Blended opacifier for coatings and polymeric matrices

1. A composite comprising a silicate material and a plurality of titanium dioxide particles disposed on the surface of the silicate material, wherein:

the silicate material has an average particle size of from about 3 micrometers to about 40 micrometers,

the titanium dioxide particles have an average particle size of from about 0.15 micrometer to less than about 1 micrometer,

the titanium dioxide particles have an oil absorption number of from about 15 cc/100 g to about 25 cc/100 g, and

the weight ratio of the titanium dioxide particles to the silicate material is from about 2:1 to about 10:1.

2. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the silicate material has an average particle size of from about 3 micrometers to about 12 micrometers.

3. The composite of claim 2 , wherein the silicate material comprises an aluminosilicate.

4. The composite of claim 2 , wherein the silicate material comprises a sodium aluminosilicate.

5. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the silicate material has an oil absorption number of at least about 100 cc/100 g.

6. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the titanium dioxide comprises a chloride-process rutile titanium dioxide.

7. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the titanium dioxide particles have an average particle size of from about 0.15 micrometer to less than about 0.5 micrometer.

8. The composite of claim 7 , wherein the weight ratio of the titanium dioxide particles to the silicate material is from about 3:1 to about 5:1.

9. A paint or coating formulation comprising a liquid and the composite of claim 1 .

10. A process for preparing the composite of claim 1 , wherein the process comprises dry blending the silicate material and the titanium dioxide particles.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein:

the silicate material has an average particle size of from about 3 to about 12 micrometers,

the silicate material comprises an aluminosilicate, and

the titanium dioxide particles have an average particle size of from about 0.15 to less than about 0.5 micrometer.

12. A method of making a paint or coating formulation, the method comprising:

(a) mixing a silicate material and a plurality of titanium dioxide particles to form a composite, wherein:

the silicate material has an average particle size of from about 2 micrometers to about 50 micrometers,

the titanium dioxide particles have an average particle size of from about 0.15 micrometer to less than about 1 micrometer, and

the weight ratio of the titanium dioxide particles to the silicate material is from about 2:1 to about 10:1; and

(b) introducing the composite into a liquid system.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the silicate material and the titanium dioxide particles are dry components in step (a).

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the paint or coating formulation is a water-based formulation.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the titanium dioxide particles have an average particle size of from about 0.15 micrometer to less than about 0.5 micrometer, and

the titanium dioxide particles have an oil absorption number of from about 15 cc/100 g to about 25 cc/100 g.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the weight ratio of the titanium dioxide particles to the silicate material is from about 3:1 to about 5:1.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the silicate material has an average particle size of from about 3 micrometers to about 12 micrometers.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the silicate material comprises an aluminosilicate.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the silicate material comprises a sodium aluminosilicate.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein all or substantially all of the titanium dioxide is present on the surface of the silicate material in the paint or coating formulation.

21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the paint or coating formulation has at least one of improved opacity, improved contrast, and/or reduced water demand, as compared to a conventionally prepared paint or coating formulation.