Abstract: Methods for reducing moisture content of alkaline earth metal carbonate may include introducing alkaline earth metal carbonate having a moisture content ranging from about 0.1% by mass to about 10% by mass into a primary crusher and operating the primary crusher to obtain alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a top cut particle size d90 of 90 microns or less. The method may also include introducing the particles into a primary grinder and operating the primary grinder to obtain reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d50 of about 60 microns or less. The method may further include introducing the reduced-size particles into a classifier mill and operating the classifier mill to obtain further-reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d50 of about 12 microns or less, and a moisture content of about 0.15% by mass or less.

Abstract: Methods for reducing moisture content of alkaline earth metal carbonate may include introducing alkaline earth metal carbonate having a moisture content ranging from about 0.1% by mass to about 10% by mass into a primary crusher and operating the primary crusher to obtain alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a top cut particle size d90 of 90 microns or less. The method may also include introducing the particles into a primary grinder and operating the primary grinder to obtain reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d50 of about 60 microns or less. The method may further include introducing the reduced-size particles into a classifier mill and operating the classifier mill to obtain further-reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d50 of about 12 microns or less, and a moisture content of about 0.15% by mass or less.

Abstract: Methods for reducing moisture content of alkaline earth metal carbonate may include introducing alkaline earth metal carbonate having a moisture content ranging from about 0.1% by mass to about 10% by mass into a primary crusher and operating the primary crusher to obtain alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a top cut particle size d90 of 90 microns or less. The method may also include introducing the particles into a primary grinder and operating the primary grinder to obtain reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d50 of about 60 microns or less. The method may further include introducing the reduced-size particles into a classifier mill and operating the classifier mill to obtain further-reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d50 of about 12 microns or less, and a moisture content of about 0.15% by mass or less.

Abstract: Methods for preparing and compositions including untreated and surface-treated alkaline earth metal carbonate particulates are described. For example, a method for processing alkaline earth metal carbonate may include introducing alkaline earth metal carbonate into a stirred media mill, and dry grinding the alkaline earth metal carbonate in the stirred media mill to produce an untreated alkaline earth metal carbonate particulate having certain characteristics. In some examples, the method may include introducing carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid salt into the stirred media mill, and dry grinding the alkaline earth metal carbonate and the carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid salt in an integrated dry grinding and surface-treating process in the stirred media mill to produce a surface-treated alkaline earth metal carbonate particulate. In some examples, heating may be added during the dry grinding process.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a breathable film including producing an inorganic filler by treating particles of an inorganic particulate material comprising an alkaline earth metal carbonate compound by reaction with a hydrophobizing surface treatment agent comprising one or more aliphatic carboxylic acids having at least 10 chain carbon atoms to produce a hydrophobic coating on the particles including a classification step to result in an inorganic filler having a reduced level of interfering particles. The invention is also breathable polymeric films made using the novel filler.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a breathable film including producing an inorganic filler by treating particles of an inorganic particulate material comprising an alkaline earth metal carbonate compound by reaction with a hydrophobizing surface treatment agent comprising one or more aliphatic carboxylic acids having at least 10 chain carbon atoms to produce a hydrophobic coating on the particles including a classification step to result in an inorganic filler having a reduced level of interfering particles. The invention is also breathable polymeric films made using the novel filler.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a breathable film including producing an inorganic filler by treating particles of an inorganic particulate material comprising an alkaline earth metal carbonate compound by reaction with a hydrophobizing surface treatment agent comprising one or more aliphatic carboxylic acids having at least 10 chain carbon atoms to produce a hydrophobic coating on the particles including a classification step to result in an inorganic filler having a reduced level of interfering particles. The invention is also breathable polymeric films made using the novel filler.

Abstract: A method of producing a breathable film which comprises the steps of: (a) producing an inorganic filler by treating particles of an inorganic particulate material comprising an alkaline earth metal carbonate compound by reaction with a hydrophobising surface treatment agent comprising one or more aliphatic carboxylic acids having at least 10 chain carbon atoms to produce a hydrophobic coating on the particles under conditions such that the inorganic filler produced has a total surface moisture level comprising moisture adsorbed on the particles and trapped within the hydrophobic coating thereon of not greater than 0.1% by weight based on the dry weight of the inorganic particulate material; (b) producing a filled thermoplastic composition by mixing the inorganic filler produced in step (a) with a heated thermoplastic polymer; and (c) shaping the composition produced in step (b) by heat processing to form a film product.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a breathable film including producing an inorganic filler by treating particles of an inorganic particulate material comprising an alkaline earth metal carbonate compound by reaction with a hydrophobizing surface treatment agent comprising one or more aliphatic carboxylic acids having at least 10 chain carbon atoms to produce a hydrophobic coating on the particles including a classification step to result in an inorganic filler having a reduced level of interfering particles. The invention is also breathable polymeric films made using the novel filler.