Aqueous fine dispersion of an organophilic sheet silicate

A process for the preparation of a fine dispersion of an organophilic sheet silicate in aqueous medium, said dispersion containing no pigments or organic solvents starting from the components consisting essentially of a water-containing precipitate of sheet silicate which is capable of cation exchange and a quaternary organic onium salt, which consisting essentially of stirring the precipitate into a clear aqueous solution of a polyvinyl alcohol at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C., or stirring the precipitate and the polyvinyl alcohol, simultaneously into the aqueous medium at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C.

An aqueous fine dispersion of an organophilic sheet silicate, consisting essentially of a sheet silicate which is capable of cation exchange and a quaternary organic onium salt reacted therewith, and at least one of i) a disinfectant selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium salts, and ii) at least one optical brightener, which dispersion contains 3 to 30% by weight, based on the organophilic sheet silicate, of polyvinyl alcohol, and said dispersion containing no pigments or organic solvents.