Treated inorganic pigments having improved dispersability and use thereof in coating compositions

A method for forming a coating composition comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a slurry comprising porous silica treated inorganic core particle and water by a process comprising:
• (1) providing a slurry of inorganic core particle in water;
• (2) heating the slurry to about 30 to about 40° C. and adjusting the pH to about 3.5 to about 7.5;
• (3) adding a soluble silicate solution to the slurry while maintaining the pH between about 3.5 and about 7.5;
• and
• (4) stirring for at least about 5 mins;
• and
• (b) heating the slurry comprising porous silica treated inorganic core particle and water at a temperature of at least about 90° C.;
• and
• (c) adding a soluble alumina source to the slurry from step (b) while maintaining the pH at about 8.0 to 9.5 to form an alumina treatment on the porous silica treated inorganic core particle;
• wherein the treated inorganic core particle does not comprise dense silica or alumina treatments, and has silica present in the amount of about 7% to about 14% by weight and alumina present in the amount of about 4.0% to about 8.0% by weight, wherein the weight percents are based on the total weight of the inorganic core particle;
• and wherein the particle to particle surface treatments are substantially homogeneous.