Slurry facts for kids

A thick mixture of glass beads and oil flowing down a slope.

A slurry is a thick mixture of solid bits mixed into a liquid. Think of it like a very thick milkshake, but with tiny solid pieces instead of ice cream. These mixtures are used in many different ways, from making buildings to helping plants grow.

What Are Slurries Used For?

Slurries are super useful in many areas. Here are some common examples:

Building and Construction

• A mix of cement and water makes concrete, which is used to build roads and buildings.
• A special mix of bentonite clay and water helps create strong slurry walls for foundations or to hold back water.

Farming and Food

• Farmers use a slurry of animal waste and water as fertilizer to help crops grow.
• In food production, finely ground meat mixed with water can be turned into a meat slurry, which is then processed into food products.
• A mix of water and food starch is used to thicken tasty puddings, sauces, and gravys.

Making Materials

• To make paper, wood pulp is mixed with water to form a slurry.
• In the making of ceramics, minerals, water, and other things are mixed into a slurry.
• For Portland cement, raw materials are ground up and mixed with water to create a slurry.

Other Cool Uses

• Sometimes, a slurry of ice crystals, a special liquid to stop freezing, and water is made. This is called slurry ice and can be used for cooling.
• A mix of coal waste and water is known as coal slurry.
• A dangerous natural event called a lahar is a powerful mixture of volcanic rock and water.

Related topics

• Asphalt

Images for kids

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  Potato starch slurry, often used to thicken food.