Abstract: Disclosed herein is ultra-low residue, high solids, wet “cake” kaolin and ultra-low residue, high solids, wet “cake” calcined kaolin products, produced by use of wet screening/non-drying product isolation, which are useful in the manufacture of top size-sensitive applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are inorgano-neutralized calcined kaolin comprising calcined kaolin treated with at least one basic inorganic compound, a composition comprising the inorgano-neutralized calcined, and use of the inorgano-neutralized calcined kaolin in silicone rubber formulation. Further disclosed herein are a method of making the inorgano-neutralized calcined kaolin and a method of making a silicone rubber formulation comprising the inorgano-neutralized calcined kaolin.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polymer composition comprising a polymer resin and, as opacifier, a flash calcined kaolin clay filler and a TiO2. The polymer composition may be formed into shaped articles, particularly polyolefin film.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of a dehydrated particulate mineral having a d50 of less than or equal to about 0.5 ?m as a filler in combination with a thermoplastic polymer in an infrared absorbing polymer film. The polymer film may be used in greenhouses and the like.

Abstract: A dispersion of a particulate inorganic material comprises a non-aqueous liquid medium containing a particulate inorganic material dispersed therein and an effective amount of one or more dispersing agent which serves to maintain the particulate inorganic material in dispersion in the non-aqueous medium, wherein the particulate inorganic material has an average particle size (d50) less than about 9 ?m, the particulate inorganic material is present in the non-aqueous medium in an amount greater than about 70% by weight of the dispersion and the viscosity of the dispersion is less than about 150 Pa·s measured at room temperature on a Bohlin rheometer using a 20 mm cone/plate at a shear rate of 1/sec. A substantially dry particulate inorganic material surface treated with the dispersing agent and optionally one or more hydrophobising surface treatment agent, and capable of forming the said dispersion, is a further feature of the invention.

Abstract: A method for increasing the brightness of metakaolins comprises calcining a metakaolin under reducing conditions. The calcined metakaolins are suitable for use in a variety of applications including in polymer products and paints.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a kaolin particulate material suitable for use as an improved super-calendered filler. This method includes: (a) preparing an aqueous feed suspension of kaolin; (b) treating the kaolin of the feed suspension by attrition grinding in a vessel using grinding media granules; (c) delivering an aqueous suspension of the kaolin ground in (b) to a particle size classifier and separating the kaolin of the suspension into a coarse fraction and a fine fraction; (d) returning an aqueous suspension of the coarse fraction produced in (c) to the grinding vessel to be further attrition ground; and (e) extracting an aqueous suspension of the fine fraction produced in (c) as a product suspension. Advantageously, the kaolin of the feed suspension in (a) is such that not more than 30% by weight has a particle size less than 2 ?m and not more than 30% by weight has a particle size greater than 10 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are organo-neutralized calcined kaolin comprising calcined kaolin treated with at least one basic organic compound, a composition' comprising the organo-neutralized calcined, and use of the organo-neutralized calcined kaolin in silicone rubber formulation. Further disclosed herein are a method of making the organo-neutralized calcined kaolin and a method of making a silicone rubber formulation comprising the organo-neutralized calcined kaolin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions comprising novel calcined kaolins having a large particle size and low levels of alkali and alkali earth metal oxides. Methods of making the disclosed calcined kaolin by calcining hydrous kaolin are described. Applications using the disclosed compositions in preparing catalyst substrates, paints, coatings, sealants, cementitious products, ceramics, rubbers, polymers and other compositions are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of determining the presence of contaminating dispersants, such as polymeric dispersants and inorganic dispersants, in a processed mineral, including mineral products such as pigments, by measuring the particle charge of the processed mineral using a particle charge detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particulate kaolin suitable for use as a filler material in compositions for making uncoated paper, the kaolin having a mean particle size ranging from 0.7 ?m to 3 ?m and a shape factor of at least 60. The invention also relates to compositions comprising a particulate kaolin, and methods for making uncoated paper sheets.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of heat-treating particulate material, such as kaolin. The method comprises providing a feed mixture comprising a particulate material, such as hydrous kaolin, wherein at least a portion of the particulate feed is coated with an additive/liquid fuel mixture comprising at least one additive dispersed in liquid fuel. The method further comprises heating the particulate feed to heat treat, e.g., calcine, the particulate feed and burn the liquid fuel to form a heat-treated product. The liquid fuel coating can act as a secondary, indirect heat source for heat treating.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are dry aggregated calcium carbonates, comprising calcium carbonate and at least one inorganic binder, wherein the dry aggregated calcium carbonate has a median aggregate particle size (D50) of at least 5 ?m. Also disclosed are compositions comprising such dry aggregated calcium carbonates. Products, such as paints, and methods of making products containing such aggregated calcium carbonate are further disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are slurries comprising at least one particulate inorganic material dispersed in an aqueous medium, at least one anionic polymeric dispersant in a solids content ranging from 0.1% to 3% by weight, wherein the at least one anionic polymeric dispersant is partially neutralized by at least one monovalent neutralizing agent, and at least one inorganic dispersant in an amount ranging from 0.3% to 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the inorganic solids in the slurry. Also disclosed are methods of making such slurries and products comprising or made from such slurries.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of calcining particulate material, such as kaolin. The method comprises providing a feed mixture comprising a particulate material, such as hydrous kaolin, wherein at least a portion of the particulate feed is coated with a liquid fuel. The method further comprises heating the particulate feed mixture to calcine the particulate feed and burn the liquid fuel to form a calcined product. The liquid fuel coating can act as a secondary, indirect heat source for calcining. The overall calcining temperatures and/or times can be reduced as a result of adding the liquid fuel.

Abstract: The present invention provides high brightness kaolins exhibiting a Brightness (GE) of at least about 90.0. The hydrous kaolin pigments of the present invention may also have, inter alia, a steepness index (d30/d70×100) of at least about 39 and/or a titania concentration less than or equal to about 0.40% by weight of the pigment on a dry basis. (062) The hydrous kaolin pigment is produced by a process comprising: a) forming an aqueous suspension of a hydrous kaolin clay; b) forming a primary product by subjecting the suspension to classification or a combination of classification and griding; c), separating the kaolin from impurities by selective flocculation; and d) defining the separated kaolin. (063) The hydrous kaolins of the present invention allow coated papers to be produced at high brightness while maintaining acidic conditions on a paper machine. The invention pigmets exhibit brightness levels unexpectedly higher, e.g., about 2 to about 2.

Abstract: A method of treating solid containing material derived from effluent or sludge from a plant for deinking paper, the material containing calcium in the form of one or more insoluble calcium compounds, the method including the steps of treating the material with an acid to cause dissolution of the calcium thereby forming a calcium ion-containing solution in which insoluble solids are suspended, separating the solution from the insoluble solids and incinerating the separated solids. The solution containing calcium ions may be treated by adding one or more reagents to form a calcium compound precipitate, eg calcium carbonate. The particulate solids produced following the incineration step and following the precipitate formation may be employed as pigments or fillers in paper making or paper coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrous kaolin product having improved optical properties, for example, when used in the production of paper products. The present invention comprises an improved barrier coating for paper and a method of making the coated paper. The present invention also comprises an improved method from making filled and coated paper products. The present invention uses a composition comprising kaolin having a shape factor of at least about 70:1, such as at least about 80:1 or at least about 100:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrous kaolin product having improved optical properties, for example, when used in the production of paper products. The present invention comprises an improved barrier coating for paper and a method of making the coated paper. The present invention also comprises an improved method from making filled and coated paper products. The present invention uses a composition comprising kaolin having a shape factor of at least about 70:1, such as at least about 80:1 or at least about 100:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrous kaolin product having improved optical properties, for example, when used in the production of paper products. The present invention comprises an improved barrier coating for paper and a method of making the coated paper. The present invention also comprises an improved method from making filled and coated paper products. The present invention uses a composition comprising kaolin having a shape factor of at least about 70:1, such as at least about 80:1 or at least about 100:1.