Process for manufacturing high solids suspensions of mineral materials

A high solids aqueous suspension of mineral material obtained by the process comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one mineral material,
• b) preparing an aqueous suspension comprising the at least one mineral material of step a),
• c) grinding the aqueous suspension of the mineral material of step b),
• d) concentrating the aqueous suspension of ground mineral material of step c) by flash cooling in a flash cooler comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the temperature of the aqueous suspension at the inlet of the flash cooler is from 70 to 105° C., and the temperature of the aqueous suspension at the outlet of the flash cooler is less than 60 to 30° C., to obtain an aqueous suspension having a final solids content of 80 to 85 wt %,
• wherein at least one dispersing agent is added to the aqueous suspension of step b), wherein the at least one dispersing agent is added completely before grinding step c), or stepwise before and during grinding step c), or before and during and/or after grinding step c), and
• wherein the at least one dispersing agent is a homopolymer or copolymer of a polycarboxylic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic acid, a partially or completely neutralized acid salt thereof that is neutralized with sodium, lithium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, strontium, aluminium or any mixture thereof, a derivative of a polycarboxylic acid, an ester based on acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, or itaconic, an acryl amide or acrylic ester, a methylmethacrylate, or any mixture thereof, an alkali polyphosphate, or any mixture thereof.