Abstract: Highly porous ceramic material for adsorption and absorption purposes, particularly for animal litter, characterized by a porosity of 50 to 300%, preferably 200 to 250%; a water absorption capacity of 50 to 200%, preferably 100 to 150%; a pH-value in the range 5 to 9, preferably 7 to 8; a bulk density of 400 to 700 g/l; an internal surface (BET-N.sub.2) between 20 and 200 m.sup.2 /g, preferably between 80 and 150 m.sup.2 /g; which can be produced by firing a foamed mixture of clay or clays, optionally aggregate or aggregates, anionic or cationic surfactant or surfactants and deflocculant or deflocculants, process for the production thereof and use thereof.

Abstract: A lightweight oil and gas well proppant made by simultaneously mixing and compacting a milled calcined kaolin clay powder to form green pellets and then drying, screening and sintering the pellets to form proppant pellets having a specific gravity of 3.0 or less and a conductivity of at least 4,200 millidarci-feet and preferably at least 5,100 md-ft as measured by the Stim-Lab method after 50 hours at 8,000 psi and 275.degree. F. in the presence of deoxygenated aqueous 2% solution of KCl.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing the abrasiveness of calcined clay, e.g., kaolin clay. The method comprises intermixing the clay prior to calcination with a finely-divided silica, preferably in the form of colloidal or fumed silica, in an amount sufficient to reduce the abrasiveness of the calcined product.

Abstract: Lightweight ceramic material for building purposes, particularly for bricks, plates and panels, as well as for using as an aggregate/filler material for lightweight building materials, characterized by a porosity of 50 to 300%, preferably 100 to 250%; a pH-value between 5 and 9, particularly 7 to 8; a bulk density of 300 to 700 g/l; which can be produced by firing a foamed mixture of clay or clays, optionally aggregate or aggregates, anionic or cationic surfactant or surfactants, deflocculant or deflocculants, and optionally a hydraulic binder, such as cement, at temperatures above 600.degree. C., process for the production thereof and the use thereof.

Abstract: A low-abrasion calcined kaolin opacifying pigment composed of particles in the size range of about 70 to 84% by weight finer than 2 microns and having a color defined by Hunter Trisitimulus values of "L" within the range of 92 to 94, "a" within the range of .sup.+ 1.0 to .sup.+ 2.2 and "b" within the range of .sup.+6.4 to .sup.+ 7.5. The pigment is produced by novel wet processing including high solids degritting of a high iron, high titania content Tertiary kaolin without conventional fractionation, bleaching and dewatering to isolate a fine particle size fraction, followed by spray drying, pulverization, calcination and repulverization.

Abstract: High strength alumina porcelains for use in insulators are disclosed herein, in which the maximum particle diameter of quartz grians remaining in the porcelains is not more than 40 .mu.m. A process for producing such high strength alumina porcelains for use in insulators comprises the steps of mixing the alumina of a controlled grain size which is decomposed in a single crystalline state and in which the 50% average particle diameter is in a range from 4 to 14 .mu.m, raw materials ground finely which are selected from the group consisting essentially of feldspar, silica sand, and china stone, and clay together, forming the thus obtained mixture, and drying and firing the formed body.

Abstract: A method for forming a hydrothermally aggregated kaolin clay pigment, comprising preparing an aqueous slurry of particulate kaolin clay and sodium aluminate, having a total solids concentration of from about 2 to 25% by weight, the weight ratio between kaolin and aluminate being greater than 1; and hydrothermally treating the slurry in a closed system to form aggregates of adherent kaolin platelets.

Abstract: A lightweight oil and gas well proppant made by simultaneously mixing and compacting a mixture of kaolin clay which has been calcined at a temperature low enough to prevent the formation of mullite and crystobalities to an LOI of 12 or less when tested at 1400.degree. C., and amorphous to microcrystalline silica both of which have been milled to an average agglomerated particle size of 7 microns or less to form green pellets, and then drying, screening and sintering the pellets to form proppant pellets having a specific gravity of 2.7 or less, the proppant having a conductivity of at least 3,000 millidarci-feet as measured by the StimLab Technique after 50 hours at 8,000 psi and 275.degree. F., in the presence of deoxygenated aqueous 2% solution of KCl using sandstone shims.

Abstract: A porous cordierite ceramic and a process for making the same are provided by the present invention. Preferably, the ceramic material includes at least about 95 percent cordierite in the crystal phase, a porosity of at least about 30 volume percent, a crush load strength of at least about 6 pounds, and a thermal conductivity of less than about 5 watts/meter-.degree.K. The method of producing a porous cordierite ceramic includes (a) combining alumina, clay, talc, a pore-forming material and preferably free silica; (b) adding binder, water and other additives; and (c) shaping the mixture to form a green body. The green body is thereafter fired to form a sintered ceramic body. The porous cordierite is useful in a heat source retainer.

Abstract: A water-permeable ceramic material is made of a porcelain particulate material as the principle component, one or more primary binders selected from starch adhesives, organic binders, clay and water glass, and one or more secondary binders selected from frit, glaze and glass powder. The principal component is selected from one or more porcelain materials including a fired mixture of pottery stone, kaolin and feldspar; porcelain wastes, and other porcelain materials such as road-surfacing porcelain color aggregates, and is classified to have a particles are of relatively high bulk density and very low porosity. The mix is shaped by a pressing machine to a tabular or tubular form suited to the specific use of the final product. The pressure of the pressing machine is adjusted to an amount of 30-200 kg/cm.sup.2. After shaping, the resultant compact is sintered at a temperature up to the melting point of the porcelain particles to produce the ceramic material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the improvement of the properties of cordierite sintered structures. The improvement consists essentially of heat treating the calcined kaolin component which when added to the batch of ray materials increases the thermal shock resistance and decreases the coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: Kaolin clay treated with 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % of aluminum chlorohydrate or a double hydroxide of aluminum and magnesium are an effective pitch adsorption agent for use in paper making processes.

Abstract: A lightweight oil and gas well proppant made by simultaneously mixing and compacting a milled calcined kaolin clay powder to form green pellets and then drying, screening and sintering the pellets to form proppant pellets having a specific gravity of 3.0 or less and a conductivity of at least 4,200 millidarci-feet and preferably at least 5,100 md-ft as measured by the Stim-Lab method after 50 hours at 8,000 psi and 275.degree. F. in the presence of deoxygenated aqueous 2% solution of KCl.

Abstract: A lightweight oil and gas well proppant made by simultaneously mixing and compacting a mixture of kaolin clay which has been calcined at a temperature low enough to prevent the formation of mullite and crystobalites to an LOI of 12 or less when tested at 1400.degree. C., and amorphous to microcrystalline silica both of which have been milled to an average agglomerated particle size of 7 microns or less to form green pellets, and then drying, screening, and sintering the pellets to form proppant pellets having a specific gravity of 2.7 or less, the proppant having a conductivity of at least 3,000 millidarci-feet as measured by the Stim-Lab Technique after 50 hours at 8,000 psi and 275.degree. F. in the presence of deoxygenated aqueous 2% solution of KCl using sandstone shims.

Abstract: A high solids kaolin clay slurry having unexpectedly improved high shear viscosity is prepared by blending a chemically dispersed fine particle size Tertiary kaolin with a coarser particle size Cretaceous kaolin to provide a resultant blend having a controlled particle size range and particle size distribution.

Abstract: A novel process for producing clay derivatives having porous structure comprises hydrolyzing a metal alkoxide such as Al(OR).sub.3, Ti(OR).sub.4 and Si(OR).sub.4 in which each R represents a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, deflocculating the resulting hydrolyzate with an acid to obtain a hydrous metal oxide sol, and reacting the sol with smectite.The thus obtained porous clay derivatives have larger interlaminar interstices and a larger surface area than conventional ones. The interstices can be arbitrarily controlled by the acid amount. In addition, the derivatives are thermally stable so that they can be widely utilized in various fields as pigments, encapsulating agents, adsorbents, catalysts, carriers for catalysts and the like.

Abstract: A method for chlorinating the surface of a layered lattice silicate to produce a reactive chloride intermediate. The layered lattice silicate is reacted in substantially dry particulate form with a reactant system capable of forming bound chloride moieties at its surface, to form the said chloride thereof, the reaction being conducted at temperatures below that which would otherwise substantially alter the starting composition.

Abstract: A backfill composition for use with sacrificial magnesium anodes used in the cathodic protection of ferrous metal structures comprises an anion-releasing material capable of releasing fluoride, phosphate or zincate ions in water-soluble form and a magnesium-transporting adjuvant capable of transporting magnesium ion by ion exchange conduction. Suitable anion-releasing materials include calcium fluoride, cryolite, magnesium silicate and sodium silicofluoride, while suitable magnesium transporting adjuvants include bentonite clay, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide and magnesium silicate.

Abstract: A composition of at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride and calcium fluoride and optionally containing kaolin is powerful adhesive for ceramic articles which is used by interposing the adhesive intimately between the opposed surfaces for union of the ceramic articles and heating the adhesive to a temperature equal to or higher than the decomposition temperature of the fluoride used.

Abstract: Adhesion of two silicon nitride parts is accomplished by interposing a layer of calcium fluoride or a mixture of calcium fluoride with kaoline between the two silicon nitride parts and heating the resultant interposed layer.

Abstract: A ceramic fiber composition suitable for use in the temperature range of 650.degree. C. to 1100.degree. C. formed from aluminum silicate and feldspar. The aluminum silicate is preferably calcined kaolin and comprises 65 percent to 95 percent by weight of the mixture with the remainder being the feldspar.

Abstract: An adhesive having as its active component at least one fluoride selected from the group consisting of alkali metal fluorides except for sodium fluoride and alkaline earth metal fluorides except for calcium fluoride or a combination of the aforementioned at least one fluoride with kaolin and an adhesive having as its active component a combination of at least one member selected from the group consisting of yttria and alkaline earth metal compounds except for fluorides, an alkali metal fluoride, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of kaolin and alkaline earth metal fluorides both provide fast adhesion easily between two ceramic articles by a method which comprises the steps of interposing the adhesive between the ceramic articles and heating the ceramic articles with the adhesive therebetween to a temperature equal to or higher than the decomposition temperature of the fluoride in the adhesive.

Abstract: A support for gas chromatography is formed by incorporating a fluxing material in a water solution that is mixed with bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth which is then separated into masses, dried, crushed, calcined, crushed and separated into various mesh sizes for use as chromatographic supports.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fired ceramic wares possessing hydrophobic properties throughout the bodies thereof. The ware is prepared utilizing a water-reduced ceramic body composition containing a quantity of a finely-divided sub-micron amorphous silica or alumina. This ceramic body composition is formed into a green ware, the ware dried and fired at relatively low temperature and the fired ware treated with one or more reactive organosilicon compounds whereby organosilicon groups are caused to chemisorb onto the surface of the finely-divided amorphous oxide component.

Abstract: A process for producing feldspathic sanitary ware and the end product are disclosed in which a fluxing amount of a glass frit is used in the ceramic slip used to cast the sanitary ware. The frit contains both deflocculent oxides and flocculent alkaline earths which are leachable from the frit when it is placed in the ceramic slip. The deflocculent oxides counterbalance the effect of the flocculent alkaline earths to the extent they are respectively leached from the frit upon dispersal in a ceramic slip and maintain the slip at a workable viscosity. Upon casting and firing the slip, the present frit precipitates fine crystals of diopside having an average particle size of less than one micron which are particularly useful in lowering the firing temperature of feldspathic bodies by promoting the required degree of vitrification at lower temperatures than heretofore possible.

Abstract: Clayware is produced by firing a composition containing clay and a boron-containing flux, wherein the flux is a synthetic alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate having the crystal structure of a zeolite and containing boron entrapped within that structure. The boronated zeolite flux can be prepared in a form in which it can be used directly in the manufacture of clayware, especially earthenware.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alumina porcelain composition, suitable for use after firing to form electric insulators, comprising from about 40 to 65% by weight of calcined alumina, from about 15 to 40% by weight of plastic kaolinite-montmorillonite constituents, and from about 20 to 26% by weight of a flux combination which contains alkali-aluminum silicates and from about 0.1 to 5% by weight of one or more alkaline earth oxides, preferably in the form of alkaline earth compounds. The flux combination preferably comprises about 22 to 24% by weight of potassium-aluminum silicates and from about 0.2 to 2.5% by weight of barium oxide in the form of barium compounds, thus avoiding the disadvantages associated with the use of TiO.sub.2 and MnO.sub.2.