Georgia Kaolin Company, Inc.

Yara Engineering Corporation

Dry Branch Kaolin Company

Frank J Botta

Thomas D Thompson, Iii

Thomas F Walsh

Edward J Sare

William F Moll, Jr

George P Larson

A thickening or suspending agent for imparting thixotropic properties to aqueous compositions, particularly LADD formulations, comprises a kaolinite clay admixed to the formulation at a level ranging from about 2% to about 5% by weight. While the thickening or suspending properties of the kaolinite clay are exhibited over a very broad range of particle size products, the kaolinite clay used advantageously has a particle size distribution of at least about 50% of the kaolin particles thereof have a particle size less than 2 microns equivalent spherical diameter, more preferably at least about 80% and, most perferably, at least about 95%. When utilized in a slurry form, the kaolinite clay based thickening or suspending agent most advantageously comprises an aqueous slurry of kaolinite particles at a solids level of at least 65% solids by weight. The thickening or suspending agent may also comprise a mixture of a kaolinite clay and a non-kaolinite selected from the group consisting of a smectite clay, attapulgite clay and mixtures thereof, preferably as a mixture of equal parts of kaolinite clay and attapulgite clay, and most preferably as a mixture of equal parts of a kaolinite clay and a bentonite clay.

Detergent or cleansing composition and additive for imparting

An organoclay functional as a rheological modifier for control of the viscosity and thixotropy of polyester-styrene compositions is prepared by a dry process wherein a quaternary ammonium salt is reacted with unfractionated smectite in an aqueous dispersion thereby eliminating the fractionating step required in the typical prior art wet process as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,951 and permitting the preparation of the organoclay rheological modifier to be carried out at a high solids content thereby reducing drying costs in the recovery of the product organoclay.

Rheological control of polyester-styrene resin compositions by addition

An organically modified smectite is produced by reacting unfractionated pulverized bentonite with an aqueous dispersion or solution of a methyl benzyl dialkyl ammonium halide salt via cation exchange. The product organoclay is equivalent in quality to a 'wet' processed organoclay, and has particular utility as an ingredient in forming invert emulsion drilling mud for enhancing the rheological properties of the mud. An invert emulsion drilling mud derived from an organoclay produced by the method of the present invention will have a viscosity of at least seventy (70) centipoise at 26 C and a 10-second gel strength at 26 C of at least thirty (30) pounds per 100 square feet.

Preparation of organically modified smectites by treatment with methyl

An electroconductive clay coating for electrophotography having solvent hold-out characteristics is provided comprising an expandable clay, an alkali metal salt, and at least one organic compound from the group consisting of sugar syrups, anionic organic compounds and fluorochemicals. In those compositions using anionic organic compounds a synergism with the expanded clay appears to result.

Growing community of inventors

Linden, NJ, United States of America

Frank J Botta