n a fine usually white clay formed by the weathering of aluminous minerals (as feldspar); used in ceramics and as an absorbent and as a filler (e.g., in paper)
White clay (kaolin) filters absorb certain kinds of colloids, alumina filters certain other kinds.
His letters go out as a cambric-like cloth sized with kaolin, with a smooth web finish and high tensile strength.
Other biggies include paper and paperboard, "drilling mud," kaolin clay, fabric and frozen chicken parts--in particular, chicken feet, beloved by Chinese gourmets.