Abstract: A method may be used for reducing titanium dioxide in a composition for forming decorative paper for use in laminated products. The method may include providing a pigment composition including titanium dioxide, and combining the pigment composition with a titanium dioxide extender including at least two particulate minerals to form a combined pigment composition. The titanium dioxide extender may include diatomaceous earth and at least one of aluminosilicate and talc. Combining the pigment composition with the titanium dioxide extender may result in reducing the titanium dioxide by at least 10% while substantially maintaining at least one of whiteness, wet whiteness, brightness, wet brightness, opacity, wet opacity, and resin impregnation of the decorative paper produced including the titanium dioxide extender relative to the decorative paper produced with the titanium dioxide but without the titanium dioxide extender.

Abstract: Use, as an opacifier, of precipitated calcium carbonate particles at least partially in the form of nano fibers or nanochain like agglomerates constituted by at least two interconnected primary particles.

Abstract: A process for making microcapsules may include i) forming a solution of a cross-linker in a liquid; ii) forming a slurry of a surface-modified particulate inorganic material in an aqueous medium; and iii) dispersing the solution of step i) in the slurry of step ii) and causing or allowing the cross-linker to react with the surface-modified particulate inorganic material so as to form a cross-linked microcapsule wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel non-exfoliated graphite powder containing highly oriented grain aggregates (HOGA) having a new morphology and surface chemistry, methods for the production of such graphite powders as well as products containing such novel graphite particles.

Abstract: Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be characterized by a high surface area and a high mesopore content. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be in agglomerated form. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be used, for example, as conductive additives. Dispersions of such compounds in a liquid medium in the presence of a surfactant may be used, for example, as conductive coatings. Polymer compounds filled with the surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be formed. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be used, for example, as carbon supports.

Abstract: A method for obtaining rare earth element compositions may include providing a dispersed aqueous suspension of a particulate material including at least one rare earth element compound and kaolinite. The method may further include adding to the suspension a selective flocculation polymer that facilitates separation of at least a portion of the at least one rare earth element compound from the kaolinite by flocculating the kaolinite and allowing particles of the rare earth element compound to be or remain deflocculated. The method may also include allowing the suspension containing the polymer to separate in a selective flocculation separator into layers including a flocculated product layer and a deflocculated layer containing the portion of the at least one rare earth element compound. The method may further include extracting each of the separated layers from the separator. The rare earth element compound may include La2O3, CeO2, Nd2O3, or Y2O3.

Abstract: Described herein are polymer compositions, for example, recycled polymer compositions, processes for the production thereof, functional fillers for use in the polymer compositions, and articles formed from the polymer compositions.

Abstract: Modified mineral-based fillers with enhanced retention of at least one active ingredient and/or enhanced antimicrobial capabilities are described. The materials comprise at least one mineral-based filler subjected to at least one modification process, which may be either a cationic modification process, a surface adsorption process, a surface retention process, or a combination thereof, with at least one active ingredient, followed by at least one thermal treatment. The at least one active ingredient may be a metal substance or other biocide, fungicide, mildewcide, antibiotic, insecticide, preservative, or antimicrobial agent. Methods for enhancing the antimicrobial activity of products in applications such as polymers, clothing, surgical equipment, coatings, and paints are also described.

Abstract: A method of treating water to reduce or prevent bacterial infection in an aquatic organism may include administering a particulate kaolin clay to the water in a dosage sufficient to reduce the presence of at least one undesirable bacterial species present in the water, wherein the particulate kaolin clay has at least one property selected from: (a) a BET surface area of at least about 25 m2/g; (b) a particle size distribution such that at least about 80% by weight of the particles of kaolin clay have an equivalent spherical diameter of less than 2 microns as measured by Sedigraph; and (c) a particle size distribution such that at least about 25% by weight of the particles of kaolin clay have an equivalent spherical diameter of less than 0.25 microns as measured by Sedigraph. The method may further include contacting an aquatic organism with the treated water.

Abstract: A method for making microcapsules including an encapsulated material may include providing, in an aqueous continuous phase, one or more microcapsules including an encapsulated material surrounded by an inner shell including a first cross-linked polymer matrix. An outer surface of the inner shell may be hydrophobic. The method may also include adding thereto a polymerizable liquid component and a stabilizing agent, wherein the polymerizable liquid component is immiscible in the aqueous environment. The method may also include forming microcapsules wetted by the polymerizable liquid component. The method may further include polymerizing the polymerizable liquid component forming an outer shell including a second cross-linked polymer matrix formed about the inner shell. The microcapsules may be included in articles and compositions.

Abstract: A mineral composition and related methods may include a mineral treated with a styrene-based polymer. The mineral treated with a styrene-based polymer may be used for a coating on a paper product having a first Cobb value that is less than a second Cobb value of the paper product with the coating devoid of the mineral composition.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising a polymer, such as a copolymer comprising alkylene monomers and unsaturated acid monomers, and at least one phyllosilicate, a product coated with said composition, a method of making said coating compositions and a method of making said coated products.

Abstract: A process for treating a sulfurous fluid to form gypsum and magnesium carbonate, whereby the sulfurous fluid is scrubbed with a sequestrating agent to yield a scrubbed fluid, gypsum and magnesium sulfate. The flue gas desulfurized gypsum is isolated from the magnesium sulfate solution by filtration or centrifugation. The magnesium sulfate is reacted with a carbonate salt to produce a magnesium carbonate whereby the reaction conditions are controlled to control the properties of the magnesium carbonate produced.

Abstract: A product including ultrafine natural glass, methods of producing the ultrafine natural glass, and methods of use thereof are provided. The product may have, for example, a small top cut (d99) particle size of, for example, less than 12 microns. The product may also have high blue light brightness higher than, for example, 69, and/or low oil absorption, for example, less than 100 percent in volume. The product may be used in a variety of applications, such as, for example, anti-block filler in plastic films and/or reinforcement filler in polymers.

Abstract: Natural amorphous silica filler products featuring high brightness, low oil absorption, fine particle size, and low crystalline silica content are described. Methods for making, using, and measuring the properties of the natural amorphous silica filler products are also described. The natural amorphous silica filler products described herein may be useful in a variety of products including, but not limited to, polymers, sealants, paints, caulks, latex, architectural coatings, industrial coatings, pozzolan, glass catalysts, ceramic glazes, and anti-blocking applications.

Abstract: A barrier coating composition may include an alcohol-based binder and an inorganic particulate. The barrier coating composition may be used in various ways, including in paper products including the barrier composition, methods of preparing the paper products, articles, particularly food grade packaging formed from the paper products, and packaged products, particularly packaged foodstuffs including the packaging.

Abstract: A method of making a sintered ceramic proppant may include providing a kaolin clay. The kaolin clay may include an Al2O3 content no greater than about 46% by weight, and a K2O content no greater than 0.1% by weight. The kaolin clay may have a particle size distribution such that greater than 70% of the particles have an equivalent spherical diameter of less than 0.5 microns as measured by Sedigraph, and a shape factor less than about 18. The method may further include blunging the kaolin clay, agglomerating the kaolin clay, and sintering the agglomerated kaolin clay to produce a sintered ceramic proppant. The kaolin clay may have an A-bob Hercules viscosity of at least about 3,300 rpm at 18 kilodyne-cm and 70% solids.

Abstract: An inorganic particulate material such as diatomaceous earth, a polymer composition comprising a polymer and the inorganic particulate material and an article or product formed from said composition, use of the inorganic particulate material such as diatomaceous earth as a filler in a composition comprising a polymer, and a method of making a polymer composition and an inorganic particulate material.

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: An aluminosilicate having a pozzolanic activity of greater than about 1400 mg Ca(OH)2 per gram of aluminosilicate. An aluminosilicate having a pozzolanic activity of less than about 1400 mg Ca(OH)2 per gram of aluminosilicate and a d50 of 200 ?m or less. Binder compositions, clinker compositions and concrete compositions comprising said aluminosilicates. A method of making said aluminosilicates. A clinker composition comprising a first aluminosilicate (e.g. kaolin) and a use of said clinker composition to make a composition comprising said aluminosilicates.