder.