The present invention aims to provide techniques for preparing complexes of a hydrotalcite and a fiber. The complexes of a hydrotalcite and a fiber can be synthesized efficiently by synthesizing the hydrotalcite in an aqueous system in the presence of the fiber.

A composition comprising titanium dioxide and additives useful for enhancing the optical performance of titanium dioxide or for allowing substitution of at least part of the titanium dioxide in said composition for additives. At least two additives are added, wherein a first additive comprises a composite pigment and a second additive comprises a reactive polymer. The invention also provides a method for enhancing the optical properties of titanium dioxide compositions.

A composition comprising titanium dioxide and additives useful for enhancing the optical performance of titanium dioxide or for allowing substitution of at least part of the titanium dioxide in said composition for additives. At least two additives are added, wherein a first additive comprises a composite pigment and a second additive comprises a reactive polymer. The invention also provides a method for enhancing the optical properties of titanium dioxide compositions.

The invention relates to an aqueous slurry for manufacture of a coating composition for paper, board or the like, which comprises inorganic mineral particles and a dispersion agent, which is an anionic lignin-carbohydrate complex where lignin and carbohydrate are covalently bound with each other.

The invention provides a method of producing a filler comprising calcium carbonate (PCC), preferably to be used in paper or paper board production or in fibre based composites. The method of the invention comprises the steps of; —providing fly ash generated in paper or paper board production; —fractionating said fly ash in at least one step, whereby a coarser fraction is separated from a finer fraction; —forming a suspension of said coarser fraction; —adding carbon dioxide to said suspension to form precipitated calcium carbonate. The method of the invention avoids problems with high amounts of arsenic and heavy metals in the production of filler comprising PCC, when using ash generated in paper or paper board production as a raw material. It has been shown that harmful elements, such as arsenic and heavy metals, are primarily accumulated in the finer fractions of the fly ash. Thus, by using the coarser fraction in the step of carbonation, the amount of arsenic and heavy metals in the final product is reduced.

The invention provides a method of producing a filler comprising calcium carbonate (PCC), preferably to be used in paper or paper board production or in fibre based composites. The method of the invention comprises the steps of; —providing fly ash generated in paper or paper board production; —fractionating said fly ash in at least one step, whereby a coarser fraction is separated from a finer fraction; —forming a suspension of said coarser fraction; —adding carbon dioxide to said suspension to form precipitated calcium carbonate. The method of the invention avoids problems with high amounts of arsenic and heavy metals in the production of filler comprising PCC, when using ash generated in paper or paper board production as a raw material. It has been shown that harmful elements, such as arsenic and heavy metals, are primarily accumulated in the finer fractions of the fly ash. Thus, by using the coarser fraction in the step of carbonation, the amount of arsenic and heavy metals in the final product is reduced.

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 a third step, a layer of magnesium oxide and alumina is precipitated on the layer of alumina. Also included are titanium dioxide pigments made by the disclosed process and method using said pigments in paper manufacturing.

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 a third step, a layer of magnesium oxide and alumina is precipitated on the layer of alumina. Also included are titanium dioxide pigments made by the disclosed process and method using said pigments in paper manufacturing.

The present invention aims to provide complex fibers of a cellulose fiber with inorganic particles exhibiting better drainage and retention when they are used as materials for forming sheets. In the complexes of the present invention, (1) the weight ratio B/A between the inorganic content (B) in the residue remaining on a 60-mesh sieve (having an opening of 250 μm) after an aqueous suspension of a complex fiber having a solids content of 0.1% is filtered through the sieve and the inorganic content (A) in the complex fiber before treatment is 0.3 or more; or (2) the weight ratio C/A between the inorganic content (C) in fractions corresponding to an effluent volume (L) of 16.00 to 18.50 and an elution time (sec) of 10.6 to 37.3 and the inorganic content (A) in the complex fiber before treatment is 0.3 or more when an aqueous suspension of the complex fiber having a solids content of 0.3% is classified using a fiber classification analyzer under the conditions of a flow rate of 5.7 L/min, a water temperature of 25±1° C., and a total effluent volume of 22 L.

The present invention aims to provide complex fibers of a cellulose fiber with inorganic particles exhibiting better drainage and retention when they are used as materials for forming sheets. In the complexes of the present invention, (1) the weight ratio B/A between the inorganic content (B) in the residue remaining on a 60-mesh sieve (having an opening of 250 μm) after an aqueous suspension of a complex fiber having a solids content of 0.1% is filtered through the sieve and the inorganic content (A) in the complex fiber before treatment is 0.3 or more; or (2) the weight ratio C/A between the inorganic content (C) in fractions corresponding to an effluent volume (L) of 16.00 to 18.50 and an elution time (sec) of 10.6 to 37.3 and the inorganic content (A) in the complex fiber before treatment is 0.3 or more when an aqueous suspension of the complex fiber having a solids content of 0.3% is classified using a fiber classification analyzer under the conditions of a flow rate of 5.7 L/min, a water temperature of 25±1° C., and a total effluent volume of 22 L.