The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 11, 2007
Filed:
Jan. 29, 2003
Graham Pring, Lostwithiel, GB;
Christopher R. L. Golley, St. Austell, GB;
Graham Pring, Lostwithiel, GB;
Christopher R. L. Golley, St. Austell, GB;
Imerys Pigments, Inc., Roswell, GA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides high brightness kaolins exhibiting a Brightness (GE) of at least about 90.0. The hydrous kaolin pigments of the present invention may also have, inter alia, a steepness index (d/d×100) of at least about 39 and/or a titania concentration less than or equal to about 0.40% by weight of the pigment on a dry basis. (062) The hydrous kaolin pigment is produced by a process comprising: a) forming an aqueous suspension of a hydrous kaolin clay; b) forming a primary product by subjecting the suspension to classification or a combination of classification and griding; c), separating the kaolin from impurities by selective flocculation; and d) defining the separated kaolin. (063) The hydrous kaolins of the present invention allow coated papers to be produced at high brightness while maintaining acidic conditions on a paper machine. The invention pigmets exhibit brightness levels unexpectedly higher, e.g., about 2 to about 2.5 or more (GE) units brighter, than exhibited by previous high brightness hydrous kaolin pigments, without sacrificing other important paper properties. Paper coated with the inventive pigmants have high brightness, high whiteness, and high fluorescence levels. The present invention encompasses these pigments, compositions comprising them, and any application in which they are used.