Method for manufacturing a composite material combining a metal oxide or metalloid based matrix suited for allowing light to pass, and a mineral pigment dispersed in the matrix, the method comprising a step of mixing the mineral pigment in powder form with the matrix in powder form, and a step of sintering of the mixture under sufficient pressure such that the densification temperature of the matrix under said pressure is below the breakdown temperature of the mineral pigment, where the sintering temperature is greater than or equal to the densification temperature of the matrix and below the breakdown temperature of the mineral pigment.

A novel polymer comprising a water soluble polymer backbone, at least one functional group attached to the polymer backbone and having an affinity for titanium dioxide, and at least one hydrophobic functional group attached to the polymer backbone and having an affinity for latex is provided. A titanium dioxide pigment composition including the novel polymer is also provided. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a titanium dioxide pigment composition that includes the novel polymer.

A process is provided for the preparation of lacing resistant, titanium dioxide particles for use in photodurable thin film production. Said process involves dewatering titanium dioxide particles that have been encapsulated with a layer of amorphous alumina in continuous fashion at temperatures in excess of 100 C.

A method of treating particulate titanium dioxide includes providing the particulate titanium dioxide which includes a crystal structure and then treating the particulate titanium dioxide with a coating agent that is an alkylphosphonic acid or an ester thereof, and steam micronizing the particulate titanium dioxide with a steam micronizer so that a vapor exit temperature from the steam micronizer is 150? C. or higher, so as to obtain a micronized particulate titanium dioxide which includes the coating agent at an outer surface. The particulate titanium dioxide includes an aluminum oxide coating and/or includes within the crystal structure aluminum oxide in a molar excess of an amount required to compensate any Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 in the crystal structure. The alkylphosphonic acid includes a C.sub.6-C.sub.22 alkyl group.

Provided is a titanium dioxide pigment having minimal yellow color and minimal yellowing due to exposure, i.e., good yellowing resistance and high pigment performance such as brightness. Also provided is a titanium dioxide pigment which has a reduced amount of volatile moisture and which does not readily decompose when blended with a resin or the like. In the present invention, a compound including 0.05-20% by mass of phosphorus and an alkaline earth metal is present on surfaces of titanium dioxide particles having an average particle diameter of 0.15-1.0 m. The titanium dioxide pigment is manufactured by mixing an alkaline earth metal compound, a phosphate compound, and titanium dioxide particles having an average particle diameter of 0.15-1.0 m, and bonding the compound including phosphorus and an alkaline earth metal to the titanium dioxide particles.

Provided in one example herein is a liquid electrophotographic ink composition. The composition comprises: a carrier fluid comprising a polymer; ink particles each comprising a non-aqueous polymeric resin and pigment particles distributed in the polymeric resin; and a charge director. The pigment particles comprise a metal oxide and have a hydrophobic surface. The hydrophobic surface comprises at least one of the following: (i) nanoparticles attached to each of the pigment particles, the nanoparticles comprising at least one of an oxide, a phosphate, and a nitrate; (ii) a coating disposed over each of the pigment particles, the coating comprising at least one of an oxide, a phosphate, and a nitrate; and (iii) a coating disposed over each of the pigment particles, the coating comprising at least one of a polymer and an oligomer.

A process for producing a treated, titanium dioxide pigment is provided. The process comprises providing a plurality of inorganic pigment particles, and depositing an organic treating agent on the surfaces of the pigment particles to form at least one coating of the organic treating agent thereon. The organic treating agent includes a first component consisting of at least one polyhydric alcohol, and a second component selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and salts thereof, alkanolamines, and combinations thereof. A treated, titanium dioxide pigment is also provided.

Titanium Dioxide and other pigments or powders processed by this present process are smoothly discharging, low dusting, agglomerated, compaction resistant, extremely friable, and fully dispersible, and the process for the production of smoothly discharging pigment or powder consists of gently blending in the presence of an air flow and an electrostatic charge where said pigment or powder is agglomerated with or without a treated or non-treated seed particle of the same or similar pigment whereas said pigment or powder in accordance with the invention yields a composition of substantially spherical particulate that has a pseudo-particle size of 0.1-5.0 mm in the form of smoothly discharging, low dusting, non-sticky, agglomerated, compaction resistant pigment or powder, in which said pigment or powder particles are 80% -99.9% by weight, pigment, and in which the pigments or powders are compatible with inks, paints and plastics, and can be readily dispersed and incorporated into the same.

A titanium dioxide pigment composition for use in a waterborne latex paint formulation is provided. The pigment composition comprises a plurality of titanium dioxide particles, and a dispersant package deposited on the surfaces of said titanium dioxide particles in an amount of no greater than about 5% by weight based on the combined weight of the titanium dioxide particles and the dispersant package. A titanium dioxide pigment composition slurry, a method of forming a titanium dioxide pigment composition, and a method of forming a titanium dioxide pigment composition slurry, all for use in a waterborne latex paint formulation, are also provided.

Process for the surface treatment of a titanium dioxide pigment, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: an aqueous suspension of titanium dioxide pigments is formed, in a first step, a layer of alumina phosphate is precipitated on the surface of the pigment, in a second step, a layer of alumina is precipitated over the first layer of alumina phosphate, and in an optional third step, a layer of magnesium oxide is precipitated on the layer of alumina. Titanium dioxide pigments made by the disclosed process and method using said pigments in paper manufacturing are also disclosed.