Abstract: The invention relates to a process for delamination of a layered silicate in an aqueous medium, wherein in a first step a layered silicate is treated with a delamination agent, and in a second step the thus treated layered silicate is contacted with an aqueous medium, whereby the delamination agent is a compound having exactly one positively charged atom, the positively charged atom being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and phosphorous; contains nf functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups, ether groups, sulfonic acid ester groups and carboxylic acid ester groups, nf being a number from 3 to 10; comprises a total number of carbon atoms nc being from 4 to 12; has a ratio nc/(1+nf) from 1 to 2, wherein nc is the total number of carbon atoms of the delamination agent and nf is the total number of functional groups in the delamination agent as defined under ii.

Abstract: A process for delamination of a layered silicate in an aqueous medium includes treating a synthetic or naturally occurring 2:1 clay mineral layered silicate with a delamination agent, and contacting the treated layered silicate with an aqueous medium. An amount of the delamination agent used to treat the layered silicate can be at least equal to the cation exchange capacity of the layered silicate. A delaminated layered silicate can be obtained from the process and provided in a dispersion, a composite, or a barrier.

Abstract: A smectite or vermiculite clay mineral in the form of a powder and having a plurality of layers wherein each layer comprises one octahedral type sheet sandwiched between two tetrahedral type sheets; wherein at least every other layer of said clay mineral comprises a hydroxide species comprising a cation selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mg, Fe, Mn or Zn.

Abstract: A water-soluble film comprising an integrated water-dispersible nanocomposite barrier against any permeation.

Abstract: A paper laminate comprising a water-dispersible nanocomposite barrier against any permeation.

Abstract: A method for making water-absorbing polymer particles is provided and includes providing crosslinkers, polymerizable monomers and inorganic solid particles. The average closest distance between two neighboring crosslinkers (RXL) in a water-absorbing polymer particle for a specific X-load of the water-absorbing polymer particle is calculated via the formula below: Rxl = ( ( 1 rho_dry + x_L rho_liq ) N A · ? i ? w_xl i Mr_CXL i ) 1 3 ( I ) with x_L being the amount of liquid absorbed in the water-absorbing polymer particle in g liq/g water-absorbing polymer particle, rho_liq being the density at room temperature of the fluid that swells the water-absorbing polymer particle (generally saline of 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sheet silicate lamellae of a 2:1 sheet silicate with a high aspect ratio, to a method for producing these sheet silicate lamellae and to an aqueous dispersion which comprises the sheet silicate lamellae. The present invention further relates to the use of the sheet silicate lamellae of the invention for producing a composite material, and also to a corresponding composite material comprising or obtainable using the sheet silicate lamellae, more particularly for use as a diffusion barrier or as a flame retardant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sheet silicate lamellae of a 2:1 sheet silicate with a high aspect ratio, to a method for producing these sheet silicate lamellae and to an aqueous dispersion which comprises the sheet silicate lamellae. The present invention further relates to the use of the sheet silicate lamellae of the invention for producing a composite material, and also to a corresponding composite material comprising or obtainable using the sheet silicate lamellae, more particularly for use as a diffusion barrier or as a flame retardant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an at least partially exfoliated clay. The present invention further relates to an at least partially exfoliated clay obtainable by such a method and to a suspension comprising such a clay, as well to the use of such an at least partially exfoliated clay and of a suspension comprising such an at least partially exfoliated clay. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a polymeric composition comprising an at least partially exfoliated clay and/or a suspension comprising an at least partially exfoliated clay.

Abstract: Open-cell foam having a structure of interconnected struts formed of polymeric material and defining open cells, resulting from polymerization of a continuous phase of a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion, the struts comprising the polymeric material with clay nanoparticles at least partially captured therewithin, is disclosed. The clay nanoparticles may be present in combination with a surface modifier. Methods for making the open-cell foam are also disclosed. Absorbent articles including the open cell foam are also disclosed.

Abstract: A new method for producing a crystalline form of 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione (luminol) is provided. Advantageous uses for this crystalline form as a detecting agent or as an agent for forensic purposes are disclosed, as well a pharmaceutical composition containing said crystalline form.

Abstract: Described is an aqueous one-component coating composition comprising dispersed polyurethane and phyllosilicate. The polyurethane carries acid groups which are at least partially neutralized with a hydrophilic base selected from inorganic bases and organic mono-amines. The hydrophilic base has a water solubility at 20° C. of at least 150 g/l, preferably of at least 200 g/l. The composition can be used for providing oxygen barrier properties to a polymer film.

Abstract: A new crystalline form of 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione (luminol) is provided. Advantageous uses for this crystalline form as a detecting agent or as an agent for forensic purposes are disclosed, as well a pharmaceutical composition containing said crystalline form.

Abstract: A method for making water-absorbing polymer particles is provided and includes providing crosslinkers, polymerizable monomers and inorganic solid particles. The average closest distance between two neighboring crosslinkers (RXL) in a water-absorbing polymer particle for a specific X-load of the water-absorbing polymer particle is calculated via the formula below: Rxl = ( ( 1 rho_dry + x_L rho_liq ) N A · ? i ? w_xl i Mr_CXL i ) 1 3 ( I ) with x_L being the amount of liquid absorbed in the water-absorbing polymer particle in g liq/g water-absorbing polymer particle, rho_liq being the density at room temperature of the fluid that swells the water-absorbing polymer particle (generally saline of 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for delamination of a layered silicate in an aqueous medium, wherein in a first step a layered silicate having a layer charge Lc from ?0.25 to ?1.0 and a charge equivalent area As=47.6 ?2/(2Lc), is treated with a delamination agent, and in a second step the thus treated layered silicate is contacted with an aqueous medium, whereby the delamination agent is a compound having exactly one positively charged atom, the positively charged atom being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and phosphorous; contains of functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups, ether groups, sulfonic acid ester groups and carboxylic acid ester groups, nf being a number from 1 to 10; comprises a total number of carbon atoms nc being from 2 to 20; has a ratio nc/(1+nf) from 1 to 5, wherein nc is the total number of carbon atoms of the delamination agent and nf is the total number of functional groups in the delamination agent as defined under ii.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for delamination of a layered silicate in an aqueous medium, wherein in a first step a layered silicate is treated with a delamination agent, and in a second step the thus treated layered silicate is contacted with an aqueous medium, whereby the delamination agent is a compound having exactly one positively charged atom, the positively charged atom being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and phosphorous; contains nf functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups, ether groups, sulfonic acid ester groups and carboxylic acid ester groups, nf being a number from 3 to 10; comprises a total number of carbon atoms nc being from 4 to 12; has a ratio nc/(1+nf) from 1 to 2, wherein nc is the total number of carbon atoms of the delamination agent and nf is the total number of functional groups in the delamination agent as defined under ii.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a hydrophobically modified clay, wherein the clay modifying agent corresponds to a quaternary ammonium based compound. The present invention further relates to a hydrophobically modified clay obtainable by such a method and to a suspension comprising such a clay, as well to the use of such a hydrophobically modified clay and of a suspension comprising such a hydrophobically modified clay. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a polymeric composition comprising a hydrophobically modified clay and/or a suspension comprising a hydrophobically modified clay.

Abstract: This invention deals with effect pigment comprising a colored hectorite which is produced by ion exchange process of an initial hectorite with a cationic dye, wherein the initial hectorite can be represented by the formula Kz/n[LixMg(3.0?(x+y)?ySi4O10F2]??(I); wherein n is the charge of K and z=x+2y with 0.2<z<0.8; x=0-0.8; y=0-0.4; K is a cation chosen from a first group consisting of Li+, Na+, K+, NH4+, Rb+, Cs+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+ or mixtures thereof or from a second group consisting of alkylammonium salts with 2 to 8 C-atoms, wherein the alkyl can be branched or linear, or from a mixture of cations from the first and the second group and represents not occupied octahedral lattice sites. Furthermore, these colored hectorites can have a coating thereon comprising at least one layer with a high index of refraction >1.8 or a semitransparent metal and optionally an outer protective layer.

Abstract: A method for making water-absorbing polymer particles is provided and includes providing crosslinkers, polymerizable monomers and inorganic solid particles. The average closest distance between two neighboring crosslinkers (RXL) in a water-absorbing polymer particle for a specific X-load of the water-absorbing polymer particle is calculated via the formula below: Rxl = ( ( 1 rho_dry + x_L rho_liq ) N A · ? i ? ? w_xl i Mr_CXL i ) 1 3 ( I ) with x_L being the amount of liquid absorbed in the water-absorbing polymer particle in g liq/g water-absorbing polymer particle, rho_liq being the density at room temperature of the fluid that swells the water-absorbing polymer particle (generally saline of 0.

Abstract: A new method for producing a crystalline form of 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione (luminol) is provided. Advantageous uses for this crystalline form as a detecting agent or as an agent for forensic purposes are disclosed, as well a pharmaceutical composition containing said crystalline form.