Aqueous dispersion of hydrophobically modified pigment particles

A composition comprising a) a stable aqueous dispersion of inorganic pigment particles hydrophobically modified with covalently bonded polysiloxane or silyl groups;

• and b) a polymeric anionic dispersant;
• wherein the hydrophobically modified inorganic pigment particles have an average particle size in the range of from 200 nm to 10 μm, the solids content of the hydrophobically modified inorganic pigment particles is from 20to 80 weight percent, based on the weight of inorganic pigment particles and water, and the concentration of the dispersant is in the range of 0.1 to 2 weight percent based on the weight of the pigment particles;
• wherein the silyl groups are represented by —Si(R1)3;
• wherein each R1 is independently C1-C18 alkyl, C1-C18 alkoxy, OH, phenyl, phenoxy, or a bond connecting the Si atom to which it is attached to the surface of an inorganic pigment particle, with the proviso that at least one R1 is a C1-C18 alkyl, C1-C18 alkyoxy, phenyl, or phenoxy group;
• and
• wherein the inorganic pigment particles comprise oxides of titanium, aluminum, silicon, iron, calcium, magnesium, zirconium, or zinc.