The present invention concerns a process for preparing self-binding pigment particles from an aqueous suspension of calcium carbonate containing material, wherein an anionic binder and at least one cationic polymer are mixed with the suspension.

A process for converting natural calcium carbonate into precipitated calcium carbonate, involving treating the natural calcium carbonate with a sulfate to produce a gypsum and reacting the gypsum with at least one carbonate source to produce precipitated calcium carbonate. The crystalline polymorph, particle size, and various other characteristics of the precipitated calcium carbonate are controlled by varying conditions during the reacting. Since the natural calcium carbonate is not calcined, the process relates to a low energy method of producing precipitated calcium carbonate of controlled polymorph and particle size with limestone, marble, or chalk as the calcium source.

A method for grinding a solid in a vertical roller mill (VRM), comprising grinding at least one solid in the presence of a grinding stabilizing additive, wherein the grinding stabilizing additive comprises an alkanol amino acid compound or a disodium or dipotassium salt thereof having the structural formula (I): The definitions of variables R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are provided herein. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a process for producing a compacted material comprising the steps of providing a powder material and a polymer binder, simultaneously or subsequently feeding the powder material and the polymer binder into a high speed mixer unit, mixing the powder material and the polymer binder in the high speed mixer unit until formation of a compacted material, and reducing the temperature of the obtained compacted material below the melting point or glass transition temperature of the polymer binder.

The present invention relates to an installation for the purification of minerals, pigments and/or fillers and/or the preparation of precipitated earth alkali carbonate and/or mineralization of water and to the use of such an installation for the purification of minerals, pigments and/or fillers and/or mineralization of water and/or the preparation of precipitated earth alkali carbonate.

The present invention refers to a mineral matter powder preparation by wet process without acrylic additive or other grinding aid additives and to Me use of said mineral matter after an optional hydrophobic treatment. Said mineral material Having superior dispersing properties.

The present invention refers to a dry composition for chemical and physical sun protection, the composition comprising at least one mineral material selected from the group consisting of surface reacted calcium carbonate and/or hydromagnesite, and from 0.1 wt.-% to 100 wt.-%, based on the dry weight of the at least one mineral material of at least one lignin. Furthermore, the present invention refers to an emulsion comprising the inventive dry composition as well as the use of the inventive emulsion for chemical and physical sun protection in a cosmetic formulation.

A composition includes a calcium carbonate-comprising material and from 0.1 to 8 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the calcium carbonate-comprising material, of at least one grafted polymer comprising at least one succinic anhydride group obtained by grafting maleic anhydride onto a homo- or copolymer including butadiene units and optionally styrene units and/or salty reaction products thereof a polyester mixture including the composition, a polyester product prepared from the polyester mixture, a process for preparing the polyester product as well as the use of the at least one grafted polymer to decrease the melt flow rate of such a polyester product and an article formed from the polyester product.

The present invention refers to a method for the production of granules comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate, granules comprising a surface-reacted calcium carbonate having a bulk density ranging from 0.25 to 0.70 g/mL, preferably from 0.28 to 0.65 g/mL, more preferably from 0.30 to 0.60 g/mL, and most preferably from 0.35 to 0.60 g/mL and the use of the granules n a nutraceutical product, agricultural product, veterinary product, cosmetic product, preferably in a dry cosmetic and/or dry skin care composition, home product, food product, packaging product or personal care product, preferably in an oral care composition, or as excipient in a pharmaceutical product.

The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of flocculated filler particles, wherein at least two aqueous suspensions of at least one filler material and at least one flocculating additive are combined.