Attapulgite

Attapulgite

Attapulgite, a naturally occurring mineral, is a crystalline hydrated magnesium alumino-silicate with a threedimensional chain structure that gives it unique colloidal and sorptive properties. Attapulgite is primary among the fuller's earth family of minerals. Attapulgite was first mined in Quincy, Florida in 1893, which is now the site of our main operations. American attapulgite is only found in southwestern Georgia and northern Florida. Fully hydrated attapulgite grades thicken liquids without swelling. Highly thermally activated grades combine high surface area with porosity to optimize sorptivity.

 

The Attagel thickeners effectively form thixotropic colloidal gels in ionic and non-ionic aqueous solutions. They also develop thixotropic gels in most organic liquids to develop thickening and/or suspension properties when dispersed with various cationic or non-ionic surfactants. They are used in paints and coatings, offering rapid dispersibility and effective thixotropic thickening, in adhesives, caulks, sealants and wallboard compounds, they provide sag resistance, viscosity control, spreadability and excellent feathering at low cost. Attagel thickeners build excellent thixotropic characteristics in asphalt cutbacks and emulsions. Other important applications for Attagel products include polishes, ceramic grouts, molecular sieve binders, wax emulsions, lubricants, liquid flowable pesticides, suspension fertilizers, liquid detergents, drilling mud, liquid animal feed and soaps.

 

Thixotropy is a desirable property because it is advantageous to have materials such as paint, adhesive, caulk, sealant or ink spread easily when rolled, sprayed or brushed, and then stiffen at a controlled rate. It is these mechanisms which prevent sags and drips, yet give desirable leveling properties. All Attagel attapulgite products provide thixotropic viscosity in liquid systems and are not impacted by extreme changes in pH or temperatures. Contrary to many commercial thickeners, the Attagel products are able to build viscosity in the presence of very high salt concentrations. Thixotropy with Attagel thickeners is developed by charge attraction on the particle surface, hydrogen bonding and the entrapment of liquid within a chain-like network. These phenomena allow Attagel thickeners to form a gel at rest: yet become thin when agitation or shear is applied. When shear is slowed or stopped, viscosity increases gradually as a new structure forms. Attapulgite thixotropic thickener series of high-quality bentonite is optional for raw materials, the processing, pulp and activation, stripping films, ultra-fine grade purification, chemical modification from the high-purity refined, high-white, ultra-dispersed, High consistency of natural bentonite inorganic gel products. The process has stimulated the full potential of the performance of bentonite, the production of bentonite products distributed performance and thickening properties are other similar products several times, dispersed in the water after the small size and evenly distributed, colloidal superior performance, with more Strong thixotropy can be used as a thickening agent flow, is the natural flow silicon aluminate category thickening agent (inorganic gel). Colloidal similar to the United States of its colloidal Vanderbilt's Veegum or the United States Magnabrite colloidal clay company's products. 

Products have the following characteristics: 

(1) colloidal outstanding performance, colloidal rate of 500 ml/15g, not out after a plastic water. (2) good thixotropy, high-shear low viscosity, low-cut high-viscosity, thixotropic index of 5.0 or above, 2.5 percent colloidal concentration (25º C) viscosity of up to 2000 MP. S above. 

(3) the pH value of outstanding stability, in pH 4 ~ 13 to play within the thickening effect. 

(4) of high purity and high brightness, delicate texture Ruanhua, dispersion, and when used without adding polar activator, scattered after the small size and evenly distributed. 

(5) has a good chemical stability and thermal stability. 

(6) thickening of the good coordination with the CMC, xanthan gum and other organic thickener mixed use can be better thickening and rheological properties. 

Applications: 

Atapulgite thixotropic thickener non-toxic, tasteless, non-irritating, has excellent flow variability and thixotropy, can be widely used in paint, acid or alkaline industrial cleaning agents, detergents, SC, and other fields.