Mineral slurries

1. A method comprising combining, in suitable amounts, a inorganic particulate material, a viscosity buffer, and liquid to form a mineral slurry, wherein

the mineral slurry has a total solid minerals content of at least about 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the mineral slurry,

the mineral slurry comprises at least about 40% by weight of the inorganic particulate material, based on the total weight of the slurry,

the mineral slurry is stable for at least one week after formation without agitation;

the Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of the mineral slurry does not increase by more than 200% following one week without agitation, and/or

the mineral slurry has a Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of no more than 1600 cP following one week without agitation, and wherein the mineral slurry comprises:

(A) talc (2);

(B) a viscosity buffer comprising kaolin (1) and polyalkylene oxide adduct of the formula R—X; and

(C) a polyacrylate dispersant,

wherein R is the radical of a monoalcohol of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, of a monocarboxylic acid of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or of their oxalkylation products with from 1 to 20 moles of an epoxide of 2 to 3 carbon atoms (e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) and X is the radical of a copal mer of an epoxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and tetrahydrofuran, and wherein the total amount of epoxide and tetrahydrofuran units in R—X is from 60 to 95 percent by weight and that the molar ratio of epoxide units to tetrahydrofuran units is from 1:0.5 to 1:3.

2. A method of making a mineral slurry which is stable for at least one week without agitation, the method comprising combining in a liquid an inorganic particulate material with a stabilizing amount of a viscosity buffer, wherein:

(i) the mineral slurry is stable for at least one week without agitation, and/or

(ii) the Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of the mineral slurry does not increase by more than 200% following one week without agitation, and/or

(iii) the mineral slurry has a Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of no more than 1600 cP following one week without agitation, and wherein the mineral slurry comprises:

(A) talc (2);

(B) a viscosity buffer comprising kaolin (1) and polyalkylene oxide adduct of the formula R—X; and

(C) a polyacrylate dispersant,

wherein R is the radical of a monoalcohol of 8 to 22 carbon atoms of a monocarboxylic acid of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or of their oxalkylation products with from 1 to 20 moles of an epoxide of 2 to 3 carbon atoms (e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) and X is the radical of a copolymer of an epoxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and tetrahydrofuran, and

wherein the total amount of epoxide and tetrahydrofuran units in R—X is from 60 to 95 percent by weight and that the molar ratio of epoxide units to tetrahydrofuran units is from 1:8.5 to 1:3.

3. A mineral slurry comprising an inorganic particulate material and a viscosity buffer, wherein:

(i) the mineral slurry is stable for at least one week without agitation, and/or

(ii) the Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of the mineral slurry does not increase by more than 200% following one week without agitation, and/or

(iii) the mineral slurry has a Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of no more than 1600 cP following one week without agitation, and wherein the mineral slurry comprises:

(A) a mixture of talc (1) and talc (2);

(B) a viscosity buffer comprising kaolin (1) and/or polyalkylene oxide adduct of the formula R—X; and

(C) a polyacrylate dispersant,

wherein R is the radical of a monoalcohol of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, of a monocarboxylic acid of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or of their oxalkylation products with from 1 to 20 moles of an epoxide of 2 to 3 carbon atoms (e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) and X is the radical of a copolymer of an epoxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and tetrahydrofuran, and

wherein the total amount of epoxide and tetrahydrofuran units in R—X is from 60 to 95 percent by weight and that the molar ratio of epoxide units to tetrahydrofuran units is from 1:0.5 to 1:3.

4. A mineral slurry comprising an inorganic particulate material and a viscosity buffer, wherein:

(i) the mineral slurry is stable for at least one week without agitation, and/or

(ii) the Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of the mineral slurry does not increase by more than 200% following one week without agitation, and/or

(iii) the mineral slurry has a Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of no more than 1600 cP following one week without agitation, and wherein the mineral slurry comprises:

(A) talc (2);

(B) a viscosity buffer comprising kaolin (1) and polyalkylene oxide adduct of the formula R—X; and

(C) a polyacrylate dispersant,

wherein R is the radical of a monoalcohol of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, of a monocarboxylic acid of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or of their oxalkylation products with from 1 to 20 moles of an epoxide of 2 to 3 carbon atoms (e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) and X is the radical of a copolymer of an epoxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and tetrahydrofuran, and

wherein the total amount of epoxide and tetrahydrofuran units in R—X is from 60 to 95 percent by weight and that the molar ratio of epoxide units to tetrahydrofuran units is from 1:0.5 to 1:3.

5. A mineral slurry comprising an inorganic particulate material and a viscosity buffer, wherein:

(i) the mineral slurry is stable for at least one week without agitation, and/or

(ii) the Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of the mineral slurry does not increase by more than 200% following one week without agitation, and/or

(iii) the mineral slurry has a Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of no more than 1600 cP following one week without agitation, and wherein the mineral slurry comprises:

(A) talc (1);

(B) a viscosity buffer comprising kaolin (1) and polyalkylene oxide adduct of the formula R—X; and

(C) a polyacrylate dispersant,

wherein R is the radical of a monoalcohol of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, of a monocarboxylic acid of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or of their oxalkylation products with from 1 to 20 moles of an epoxide of 2 to 3 carbon atoms (e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) and X is the radical of a copolymer of an epoxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and tetrahydrofuran, and

wherein the total amount of epoxide and tetrahydrofuran units in R—X is from 60 to 95 percent by weight and that the molar ratio of epoxide units to tetrahydrofuran units is from 1:0.5 to 1:3.

6. A mineral slurry comprising an inorganic particulate material and a viscosity buffer, wherein:

(i) the mineral slurry is stable for at least one week without agitation, and/or

(ii) the Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of the mineral slurry does not increase by more than 200% following one week without agitation, and/or

(iii) the mineral slurry has a Brookfield viscosity (100 rpm @ 1 minute) of no more than 1600 cP following one week without agitation, and

wherein the mineral slurry comprises:

(A) talc (1) and talc (2);

(B) a viscosity buffer comprising an organic material comprising ester and/or ether functional groups, or another non-mineral, non-polyacrylate material;

and wherein the non-mineral, non-polyacrylate material comprises a polyalkylene oxide adduct of the formula R—X; and

(C) a polyacrylate dispersant,

wherein R is the radical of a monoalcohol of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, of a monocarboxylic acid of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or of their oxalkylation products with from 1 to 20 moles of an epoxide of 2 to 3 carbon atoms (e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) and X is the radical of a copolymer of an epoxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and tetrahydrofuran, and

wherein the total amount of epoxide and tetrahydrofuran units in R—X is from 60 to 95 percent by weight and that the molar ratio of epoxide units to tetrahydrofuran units is from 1:0.5 to 1:3.

7. A coating composition comprising the mineral slurry according to claim 3 .

8. The coating composition according to claim 7 , wherein the coating is a paint.

9. A mineral slurry according to claim 3 , wherein the mineral slurry has a total solids mineral content of at least about 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the slurry.

10. A mineral slurry according to claim 3 , wherein the mineral slurry comprises at about 40% by weight of the inorganic particulate material.

11. A mineral slurry according to claim 3 , wherein the slurry has a pH of no greater than 12.

12. A mineral slurry according to claim 4 , wherein the mineral slurry has a total solids mineral content of at least about 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the slurry.

13. A mineral slurry according to claim 4 , wherein the mineral slurry comprises at about 40% by weight of the inorganic particulate material.

14. A mineral slurry according to claim 4 , wherein the slurry has a pH of no greater than 12.

15. A mineral slurry according to claim 5 , wherein the mineral slurry has a total solids mineral content of at least about 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the slurry.

16. A mineral slurry according to claim 5 , wherein the mineral slurry comprises at about 40% by weight of the inorganic particulate material.

17. A mineral slurry according to claim 5 , wherein the slurry has a pH of no greater than 12.

18. A mineral slurry according to claim 6 , wherein the mineral slurry has a total solids mineral content of at least about 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the slurry.

19. A mineral slurry according to claim 6 , wherein the mineral slurry comprises at about 40% by weight of the inorganic particulate material.

20. A mineral slurry according to claim 6 , wherein the slurry has a pH of no greater than 12.