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US 5,631,080 AGranted
Method for flocculating clay and composition produced thereby
AssigneeThe Mead Corporation
InventorGary Fugitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a method for flocculating clay including the steps of preparing a dispersion of a processed clay containing a polymer as a flocculating agent. The polymer is present in an amount sufficient to cause bridging of particles of the clay in the dispersion by the polymer. Then the dispersion is mixed to cause the polymer to bridge the particles and the particles flocculate. The invention also includes a structured clay produced by this method.
Claims17
A method for making a structured clay comprising the steps of:
- preparing an aqueous dispersion of a processed anionic, kaolin clay containing an anionic or nonionic polymer as a flocculating agent, said polymer having a molecular weight in the range of about 400,000 to about 1,500,000 and being present in an amount sufficient to cause bridging of particles of the clay in said dispersion by said polymer;
- and mixing said dispersion to cause said polymer to bridge said particles and said particles to flocculate.
A method for preparing coated paper comprising the steps of:
- preparing an aqueous dispersion of an anionically dispersed kaolin clay;
- adding thereto an anionic or nonionic polymer in an amount sufficient to cause flocculation of said clay by bridging said clay with said polymer, said polymer having a molecular weight in the range of about 400,000 to about 1,500,000;
- removing water from the dispersion to provide a slurry;
- preparing a paper coating composition from said slurry;
- and
- depositing said composition on paper.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.