Coating composition providing gloss and opacity on application, having a pigment volume concentration of from 5% up to the critical pigment volume concentration and characterised in that comprises at least one ground natural calcium carbonate having a volume median diameter of between 0.05 and 0.3 m, and at least one pigment having a refractive index of greater than or equal to 2.5.

Coating composition providing gloss and opacity on application, having a pigment volume concentration of from 5% up to the critical pigment volume concentration and characterised in that comprises at least one ground natural calcium carbonate having a volume median diameter of between 0.05 and 0.3 m, and at least one pigment having a refractive index of greater than or equal to 2.5.

Unexpectedly unique and environmentally friendly composite material structures, storage articles fabricated therefrom, and related methods. The composite structure includes at least one or more fiber-containing layers, such as fiberboard or other layers having fibers from natural and/or synthetic sources, and one or more mineral-containing layers. The mineral-containing layer(s) comprises a thermoplastic bonding agent fixing the mineral particles in place. The fiber-containing layer(s) and mineral-containing layer(s) can be shaped, sized, and manufactured such that the composite structure formed therefrom is capable of being machined to form the storage article. The composite structure can be repulped and recycled without the use of dispersions, emulsions, or aqueous solutions. Further, the composite reduces layer mass requirements for heat seal, barrier, and fiber adhesion compared to polymer layers. The composite structure further has tensile strength and other structural characteristics that allow it to be readily machined into desired storage article forms.

A bright pigment of the present invention is a bright pigment including flaky particles and a metal oxide layer covering each surface of the flaky particles. The metal oxide layer has a thickness variation coefficient (standard deviation of thickness of the metal oxide layer/average thickness of the metal oxide layer) of 20% or less. The bright pigment preferably contains a sodium component, and the sodium component is Na.sub.2O. The content of Na.sub.2O in the flaky particles is 3% by mass or more and less than 9.5% by mass. The bright pigment preferably has a specific surface area of 5.0 m.sup.2/g or less.

Coating compositions are disclosed that include corrosion resisting particles such that the coating composition can exhibit corrosion resistance properties. Also disclosed are substrates at least partially coated with a coating deposited from such a composition and multi-component composite coatings, wherein at least one coating later is deposited from such a coating composition. Methods and apparatus for making ultrafine solid particles are also disclosed.

A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate, wherein less than about 90% by weight and greater than about 60% by weight of particles of the calcium carbonate have an equivalent spherical diameter (esd) less than 2 microns. The coating composition may include a thickener present in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 0.9% by active dry weight of the composition. A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate having a mean particle size (d50) of at least about 2.4 microns and a steepness factor of at least about 30. The coating composition may be a paper basecoat composition or a paperboard basecoat composition. A paper or paperboard product may include the coating composition on at least one surface of the paper product or paperboard product.

Nanoparticle-treated particle packs, such as sand beds, may effectively filter and purify liquids such as waste water. When tiny contaminant particles in waste water flow through the particle pack, the nanoparticles will capture and hold the tiny contaminant particles within the pack due to the nanoparticles' surface forces, including, but not necessarily limited to van der Waals and electrostatic forces. Coating agents may help apply the nanoparticles to the particle surfaces in the filter beds or packs.

A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate, wherein less than about 90% by weight and greater than about 60% by weight of particles of the calcium carbonate have an equivalent spherical diameter (esd) less than 2 microns. The coating composition may include a thickener present in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 0.9% by active dry weight of the composition. A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate having a mean particle size (d.sub.50) of at least about 2.4 microns and a steepness factor of at least about 30. The coating composition may be a paper basecoat composition or a paperboard basecoat composition. A paper or paperboard product may include the coating composition on at least one surface of the paper product or paperboard product.

Unexpectedly unique and environmentally friendly composite material structures, storage articles fabricated therefrom, and related methods. The composite structure includes at least one or more fiber-containing layers, such as fiberboard or other layers having fibers from natural and/or synthetic sources, and one or more mineral-containing layers. The mineral-containing layer(s) comprises a thermoplastic bonding agent fixing the mineral particles in place. The fiber-containing layer(s) and mineral-containing layer(s) can be shaped, sized, and manufactured such that the composite structure formed therefrom is capable of being machined to form the storage article. The composite structure can be repulped and recycled without the use of dispersions, emulsions, or aqueous solutions. Further, the composite reduces layer mass requirements for heat seal, barrier, and fiber adhesion compared to polymer layers. The composite structure further has tensile strength and other structural characteristics that allow it to be readily machined into desired storage article forms.

A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate, wherein less than about 90% by weight and greater than about 60% by weight of particles of the calcium carbonate have an equivalent spherical diameter (esd) less than 2 microns. The coating composition may include a thickener present in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 0.9% by active dry weight of the composition. A coating composition may include kaolin having a shape factor less than about 70 and calcium carbonate having a mean particle size (d50) of at least about 2.4 microns and a steepness factor of at least about 30. The coating composition may be a paper basecoat composition or a paperboard basecoat composition. A paper or paperboard product may include the coating composition on at least one surface of the paper product or paperboard product.