Compositions

Abstract

A composition comprising alkaline earth metal carbonate and phyllosilicate, use of a composition comprising alkaline earth metal carbonate and phyllosilicate as a filler in a paper product and a method of preparing a composition comprising alkaline earth metal carbonate and phyllosilicate.

1 . A composition comprising alkaline earth metal carbonate and phyllosilicate, wherein the solids content of the composition comprises:
 at least about 45 wt % alkaline earth metal carbonate; and   at least about 2 wt % phyllosilicate, and   wherein the composition has a brightness between about 85 and about 95.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solids content of the composition comprises from about 45 wt % to about 98 wt % alkaline earth metal carbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solids content of the composition comprises from about 2 wt % to about 55 wt % phyllosilicate. 
     
     
         4 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline earth metal carbonate is calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phyllosilicate is kaolin. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phyllosilicate is talc. 
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 0.3% dispersant based on the total weight of the dry alkaline earth metal carbonate. 
     
     
         34 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein up to about 20 wt % of particles in the composition are larger than about 10 μm. 
     
     
         37 . The composition  claim 1 , wherein the composition demonstrates at least about 10% less abrasivity in comparison to a corresponding composition in accordance with  claim 1  which does not comprise said phyllosilicate. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition demonstrates at least about 20% less abrasivity in comparison to a corresponding composition in accordance with  claim 1  which does not comprise said phyllosilicate. 
     
     
         39 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A composition comprising alkaline earth metal carbonate and phyllosilicate, wherein from about 45 wt % to about 85 wt % of particles in the composition are smaller than about 2 μm, from about 15 wt % to about 30 wt % of particles in the composition are smaller than about 0.5 μm, and up to about 20 wt % of particles in the composition are larger than about 10 μm. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the alkaline earth metal carbonate is calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         45 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the phyllosilicate is kaolin. 
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the phyllosilicate is talc. 
     
     
         49 - 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the composition demonstrates at least about 10% less abrasivity in comparison to a corresponding composition in accordance with  claim 43  which does not comprise said phyllosilicate. 
     
     
         78 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the composition demonstrates at least about 20% less abrasivity in comparison to a corresponding composition in accordance with  claim 43  which does not comprise said phyllosilicate. 
     
     
         79 - 125 . (canceled) 
     
     
         126 . A papermaking composition comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         127 . (canceled) 
     
     
         128 . A paper product prepared from the papermaking composition of  claim 126 . 
     
     
         129 . A paper product comprising a filler, wherein the filler comprises the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         130 . A process for preparing the composition of  claim 1  comprising:
 combining alkaline earth metal carbonate with phyllosilicate. 
 
     
     
         131 . A process for making a paper product comprising:
 combining the composition of  claim 1  with a fibrous pulp suitable for making a paper product to form a papermaking composition; and   forming a paper product from the papermaking composition.   
     
     
         132 . The process of  claim 131 , wherein the fibrous pulp comprises cellulose.