Abstract: Compositions and methods of using rock dust are disclosed. A mine rock dust may be capable of being applied in a wet form. A moisture tolerant mine rock dust may include a hydrophobic inorganic particulate material. A moisture tolerant mine rock dust may be capable of being dispersed by a light blast of air. A method may include applying a mine rock dust at a concentration having little or no respirable mine rock dust. A method of applying a mine rock dust may include applying a mine rock dust in a wet form. The mine rock dust may be applied at a concentration having little or no respirable mine rock dust. The mine rock dust may include a hydrophobic inorganic particulate material.

Abstract: This disclosure describes processes for producing polymer foams, and compositions of matter relating to these processes. A process includes the steps of dispersing an organic nucleating agent in a dispersing medium to obtain an additive dispersion, contacting the additive dispersion with a mineral nucleating agent to obtain a hybrid nucleating agent containing the organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of the mineral nucleating agent, and contacting the hybrid nucleating agent with a polymer in the presence of a foaming agent to obtain a polymer foam. A foamed polymer of the present disclosure includes a cellular matrix containing a polymer material, and a mineral matrix of particles containing a hybrid nucleating agent dispersed in the cellular matrix, in which the hybrid nucleating agent contains an organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of an inorganic material.

Abstract: A silicon-carbon particulate composite suitable for use as active material in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery, a precursor composition comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite, a negative electrode comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition, a Li-ion battery comprising the negative electrodes, a method of manufacturing the silicon-carbon particulate composite, precursor composition, negative electrode and Li-ion battery, the use of the silicon-carbon particulate composite in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery to inhibit or prevent silicon pulverization during cycling, for example, during 1st cycle Li intercalation or de-intercalation and/or to maintain electrochemical capacity after 100 cycles, and a device, energy storage cell, or energy storage and conversion system comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition.

Abstract: Compositions useful for foundry processes such as green sandcasting are discussed. The compositions may include ball clay, bentonite, and a carbonaceous material. The ball clay may include leonardite and/or causticized lignite, e.g., as a portion of the natural ball clay deposit. The composition may further include sand, such that the resulting mixture may be formed into a green sand mold for use in casting molded articles. Incorporation of ball clay materials in the compositions may help to improve the quality of the casted article.

Abstract: Mineral additive blend compositions and a method for operating a furnace are provided in order to avoid combustion problems such as agglomeration, deposition, corrosion and reducing emissions. A method for operating a furnace, such as a fluidized-bed reactor, pulverized-fuel combustor, and grate combustor, includes introducing fuel and a mineral additive blend including a clay and a functional mineral into the furnace.

Abstract: A filter aid may include acid-washed diatomaceous earth having high purity, and perlite. A method of making a high purity filter aid may include acid washing diatomaceous earth to reduce the h in the diatomaceous earth, and combining the acid-washed diatomaceous earth with high purity perlite to obtain to obtain a high purity filter aid. A method of reducing extractable metals from diatomaceous earth may include washing the diatomaceous earth in a first acid, rinsing the diatomaceous earth, and washing the diatomaceous earth in a second acid. The first acid may include an inorganic acid having a first strength, and the second acid may include an organic acid having a second strength different than the first strength. A method of filtering a beverage may include passing the beverage through a filter including a filter aid including acid-washed diatomaceous earth having high purity, and perlite.

Abstract: A method of forming a dry molding sand additive may include recovering a non-sand fraction from a foundry waste material and adding the non-sand fraction to a dry molding sand additive formulation to form a dry molding sand additive. Adding the non-sand fraction to the dry molding sand additive formulation may reduce the amount of fresh clay and carbon to produce the dry molding sand additive. A method of forming a molding sand additive may include recovering a waste molding sand additive composition having a clay or carbon content differing from a desired clay and carbon content, recycling the waste molding sand additive as a raw material in production of a fresh molding sand additive, and adjusting the amount of fresh clay or carbon added during production of the fresh molding sand additive to achieve the desired clay and carbon content.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer foam may include providing a polymer composition, introducing an alkaline earth metal silicate into the polymer composition, and foaming the polymer composition using a gas to form a polymer foam. A method of producing a polymer-matrix may include providing a polymer composition, nucleating the polymer composition with an alkaline earth metal silicate, and using a blowing agent to form a polymer foam from the polymer composition. The alkaline earth metal silicate may facilitate nucleation of the cells in the polymer foam. A polymer foam composition may include a polymer-based foam matrix and an alkaline earth metal silicate within a cell of the polymer-based foam matrix.

Abstract: Inorganic particulate compositions containing inorganic particles associated with a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer associated with the inorganic particles are provided. The particulate composition satisfies at least one of the following properties: a BET surface area of the inorganic particles is greater than 8 m2/g, a Hegman value of the inorganic particles is 75 microns or less, and a rate of water loss from the composition upon drying from a moisture level greater than 2% wt % is at least 30% greater than a composition having a corresponding content of a polyacrylate polymer associated with the particles. A method to prepare the composition and formulations for inks, paints, coatings and filled polymeric articles containing the inorganic particulate composition are also provided.

Abstract: A filter aid composition may include a first acid-treated silica-based filter aid having a first particle size distribution and a second acid-treated silica-based filter aid having a second particle size distribution. A method of making a filter aid composition may include providing a first silica-based filter aid having a first particle size distribution, providing a second silica-based filter aid having a second particle size distribution, and blending the first silica-based filter aid with the second silica-based filter aid to form the filter aid composition. A method of filtering a fluid may include providing a filter aid composition including a first acid-treated silica-based filter aid and a second acid-treated silica-based filter aid and filtering the fluid through the filter aid composition. The filter aid composition may have a multimodal particle size distribution such that the first particle size distribution has a d50 greater than the second particle size distribution.

Abstract: A diatomaceous earth product may include diatomaceous earth having a loose weight density of less than about 14 lbs/ft3, and a stoichiometric ratio of alkali metal to iron and/or aluminum ranging from about 100% to about 400%. A diatomaceous earth product may include diatomaceous earth having a loose weight density of less than about 14 lbs/ft3, and a silica specific volume of at least about 3.2. A method for making a low loose weight density diatomaceous earth product may include providing a feed material comprising diatomaceous earth having a silica specific volume of at least about 3.5. The method may further include adding alkali flux to the feed material to achieve a combination having a stoichiometric ratio of alkali metal to iron and/or aluminum that ranges from about 100% to about 400%, calcining the combination at a temperature ranging from about 1,600° F. to about 2,200° F.

Abstract: A composition for additive manufacturing of an article may include a base material, a functional particulate having at least one of an acicular morphology and a platy morphology, and binder. The functional particulate may increase a strength property of the article manufactured with the composition as compared to the strength property of the article manufactured with the composition being devoid of the functional particulate. A method of manufacturing an article via additive manufacturing may include providing a first layer of a powder composition. The powder composition may include a base material, a functional particulate, and binder. The method may also include binding the first layer of powder composition in a predetermined pattern to form a hardened two-dimensional shape including the powder composition, and successively providing additional layers of the powder composition and binding the respective layers to form the article.

Abstract: A method for killing arthropods may include providing a mineral composition to a substrate that arthropods will contact, wherein the mineral composition is not a carrier for a chemical toxin. The mineral composition may include an aluminosilicate particulate, wherein contact between the mineral composition and an arthropod results in death of the arthropod. A composition for killing arthropods may include a mineral composition for associating with a substrate. The mineral composition may include at least one of an aluminosilicate particulate and a diatomaceous earth particulate, wherein the mineral composition is not a carrier for a chemical toxin. The mineral composition may have a median particle size d50 of 10 ?m or less. A system for killing arthropods may include a mineral composition including at least one of an aluminosilicate particulate and a diatomaceous earth particulate. The system may further include a substrate, wherein the mineral composition is associated with the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel surface-modified carbonaceous particulate material having a hydrophilic non-graphitic carbon coating. The material can for example be produced by CVD-coating of a carbonaceous particulate material such as graphite followed by an oxidation treatment under defined conditions. The resulting material exhibits a more hydrophilic surface compared to an unmodified CVD-coated carbon material, which is desirable in many applications, such as when used as an active material in the negative electrode of lithium ion batteries or in a polymer composite material.

Abstract: A method for combusting fuel in the presence of an alkali-containing material may include introducing fuel into a furnace configured to combust the fuel. The method may also include introducing ball clay having a moisture content of at least about 5% by weight into the furnace, and heating at least a portion of the fuel and ball clay, such that at least a portion of the ball clay is at least partially calcined, and the at least partially calcined ball clay adsorbs at least a portion of alkali present in the furnace.

Abstract: A composite filter aid may include diatomaceous earth, natural glass, and a precipitated silica binder, wherein the filter aid has a permeability ranging from 3 to 20 darcys. A composite filter aid may include diatomaceous earth, perlite, and a precipitated silica binder, wherein the filter aid has an alpha density less than 15 lbs/ft3. A method for making a composite material may include blending diatomaceous earth and perlite, adding alkali silicate to the blended diatomaceous earth and perlite, and precipitating the alkali silicate as a binder to make the composite material. A method for filtering a beverage may include using a composite filter aid and/or composite material.

Abstract: A method for calcining diatomaceous earth may include adding at least one lattice interfering agent to the diatomaceous earth to form a composite material. The method may further include heating the composite material at a temperature of at least about 800° C. for at least about 15 minutes to form an at least partially calcined composite material. The at least one lattice interfering agent may include at least one cation of at least one of aluminum and titanium. A diatomaceous earth product may include the at least partially calcined composite material formed from the above-noted method for calcining diatomaceous earth. A filter aid may include the diatomaceous earth product.

Abstract: A method for using a composition for use as rock dust in an underground mine is disclosed. The composition includes a fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material treated with at least one hydrophobic treatment, and a coarse, untreated, dry ground inorganic particulate material. Also disclosed is a composition including coal dust and mine rock dust including a fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material treated with at least one hydrophobic treatment, and a coarse, untreated, dry ground inorganic particulate material. The amount of mine rock dust may be sufficient to render the coal dust explosively inert according to at least one of a 20-L explosibility test or an ASTM E1515 explosibility test. The fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material may be calcium carbonate. The coarse, untreated inorganic particulate material may be calcium carbonate. The fatty acid may be stearic acid.

Abstract: A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate, wherein less than about 90% by weight and greater than about 60% by weight of particles of the calcium carbonate have an equivalent spherical diameter (esd) less than 2 microns. The coating composition may include a thickener present in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 0.9% by active dry weight of the composition. A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate having a mean particle size (d50) of at least about 2.4 microns and a steepness factor of at least about 30. The coating composition may be a paper basecoat composition or a paperboard basecoat composition. A paper or paperboard product may include the coating composition on at least one surface of the paper product or paperboard product.

Abstract: A composition may include a first talc having a morphology index less than or equal to about 0.6 and a second talc having a morphology index greater than or equal to about 0.6. The first talc and the second talc may form a talc composition, and the talc composition may have a content ratio of the first talc to the second talc ranging from about 30:70 by weight to about 80:20 by weight. A polymer composition may include a polymer matrix and a filler composition. The filler composition may include a first talc having a morphology index less than or equal to about 0.8 and a second talc having a morphology index greater than or equal to about 0.8. The filler composition may have a content ratio of the first talc to the second talc ranging from about 30:70 by weight to about 80:20 by weight. The first talc may be a microcrystalline talc. The second talc may be a macrocrystalline talc.