Method of preparing a fumed metal oxide dispersion

Abstract

The invention provides a method of preparing a dispersion of a fumed metal oxide in a liquid carrier comprising the following sequential steps: (a) providing a liquid carrier at a pH that effects dissolution of the metal oxide at a rate the same as or greater than the metal oxide dissolution rate in water at a pH of about 8, (b) mixing with the liquid carrier, in any order, one or more aliquots of both a fumed metal oxide and a metal ion source to form a dispersion, such that the dispersion does not coagulate, and (c) optionally adjusting the pH of the dispersion to the pH of the liquid carrier in step (a). The method allows for the preparation of the dispersion to be done with a high solids loading and at a high pH. Furthermore, the dispersion can have a shelf-life of at least about 1 hour or more at 25° C.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.