The present invention is directed to a process for producing precipitated calcium carbonate with improved resistance to structural breakdown, wherein the milk of lime is carbonated in the presence of at least one gas other than carbon dioxide, or the carbonation is carried out in the presence of a static gas bubble comminution unit as well as to precipitated calcium carbonate obtained by such a process.

Disclosed is an infill for an artificial turf field, the infill comprising: from about 40 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a polyvinyl chloride resin; from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a plasticizer derived from a naturally occurring source; from about 2 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of a reflective pigment; from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.1 wt. % of a blowing agent; and from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a filler. The infill is pelletized and maintains the temperature of an artificial turf field, when disposed throughout the artificial turf field, at a temperature about 15 F. to about 25 F. less than a temperature of a comparative artificial turf under substantially similar ambient and environmental conditions, wherein a comparative infill of the comparative artificial turf consists essentially of crumbed rubber infill.

A breathable film is described having a basis weight from 1 g/m.sup.2 to 10 g/m.sup.2, a process for producing the breathable film and use of a surface-treated filler material product as filler in the breathable film. Finally, an article is described that includes the breathable film as well as the use of the breathable film in hygienic applications, medical applications, healthcare applications, filtration materials, geotextile products, agricultural applications, horticultural applications, clothing, footwear products, baggage products, household applications, industrial applications, packaging applications, building applications, or construction.

The present invention relates to a coating composition comprising at least one binder and at least one ground natural calcium carbonate material. The invention further relates to the use of at least one ground natural calcium carbonate material in a coating composition comprising at least one binder as well as to an article that is coated with such a coating composition and a paint comprising such a coating composition.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing amorphous calcium carbonate, the amorphous calcium carbonate obtainable by the process, its use as well as a product comprising the amorphous calcium carbonate and the use of a spray dryer for the preparation of amorphous calcium carbonate.

The present invention relates to the use of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate as an anti-blocking agent in polymer(s) containing compositions, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a reaction product of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H.sub.3O.sup.+ ion donors in an aqueous medium, wherein the carbon dioxide is formed in situ by the H.sub.3O.sup.+ ion donors treatment and/or is supplied from an external source, an anti-blocking agent comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate or a combination of surface reacted calcium carbonate and mineral material, a method for controlling the blocking of polymer(s) containing compositions, a polymer(s) containing composition comprising surface reacted calcium carbonate or a combination of surface reacted calcium carbonate and mineral material, a coating composition comprising such polymer(s) containing composition, as well as a substrate coated with such coating composition.

The present invention relates to a method for producing mineral particles grinding a mineral material in the presence of a specific anionic polymer. The polymer used is obtained by means of polymerisation in the presence of sodium hypophosphite, disodium dipropionate trithiocarbonate and at least one radical-generating compound. The invention also relates to an aqueous composition comprising particles of ground mineral material and such a polymer, in particular a paper coating slip composition.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aqueous suspension comprising at least one calcium carbonate-comprising material, the calcium carbonate-comprising material having a ratio of particles having an average particle size d.sub.80 value to particles having an average particle size d.sub.20 value [d.sub.80/d.sub.20] in the range from 1.5 to 4 and the use of the calcium carbonate-comprising material in paper and board applications, in cosmetics, in caulks and sealants, in adhesives, in paints and coatings, in fibre applications, in plastics applications or for the replacement of PCC in general.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing self-binding pigment particles comprising the following steps: a) providing an aqueous mineral pigment material suspension; b) providing at least one polymeric binder, wherein the binder comprises at least one modified polysaccharide having a degree of carboxylation in the range of 0.4 to 2.0 and having an intrinsic viscosity in the range of >300 to 500 ml/g, c) mixing the binder of step b) with the aqueous mineral pigment material suspension of step a) and adjusting the solids content of the obtained suspension so that it is >45 to 95 wt.-%, preferably from 45 to 80 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the suspension, and d) grinding the aqueous mineral material suspension of step c).

A coating composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of submicron natural ground calcium carbonate particles contained in a liquid binder, wherein the resultant coating may constitute either a clear coat or a glossing and opacifying coating, depending upon the presence of certain additives such as a mineral pigment (e.g., TiO.sub.2). The composition is characterised in that comprises, in the case of a clear coating, at least one ground natural calcium carbonate having a median diameter of between 0.05 and 0.15 m, while in the case of a glossing and opacifying coating, at least one ground natural calcium carbonate having a 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.