Self-Binding Pigment Particles via High Solids Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing self-binding mineral pigment particles are limited to low solids content suspensions, requiring energy-intensive up-concentration and leading to binder loss and unwanted agglomerates, which are not suitable for high solids content applications.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the use of an aqueous mineral pigment suspension with carboxymethylcellulose as a binder, adjusted to a high solids content of 45-80 wt.%, and ground to produce self-binding pigment particles of desired size, eliminating the need for up-concentration and reducing agglomerate formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If low solids content suspensions are used for preparing self-binding pigment particles, then the grinding process can be performed, but the process requires energy-intensive up-concentration and leads to binder loss and unwanted agglomerates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the solids content to a specific high range (45-80 wt.%) and selecting binder polymers with specific intrinsic viscosity ranges (3-300 ml/g) and molecular weights. This allows the system to achieve stable self-binding pigment particles directly at high solids content without requiring energy-intensive up-concentration steps, thereby resolving the contradiction between quantity of substance and energy loss.
2Quantity of substance
If low solids content suspensions are used for preparing self-binding pigment particles, then the grinding process can be performed, but binder loss and unwanted agglomerates are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of solids content to a high range (45-80 wt.%) and selects binder polymers with specific properties (intrinsic viscosity 3-300 ml/g, molecular weight 10,000-1,000,000 g/mol). These parameter changes optimize binder adsorption efficiency and prevent both binder loss and unwanted agglomerate formation during grinding, resolving the contradiction between quantity of substance and loss of substance.
3Quantity of substance
If dispersants are added to process high solid content suspensions, then grinding can be performed, but the dispersant affects the adsorption of the binder to the particles during co-grinding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dispersant from the system by performing grinding at high solids content (45-80 wt.%) without adding dispersants. Instead, it uses binder polymers with specific intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight ranges that provide adequate performance without interfering with binder adsorption. This eliminates the harmful effect of dispersants on binder adsorption while maintaining high solids content processing.
4Quantity of substance
If up-concentration step is performed on low solids content suspension, then high solids content is achieved, but time and energy are consumed and unwanted agglomerates are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by starting directly with high solids content suspensions (45-80 wt.%) and performing grinding at this concentration, rather than starting with low solids content suspensions and then up-concentrating them. This inversion eliminates the time-consuming up-concentration step and prevents agglomerate formation, while the specific binder polymer selection ensures proper adsorption and particle binding.
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
This process allows for the direct production of self-binding pigment particles in high solids content suspensions, enhancing binder adsorption and reducing agglomerate formation, thus improving mechanical stability and application efficiency in various industries.
Implementation Method 1
The addition of dispersant, however, inter alia affects the adsorption of the binder to the particles during the co-grinding
Implementation Method 2
grinding refers to an operation leading to a reduction in the particle size; the mineral materials in the self-binding pigment particle have a smaller diameter than the initial mineral material used to produce them
Implementation Method 3
The internal cohesion forces are such as to provide the self-binding pigment particles with excellent mechanical stability
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for preparing self-binding pigment particles from an aqueous mineral pigment material suspension having a solid content of 45 to 80 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the suspension.