Surface-Reacted Calcium Carbonate Granules via Liquid Saturation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing granules of surface-reacted calcium carbonate face challenges in achieving stability and requiring high amounts of binder due to the porosity of the material, leading to fragile and poorly cohesive granules.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the saturation of surface-reacted calcium carbonate with a liquid before adding a binder, allowing for reduced binder usage and improved granule stability through agitation and subsequent drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If surface-reacted calcium carbonate is granulated using conventional methods, then granules can be formed, but the granules are fragile and require high amounts of binder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegranule stabilityVSAvoidbinder amount

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is pre-saturated with liquid before granulation. This preliminary saturation ensures that the porous structure is filled with liquid, creating a stable environment for binder addition and granule formation, thereby reducing binder demand and improving granule strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the porous structure of surface-reacted calcium carbonate by saturating it with liquid. The porosity, which previously caused fragility and high binder requirements, is converted into an advantage by filling the pores with liquid to create stable granules with reduced binder needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If surface-reacted calcium carbonate is granulated using conventional methods, then granules can be formed, but the granules are fragile

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegranule stabilityVSAvoidgranule cohesion

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state and composition parameters of the calcium carbonate by saturating it with liquid. This parameter change transforms the material from a dry, fragile powder to a liquid-saturated precursor that forms cohesive, stable granules during the granulation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The process results in more stable and less fragile granules with a reduced need for binder, achieving desired granule sizes and distributions while minimizing dusting and improving physical properties.

Implementation Method 1

The obtained product is a porous calcium carbonate having a special surface structure, porosity, and specific surface area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

saturating the surface-reacted calcium carbonate with one or more liquids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

combining the liquid saturated surface-reacted calcium carbonate with the one or more binder under agitation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 4

removing the liquid from the mixture of step d)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS10351710B2Method for the production of granules comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate

Publication Date: 2019.07.16 OMYA INT AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for the production of granules comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate by a) providing surface-reacted calcium carbonate, b) saturating the surface-reacted calcium carbonate with one or more liquids; c) providing one or more binder; d) combining the liquid saturated surface-reacted calcium carbonate with the one or more binder under agitation in an agitation device; e) removing the liquid from the mixture of step d); as well as to the granules comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate obtained by this method.