Abstract: A method for treating calcium carbonate includes combining calcium carbonate with an amount of stearic acid and an amount of water to form a mixture, the amount of water being at least about 0.1% by weight relative to the total weight. The method further includes blending the mixture to form a stearic acid-treated calcium carbonate composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are stabilized kaolin slurries comprising a kaolin comprising no more than about 80% by weight of particles having an equivalent spherical diameter of less than 2 microns and at least one stabilizer, wherein the stabilized kaolin slurry has a 28-day pour test result of at least about 80% poured. Also disclosed are methods of making such stabilized kaolin slurries.

Abstract: A weighting agent for use in a wellbore fluid composition is provided. The weighting agent includes a ferrosilicon material, wherein iron is present in the ferrosilicon material in an amount equal to or greater than about 50% by weight of the ferrosilicon material. A composition including a wellbore fluid and a weighting agent, as well as methods for using and making a weighting agent, are also provided.

Abstract: Described herein are spunlaid fibers including at least one polymeric resin and at least one filler having an average particle size of less than or equal to about 5 microns and/or having a top cut of less than about 15 microns. The at least one filler may be present in an amount of less than about 40% by weight, relative to the total weight of the spunlaid fibers. Also described herein is a method for producing spunlaid fibers including adding calcium carbonate to at least one polymeric resin and extruding the resulting mixture. Further described herein are nonwoven fabrics including such spunlaid fibers, and methods for producing them.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are diatomaceous earth products containing reduced soluble metal levels, processes for reducing soluble metal levels in diatomaceous earth products, and methods of using the same. In particular, diatomaceous earth products are disclosed that have been treated with at least one surface metal blocking agent, and then subjected to at least one thermal treatment process to reduce the level of soluble metals associated therewith. Such diatomaceous earth products containing reduced soluble metal levels may be useful for various applications including, but not limited to, as filter aid materials.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of preventing or reducing scale formation or corrosion by combining at least one scale-forming fluid comprising at least one scaling compound with at least one anti-scale material chosen from at least one scale-adsorbent agent. The methods may reduce or prevent the formation of scale on surfaces of liquid-related process equipment, such as boilers and heat exchangers.

Abstract: Described herein is a flux-calcined diatomite composition having a cristobalite content of less than about 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the flux-calcined composition and a whiteness of greater than about 90. Also described herein is a process for producing flux-calcined diatomite compositions including calcining a feed composition including diatomite having an iron content of at least about 0.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the feed composition in the presence of at least one flux including at least one alkali metal.

Abstract: A process for producing a porous ceramic body may include: a) mixing a coated porogen with a silicate or an oxide ceramic precursor, wherein the porogen is decomposable to gaseous decomposition products and optionally solid products upon heating, and is coated with a coated agent; b) forming a green body from the mixture obtained in step (a); and c) firing the green body obtained in step (b) to obtain the ceramic body, whereby the porogen decomposes to form pores within the ceramic body, and the coating agent is deposited at the inner surface of the pores. The porogen may be coated with a coating agent which, upon firing, is deposited at the inner surface of the ceramic pores, so that porous ceramics having decreased weight and improved porosity are obtained, while maintaining good mechanical strength. A green body and porous ceramic body obtainable with the above-mentioned process are also described.

Abstract: A method for treating calcium carbonate includes combining calcium carbonate with an amount of stearic acid and an amount of water to form a mixture, the amount of water being at least about 0.1% by weight relative to the total weight. The method further includes blending the mixture to form a stearic acid-treated calcium carbonate composition.

Abstract: Compositions such as filled and coated papers may include microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material.

Abstract: A sintered rod-shaped proppant and anti-flowback agent possesses high strength and high conductivity. The sintered rods comprise between about 0.2% by weight and about 4% by weight aluminum titanate. In some embodiments, the sintered rods are made by mixing bauxitic and non-bauxitic sources of alumina that may also contain several so-called impurities (such as TiO2), extruding the mixture, and sintering it. The starting material may optionally be milled to achieve better compacity and crush resistance in the final sintered rod. A fracturing fluid may comprise the sintered rods alone or in combination with a proppant, preferably a proppant of a different shape.

Abstract: A method of treating a kaolin particulate material to improve one or more of its properties by removal of impurity particles therein which includes: producing a dispersed aqueous suspension of a kaolin particulate material containing at least 0.1% by weight, based on the dry weight of the kaolin particulate material of separable particulate impurity; diluting said dispersed aqueous suspension by adding a diluent thereto; adding a selective flocculation polymer to the diluted suspension; allowing the suspension containing the polymer to separate in a selective flocculation separator into layers comprising a flocculated product layer and a deflocculated impurity layer containing the separable impurity; and extracting the separated layers from the separator, wherein at least a portion of said deflocculated impurity layer is recirculated for use as at least a portion of the aforementioned diluent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for removing discoloring impurities, such as carbon impurities, particularly graphite, from kaolin clay to enhance the brightness of the kaolin clays. The methods include reverse flotation processes. Also disclosed herein are high brightness kaolin products, and the uses thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are foam glasses and compositions comprising such foam glasses, which can be used, for example, in structural applications. The foam glass can have one or more properties, such as a density ranging from about 20 Ib/ft3 to about 100 Ib/ft3, a compressive strength of at least about 650 psi, and an alumina content of at least about 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the foam glass. Also disclosed are methods for preparing foam glasses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are kaolin compositions, such as beneficiated fine sedimentary kaolin compositions. The beneficiated fine sedimentary kaolins may be obtained from the upper bed of the Rio Capim Kaolin deposit. The compositions may have at least one property chosen from a low iron content and low Hinckley crystallinity index, such as Fe2O3 in an amount less than about 0.8% by weight relative to the total weight of the solids content and wherein the Hinckley crystallinity index of the kaolin is less than about 0.5. Also disclosed are products obtained therefrom, such as paint and paper coating compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a composition, that is a talcose composition, comprising synthetic mineral particles which contain silicon, germanium and metal, have a crystalline and lamellar structure, and are of formula (SixGe1?x)4M3O10(OH)2, wherein M is at least one divalent metal and is of formula Mgy(1)COy(2)Zny(3)Cuy(4)Mny(5)Fey(6)Niy(7)Cry(8), and x is a real number of the interval [0; 1]. According to said method, a gel containing silicon, germanium and metal, of formula —(SixGe1?x)4M3O11, n?H2O—, in the liquid state, is subjected to a hydrothermal treatment over a defined period of time and at a temperature of between 300° C. and 600° C., said time and temperature being selected according to the desired particle size and structural stability for the mineral particles containing silicon, germanium and metal, to be prepared.

Abstract: Foam glass may include natural glass, wherein the foam glass includes greater than 5% alumina by weight of the foam glass and has a coefficient of thermal expansion ranging between 4×10?6 ppm/° C. and 6×10?6 ppm/° C. A composition for making foam glass may include natural glass including at least 5% alumina by weight of the composition, soda ash including less than 10% by weight of the composition, and boric acid including at least 5% by weight of the composition. A method for making foam glass may include mixing natural glass with boron to form a mixture, milling the mixture, melting the mixture at a temperature of at least 900° C., and allowing the melted mixture to cool, such that the foam glass includes at least 5% alumina by weight of the foam glass and at least 5% boron oxide by weight of the foam glass.

Abstract: Particulate mineral materials comprising at least one coating comprising at least one metal compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the at least one metal compound is a metal silicate compound. In another embodiment, the at least one metal compound is a metal oxide compound. In one embodiment, the particulate mineral material is perlite. In another embodiment, the particulate mineral material is perlite microspheres. In a further embodiment, the particulate mineral material is diatomite. Methods of making particulate mineral materials coated with at least one metal compound are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the at least one metal compound may be injected into a perlite expander to form a metal compound coated perlite material. In another embodiment, the at least one metal compound may be applied through a low temperature coating process to the at least one particulate mineral material. Uses for metal compound coated particulate mineral materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are diatomite filter aid products with enhanced permeabilities and flow characteristics, and methods for enhancing the permeabilities and flow characteristics of very fine grain, low permeability diatomite ore by, in one embodiment, pre-agglomerating the ore in the presence of less than 10% water and then subjecting the pre-agglomerated ore to at least one calcination process. At least one flux may be used in the at least one calcination process. Also disclosed herein is a method of processing diatomite ore suitable for samples with high wet densities or large amounts of fine particulate matter. Also disclosed herein are methods of producing commercially applicable filter aid products from Hungarian diatomite.

Abstract: A flotation process for recovering feldspar from a feldspar containing feed material, comprising the following steps: (1) forming an aqueous suspension of a feldspar containing feed material, in the absence of hydrofluoric acid, wherein the suspension comprises from 0.004 to 0.3% wt. of a flotation reagent comprising: (a) one or more amines, containing at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, comprising 8 to 50 carbon atoms, or a salt thereof; and (b) one or more primary, secondary or tertiary alcohols, containing at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, comprising 8 to 50 carbon atoms; the ratio of (a) to (b) ranging from 500:1 to 1:40 by weight; (2) agitating the obtained suspension to produce a feldspar containing fraction, and (3) separating the feldspar containing fraction.