Imerys Pigments, Inc.

Imerys Usa, Inc.

Imerys Minerals Limited

Jun Yuan

Michael J. Garska

Robert J. Pruett

Philip J. E. Jones

David O. Cummings

Bomi M. Bilimoria

Robin Wesley

David O Cummings

Robert J Pruett

Anthony V Lyons

Bomi M Bilimoria

Michael J Garska

J Philip E Jones

William L Garforth

Daniel John Panfil

Steven M Fortier

John Claude Husband

Christopher Nutbeem

Peter Biza

Harry Vincent Brown, Jr

Philip Jones

Dave R Skuse

Marc De Sailly

Christopher Boothby

Philip J Jones

Philip JE Jones

Philip J E Jones

Methods of treating water to promote the health of aquatic organisms are described. The method may include introducing pulverized kaolin into the water. The pulverized kaolin may have a particle size distribution such that at least 30% by weight of the particles pass through a 60 mesh screen. For example, the pulverized kaolin may be in the form of a dry powder having a ddiameter less than 300 &#x3bc;m. The pulverized kaolin may remain dispersed or suspended in the water without dispersants and/or surfactants, e.g., to reduce the amount of at least one pathogenic microorganism present in the water and/or to reduce or prevent exposure of aquatic organisms to the pathogenic microorganism(s).

Compositions and methods for treating water

A coating composition for paper and other substrates, particularly mechanical papers such as lightweight coated (LWC) paper, comprises an aqueous suspension of a particulate pigment together with a binder, wherein the particulate pigment comprises: (a) a first component which is a precipitated calcium carbonate consisting predominantly of aragonitic or rhombohedral particle shapes or of aragonitic and rhombohedral particle shapes in a weight ratio of between around 40:60 and about 60:40 (e.g. about 50:50) aragonitic:rhombohedral, and a second component which is a processed particulate hydrous kaolin clay having a shape factor greater than or equal to about 25 and a steepness greater than or equal to about 20; or (b) a first component which is a fine particulate calcium carbonate consisting predominantly of particles having a generally spherical particle shape, and a second component which is a processed particulate hydrous kaolin clay having a shape factor greater than or equal to about 45 and a mean equivalent particle diameter (d) less than about 0.5 &#x3bc;m; or (c) a first component which is a precipitated calcium carbonate consisting predominantly of aragonitic and rhombohedral particle shapes in a weight ratio of between about 40:60 and about 60:40 (e.g. about 50:50) aragonitic:rhombohedral, and a second component which is a processed particulate hydrous kaolin clay having a shape factor less than about 25.

Paper coating pigments

The present invention relates to a hydrous kaolin product having improved optical properties, for example, when used in the production of paper products. The present invention comprises an improved barrier coating for paper and a method of making the coated paper. The present invention also comprises an improved method from making filled and coated paper products. The present invention uses a composition comprising kaolin having a shape factor of at least about 70:1, such as at least about 80:1 or at least about 100:1.

Hyperplaty clays and their use in paper coating and filling, methods for making same, and paper products having improved brightness

A paper coating pigment manufactured from kaolin crude containing minor amounts of minerals is used in lightweight coated and ultra-lightweight coated applications. The pigments comprise a phyllosilicate assemblage of minerals that yield a final pigment MgO content ranging between 0.04 to 0.3 weight percent and a K O content ranging between 0.12 and 0.8 weight percent based on the dry weight of the kaolin crude. The mica in the pigment product is 1.0% to 6.7% by weight, and smectite is 1.2% to 9.1% by weight of the kaolin. The presence of these weight percentages can be identified by a shape factor of 15 or greater. The viscous clay content of the feed to produce the pigment product is between 70 and 100 weight percent based on the dry weight of the kaolin clay. The pigment has a shape factor ranging between 35 and 60 or greater, and greater than 80% by weight of the particle are less than 2 microns, and greater than 12% are less than 0.25 microns.

Kaolin clay pigments, their preparation and use

Paper coating composition comprising an engineered kaolin pigment containing stacks and platelets of unground coarse particles where greater than 96% by weight is less than 5 microns, of which some kaolinite books or stacks are concentrated in the greater than 1 micron size fraction; 88% to 95% by weight is less than 2 microns; 65% to 85% by weight is less than 1 micron; and 15% to 25% by weight is less than 0.25 micron. A first embodiment comprises particles with a shape factor Ad between 7 and 9 which represents a significant number of stacks and some platelets. A second embodiment comprises particles with a shape factor of 11 or 12 which represents the presence of some stacks with a majority of platelets. The kaolin clay pigments form clay-water slurries of 69% solids or greater. As a coating, the composition gives a G. E. brightness between 88 and 94. The engineered pigment is processed so that the desired shape factor is met, which shape factor is equated to the aspect ratio or morphology of the pigment.

Engineered kaolin pigment composition for paper coating

Paper coating composition comprising an engineered kaolin pigment containing stacks and platelets of unground coarse particles where greater than 96% by weight is less than 5 microns, of which some kaolinite books or stacks are concentrated in the greater than 1 micron size fraction; 88% to 95% by weight is less than 2 microns; 65% to 85% by weight is less than 1 micron; and 15% to 25% by weight is less than 0.25 micron. A first embodiment comprises particles with a shape factor between 7 and 9 which represents a significant number of stacks and some platelets. A second embodiment comprises particles with a shape factor of 11 or 12 which represents the presence of some stacks with a majority of platelets. The kaolin clay pigments form clay-water slurries of 69% solids or greater. As a coating, the composition gives a G.E. brightness between 88 and 94. The engineered pigment is processed so that the desired shape factor is met, which shape factor is equated to the aspect ratio or morphology of the pigment.

Growing community of inventors

Warthen, GA, United States of America

David O Cummings