Process for preparing self-binding pigment particle suspensions

Paper, plastic, paint, concrete or an agriculture product comprising self-binding pigment particles prepared by the process comprising the following steps:

• a) providing an aqueous pigment material suspension, wherein the pigment of the pigment material suspension comprises calcium carbonate;
• b) providing a polymeric binder, wherein the binder consists of at least one polysaccharide comprising galactose and/or mannose units;
• c) mixing 0.1 wt.-% to 10 wt.-% of the binder of step b), based on the total weight of the aqueous pigment material suspension, with the aqueous pigment material suspension of step a), to obtain a mixture of the binder and the aqueous pigment material suspension;
• and
• d) grinding the mixture of the binder and the aqueous pigment material suspension obtained in step c) to obtain a suspension of self-binding pigment particles, wherein the weight median diameter (d50) of the self-binding pigment particles is less than the weight median diameter (d50) of the pigment from step a).