A particulate compound, and a method for forming a particulate compound

Abstract

A particulate compound, the compound comprising an inorganic pigment and a silicate mineral which is a phyllosilicate or a zeolite, wherein the inorganic pigment comprises a mineral. Also, a method for forming a particulate compound, the method comprising: mixing ( 101 ) particles of a silicate mineral with particles of an inorganic pigment, thereby forming a particulate mixture, wherein the inorganic pigment comprises a mineral, and the silicate mineral is a phyllosilicate or a zeolite; heating ( 102 ) under vacuum the particulate mixture at a temperature of up to about 300° C.

1 . A particulate compound, the compound comprising an inorganic pigment and a silicate mineral which is a phyllosilicate or a zeolite, wherein the inorganic pigment comprises a mineral, characterized in that at least some of the inorganic pigment is bonded to the silicate mineral. 
     
     
         2 . A compound according to  claim 1 , wherein the silicate mineral is any of sepiolite, palygorskite, attapulgite, antigorite, chrysotile, lizardite, halloysite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, talc, illite, montmorillonite, smectite, chlorite, vermiculite, biotite, fuchsite, muscovite, phlogopite, lepidolite, margarite, glauconite, analcime, chabazite, clinoptilolite, heulandite, natrolite, phillipsite, or stilbite. 
     
     
         3 . A compound according to  claim 1 , wherein the silicate mineral is sepiolite. 
     
     
         4 . A compound according  claim 1 , consisting of the silicate mineral and the inorganic pigment. 
     
     
         5 . A compound according to  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the inorganic pigment in the compound is of between 10% and 90% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . A compound according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the inorganic pigment is bonded to the silicate mineral. 
     
     
         7 . A compound according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the inorganic pigment is on a surface or inside channels of the silicate mineral. 
     
     
         8 . A compound according to  claim 1 , comprising particles of a size of less than 15 μm. 
     
     
         9 . A compound according to  claim 1 , wherein said inorganic pigment comprises an iron oxide, a transition metal oxide, a spinel, a silicate or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A compound according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound is for coloring a substrate, particularly for dyeing textiles. 
     
     
         11 . An aqueous solution or dispersion, comprising a particulate compound which is according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A method for forming a particulate compound, the method comprising:
 mixing particles of a silicate mineral with particles of an inorganic pigment, thereby forming a particulate mixture of the particles of the silicate mineral and of the particles of the inorganic pigment, wherein the inorganic pigment comprises a mineral, and the silicate mineral is a phyllosilicate or a zeolite;   heating under vacuum the particulate mixture at a temperature of up to about 300° C.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the silicate mineral is any of sepiolite, palygorskite, attapulgite, antigorite, chrysotile, lizardite, halloysite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, talc, illite, montmorillonite, smectite, chlorite, vermiculite, biotite, fuchsite, muscovite, phlogopite, lepidolite, margarite, glauconite, analcime, chabazite, clinoptilolite, heulandite, natrolite, phillipsite, or stilbite. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the silicate mineral is sepiolite. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein before mixing the particles of the silicate mineral with the particles of the inorganic pigment, the method further comprises drying the particles of the silicate mineral. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising micronizing the silicate mineral and/or the inorganic pigment for forming, respectively, said particles of the silicate mineral and said particles of the inorganic pigment. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the particles of the silicate mineral and/or the particles of the inorganic pigment have a size of 10 μm or less. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the steps of mixing and heating are done in a reactor which comprises a mixer and a vessel in which said mixing and heating takes place, and wherein:
 the particles of the silicate mineral and the particles of the inorganic pigment are loaded in the vessel by suction;   in said vessel the silicate mineral and the inorganic pigment are mixed by means of the mixer; and,   said vessel is heated, thereby gradually heating the particulate mixture at the temperature of up to about 300° C.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the proportion by weight between the inorganic pigment and the silicate mineral in the particulate mixture is of between 10/90 and 90/10.