Abstract: In one embodiment the invention is a hydrophobic nano-talc composition that is the reaction product of nano-talc with an ammonium, pyridinium or phosponium salt. The composition is characterized by a carbon content of about 5 to about 25 wt %. The compositions are useful in preparing nano-talc/polymer composites. In another embodiment, the invention is a process for preparing a nano-talc composition of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention includes novel compositions comprising a metal, metal oxide, or metal hydroxide powders with bonded coupling agent and polymer coatings. The invention also includes a method of making a metal, metal oxide or metal hydroxide filler composition by dry coating powders with an polymerizable monomers using a coupling agent, preferably an trialkoxysilane, as a covalent linker between the filler and the monomer coating, and inducing polymerization to provide polymer coated particles of the powders.

Abstract: The invention provides high surface area talc compositions by a novel hybrid milling method or soaking method. The hybrid milling method comprises dry milling talc powder followed by mixing with water and wet milling to provide a nano-talc slurry with high surface area, also of the invention. The soaking method comprises dry milling talc powder followed by mixing with water and soaking to provide high surface area nano-talc slurry. The slurry may be dewatered and dried to provide dry nano-talc powder. The nano-talc powder provided by the invention is a novel hydrophilic talc composition. Further embodiments of the invention include organic solvent dispersed nano-talc slurries and methods for providing the same. These slurries can be used to provide polymer nano-talc composites in the form of coatings, sealing and gasketing materials, foams, extruded thermoplastic and thermoset sheets and films, thermoplastic pellets, thermoplastic and thermoset molded polymer composite articles.