Abstract: Apparatus or a method for measuring a surface area of collection media having a collection surface, including a collection surface having a complex surface like reticulated foam, that includes steps of: rendering the collection surface hydrophobic, contacting the collection surface with an aqueous mixture containing hydrophobic particles so as to achieve a single layer of the hydrophobic particles on the collection surface, and determining the surface area based on the number or mass of the hydrophobic particles in the single layer. The hydrophobic particles may include mineral particles. The collection surface may include a foam, or a three-dimensional open-cell structure. The method may include determining and comparing the mass of the collecting surface without the single layer and the mass of the collection surface with the single layer. The method may include functionalizing the collection surface with poly(dimethylsiloxane), fluoroarylsilane. The collection surface may be made of a hydrophobic material.

Abstract: A substrate for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The polymeric coating can be modified with tackifiers; plasticizers; crosslinking agents; chain transfer agents; chain extenders; adhesion promoters; aryl or alky copolymers; fluorinated copolymers and/or additives; hydrophobizing agents such as hexamethyldisilazane; inorganic particles such as silica, hydrophobic silica, and/or fumed hydrophobic silica; MQ resin; and/or other additives to control and modify the properties of the polymer.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for separating valuable material from unwanted material in a mixture, featuring engineered media made of synthetic material and formed by a body having a polymer surface with a coating functionalized to attract valuable material in a mixture, the polymer surface being made from a polymer having a filler addition added prior to curing in order to enhance coating adhesion and modify polymer surface energy. The filler addition includes hydrophilic or hydrophobic silica added to a pre-cured polymer, including a pre-cured urethane foam; or a hydroxyl, an amine, a carboxyl, a carbonyl or an ester, all having reactive functionality or surface energy properties to enhance the coating adhesion and modify the polymer surface energy. The engineered media is formed by a composite of a polyurethane foam and silica, including either a hydrophilic silica or a hydrophobic silica.

Abstract: A substrate for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The polymeric coating can be modified with tackifiers; plasticizers; crosslinking agents; chain transfer agents; chain extenders; adhesion promoters; aryl or alky copolymers; fluorinated copolymers and/or additives; hydrophobizing agents such as hexamethyldisilazane; inorganic particles such as silica, hydrophobic silica, and/or fumed hydrophobic silica; MQ resin; and/or other additives to control and modify the properties of the polymer.

Abstract: A process of coating an open-cell foam substrate includes the steps of arranging two rollers separated by a gap; positioning the substrate above the gap; providing a coating material onto the substrate, feeding the substrate through the gap so as to achieve a layer of the coating material on the substrate, wherein the coating material is selected from the group consisting of a polysiloxane derivative, acrylic polymer, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitriles, styrene block copolymers with ethylene, styrene block copolymers with propylene, styrene block copolymers with isoprene and polyvinyl ether and modifying the coating with tackifiers; plasticizers; crosslinking agents; chain transfer agents; chain extenders; adhesion promoters; aryl or alky copolymers; fluorinated copolymers; hexamethyldisilazane; and silica.

Abstract: A substrate for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The surface has a surface roughness structure in the nano-scale to micro-scale range. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The polymeric coating can be modified with tackifiers; plasticizers; crosslinking agents; chain transfer agents; chain extenders; adhesion promoters; aryl or alky copolymers; fluorinated copolymers and/or additives; hydrophobicizing agents such as hexamethyldisilazane; inorganic particles such as silica, hydrophobic silica, and/or fumed hydrophobic silica; MQ resin; and/or other additives to control and modify the properties of the polymer.

Abstract: A composite medium for collecting mineral particles in an aqueous slurry has a polymer substrate deposited or penetrated with an inorganic material and further coated with a hydrophobic material. The hydrophobic material can be a hydrophobic silane or a hydrophobic polymer such as polysiloxane. Alternatively, the inorganic material deposited substrate is first reacted with a reactive silane and then coated with a hydrophobic polymer. The polymer substrate can be in the form of a spherical bead, a small cube, a filter or a conveyor.

Abstract: An engineered collection medium for use in mineral separation is described. The engineered collection medium has a solid phase body configured with a three-dimensional open-cell structure like foam or sponge to provide collection surfaces. The three-dimensional surface structure is made of a hydrophobic material which is a reaction product of isocyanate and polyol promotes the attraction of mineral particles to the collection surfaces as a hydrophobic foam. The hydrophobic foam can be in the form of a cube, sphere, or sheet and can be used in a filter or conveyor belt in a processor.

Abstract: A plurality of collection surfaces for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The collection surfaces having the mineral particles attached thereon are caused to interact with liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide so that the mineral particles can be stripped from the collection surfaces.

Abstract: A plurality of collection surfaces for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The collection surfaces having the mineral particles attached thereon are caused to interact with liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide so that the mineral particles can be stripped from the collection surfaces.

Abstract: A substrate for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The polymeric coating can be modified with tackifiers; plasticizers; crosslinking agents; chain transfer agents; chain extenders; adhesion promoters; aryl or alky copolymers; fluorinated copolymers and/or additives; hydrophobizing agents such as hexamethyldisilazane; inorganic particles such as silica, hydrophobic silica, and/or fumed hydrophobic silica; MQ resin; and/or other additives to control and modify the properties of the polymer.

Abstract: A substrate for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The surface has a surface roughness structure in the nano-scale to micro-scale range. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The polymeric coating can be modified with tackifiers; plasticizers; crosslinking agents; chain transfer agents; chain extenders; adhesion promoters; aryl or alky copolymers; fluorinated copolymers and/or additives; hydrophobicizing agents such as hexamethyldisilazane; inorganic particles such as silica, hydrophobic silica, and/or fumed hydrophobic silica; MQ resin; and/or other additives to control and modify the properties of the polymer.

Abstract: A Rollout Greeting Card comprises a flat body of pliable, coiled material whereon artwork and wording can be inscribed which when uncoiled gradually reveals the artwork and wording thereon.

Abstract: Inverse microemulsions having a Standard Viscosity of at least about 3.3 cps are disclosed which comprise an aqueous phase of dispersed micelles containing water and an (alk)acrylamide-based polymer substituted with at least 1 mole percent of quaternized tertiary aminomethyl groups, wherein said microemulsion is derived from a microemulsion containing greater than about 20 percent, by weight, and less than about 40 percent, by weight, of aqueous phase polymer solids, based on said microemulsion. A method of making said microemulsions and use thereof to dewater dispersions of suspended solids are also taught.

Abstract: Inverse microemulsions are disclosed wherein the dispersed micelles containing water and an (alk)acrylamide-based polymer substituted with at least one mole percent of quaternized tertiary aminomethyl groups i.e. the aqueous phase, contain from about 20 percent to about 40 percent, by weight, of polymer solids and the microemulsion has a Standard Viscosity of at least about 3.3 cps. A method of making said microemulsions and use thereof to dewater dispersions of suspended solids are also taught.

Abstract: Quaternary dialkylaminomethyl polymers derived from (alk)acrylamide and about 1 to about 15 mole percent ethylenically unsaturated anionic comonomer wherein the resulting ampholytic polymer has a standard viscosity of at least about 2.1 cps are disclosed. Processes for the preparation of these polymers and their use in flocculating suspended material in a variety of aqueous dispersions are also disclosed.