High solids aqueous silica slurry

Abstract

Described are high solids aqueous slurries of amorphous precipitated hydrated silica, which slurries are of relatively low viscosity. The slurry typically contains from about 40 to about 60 weight percent of hydrated precipitated high structure silica. The viscosity of the high solids slurry is less than about 1000 centipoises. Processes for producing the aqueous high solids silica slurry are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wet cake of amorphous precipitated hydrated silica is liquified and the liquified wet cake charged to a high intensity mill wherein the silica is wet milled until the median agglomerate particle size of the silica is between about 0.3 and about 3 microns. In a further embodiment, finely-divided dry amorphous precipitated silica is slurried in a dispersion mill to the desired solids level and this slurry charged to a high-intensity mill and wet milled therein until the aforesaid agglomerate particle size range is attained. The resulting high solids slurry can be shipped in bulk with only mild agitation to prevent setting. A dispersant may also be added to the slurry prior to milling to retard settling of the silica.