Zirconium treated sodium aluminosilicates and methods of making same
View Patent ↗Aluminosilicate pigments enriched by zirconium treatment, and methods of making the pigments, are disclosed. Such zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigments can have a unique combination of small particle size, high surface area, low oil absorption, and neutral pH. These pigments can be used in various paint and coating applications, such as a TiO 2 extender, offering improved properties to the finished paint or coating.
1. Zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles comprising:
at least a partial coating of a zirconium compound on the surface of alkali metal aluminosilicate particles and/or alkaline earth metal-modified alkali metal aluminosilicate particles, wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.1 to about 2 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles; and
wherein the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles are characterized by:
(i) an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 7 μm;
(ii) a BET surface area in a range from about 70 to about 200 m 2 /g;
(iii) an oil absorption in a range from about 70 to about 120 cc/100 g; and
(iv) a pH in a range from about 6 to about 7.8.
2. The pigment particles of claim 1 , wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.3 to about 1 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles.
3. The pigment particles of claim 1 , wherein the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles comprise zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles, and the alkali metal aluminosilicate particles comprise sodium aluminosilicate particles.
4. The pigment particles of claim 3 , wherein the zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles have an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 6 μm.
5. The pigment particles of claim 3 , wherein the zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles have a pH in a range from about 6.2 to about 7.6.
6. The pigment particles of claim 3 , wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.2 to about 1 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles.
7. The pigment particles of claim 3 , wherein the sodium aluminosilicate particles have an oil absorption in a range from about 60 to about 120 cc/100g.
8. The pigment particles of claim 3 , wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.2 to about 1 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles; and
wherein the sodium aluminosilicate particles are characterized by:
(i) an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 6 μm;
(ii) a BET surface area in a range from about 75 to about 200 m 2 /g;
(iii) an oil absorption in a range from about 60 to about 120 cc/100 g; and
(iv) a pH in a range from about 6.2 to about 7.8.
9. The pigment particles of claim 1 , wherein the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles comprise zirconium-containing sodium magnesium aluminosilicate pigment particles, and the alkaline earth metal-modified alkali metal aluminosilicate particles comprise sodium magnesium aluminosilicate particles.
10. The pigment particles of claim 9 , wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.2 to about 1 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing sodium magnesium aluminosilicate pigment particles; and
wherein the sodium magnesium aluminosilicate particles are characterized by:
(i) an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 6 μm;
(ii) a BET surface area in a range from about 75 to about 200 m 2 /g;
(iii) an oil absorption in a range from about 60 to about 120 cc/100 g; and
(iv) a pH in a range from about 6.2 to about 7.8.
11. A process to produce zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles, the process comprising:
contacting an aqueous slurry of alkali metal aluminosilicate particles and/or alkaline earth metal-modified alkali metal aluminosilicate particles with at least one of zirconium sulfate and zirconium oxysulfate under conditions sufficient for a zirconium compound to at least partially coat the alkali metal aluminosilicate particles and/or alkaline earth metal-modified alkali metal aluminosilicate particles;
wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.1 to about 2 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles; and
wherein the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles are characterized by:
(i) an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 7 μm;
(ii) a BET surface area in a range from about 70 to about 200 m 2 /g;
(iii) an oil absorption in a range from about 70 to about 120 cc/100 g; and
(iv) a pH in a range from about 6 to about 7.8.
12. The process of claim 11 , wherein:
the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles comprise zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles;
the alkali metal aluminosilicate particles comprise sodium aluminosilicate particles; and
the aqueous slurry is contacted with zirconium oxysulfate (ZrOSO 4 ).
13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the sodium aluminosilicate particles are characterized by:
(a) an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 6 μm;
(b) a BET surface area in a range from about 75 to about 200 m 2 /g;
(c) an oil absorption in a range from about 60 to about 120 cc/100 g; and
(d) a pH in a range from about 6.2 to about 7.8.
14. A paint or coating composition comprising:
a binder, a liquid, and zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles comprising:
at least a partial coating of a zirconium compound on the surface of alkali metal aluminosilicate particles and/or alkaline earth metal-modified alkali metal aluminosilicate particles, wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.1 to about 2 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles; and
wherein the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles are characterized by:
(i) an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 7 μm;
(ii) a BET surface area in a range from about 70 to about 200 m 2 /g;
(iii) an oil absorption in a range from about 70 to about 120 cc/100g; and
(iv) a pH in a range from about 6 to about 7.8.
15. A paint or coating produced from the composition of claim 14 .
16. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the zirconium-containing aluminosilicate pigment particles comprise zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles, and the alkali metal aluminosilicate particles comprise sodium aluminosilicate particles.
17. The composition of claim 16 , wherein:
the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.3 to about 1 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles; and
the zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles have an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 6 μm.
18. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the weight percentage of zirconium is in a range from about 0.2 to about 1 wt. %, based on the weight of the zirconium-containing sodium aluminosilicate pigment particles; and
wherein the sodium aluminosilicate particles are characterized by:
(i) an average particle size in a range from about 3 to about 6 μm;
(ii) a BET surface area in a range from about 75 to about 200 m 2 /g;
(iii) an oil absorption in a range from about 60 to about 120 cc/100 g; and
(iv) a pH in a range from about 6.2 to about 7.8.
19. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the paint or coating composition further comprises an additive selected from a catalyst, a thickener, a plasticizer, a filler, a fiber, a colorant, a dispersing agent, a flow modifier, a surface modifier, an antioxidant or stabilizer, or combinations thereof.
20. A paint or coating produced from the composition of claim 19 .
21. An article of manufacture comprising a substrate at least partially covered with the paint or coating of claim 20 , wherein the substrate comprises metal, concrete, wood, paper, plastic, or combinations thereof.