Perlite products with controlled particle size distribution

• US 6,464,770 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Imerys USA Incorporated (Parjointco N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Minerals Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Bo, Palm, Scott K., Roulston, John S., Hayward, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUNSMAN, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US09/635,214
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 106/409, 106/DIG.2, 252/378.P, 210/807, 210/502.1
• US Class Current: 106/409
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/06 Inorganic material, e.g. asbestos fibres, glass beads or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/106 Perlite
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/185 expanded
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/008 Micro- or nanosized fillers, e.g. micronised fillers with particle size smaller than that of the hydraulic binder colloidal silica C04B14/062 ; silica fume C04B18/146
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00793 as filters or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 106/02 Perlite

Abstract

Expanded perlite products having controlled particle size distribution, methods of producing the expanded perlite products, and methods of use thereof are provided. The expanded perlite product has, for example, a low ratio of standard deviation of particle size distribution to median particle size (for example, less than 0.63) and low median particle size (for example, less than 50 microns). The expanded perlite product may be used in a variety of applications including filter applications.

Claims

1. An expanded perlite product having a controlled particle size distribution;

wherein the ratio of the standard deviation of particle size distribution to the median particle size is less than 0.63; and

wherein the median particle size is less than 50 microns.

2. The expanded perlite product of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the standard deviation of particle size distribution to the median particle size is less than 0.60.

5. The expanded perlite product of claim 1, wherein the product has a wet density less than 50 pounds per cubic foot.

6. The expanded perlite product of claim 5, wherein the product has a wet density less than 40 pounds per cubic foot.

7. The expanded perlite product of claim 6, wherein the product has a wet density less than 35 pounds per cubic foot.

8. The expanded perlite product of claim 7, wherein said product further has a wet density less than 30 pounds per cubic foot.

9. The expanded perlite product of claim 8, wherein the product has a wet density less than 25 pounds per cubic foot.

10. The expanded perlite product of claim 9, wherein the product has a wet density less than 20 pounds per cubic foot.

11. The expanded perlite product of claim 1, wherein the product has a floater content of less than 10 percent by volume.

12. The expanded perlite product of claim 11, wherein the product has a floater content of less than 5 percent by volume.

13. The expanded perlite product of claim 12, wherein the product has a floater content of less than 2.5 percent by volume.

14. The expanded perlite product of claim 13, wherein the product has a floater content of less than 2 percent by volume.

15. The expanded perlite product of claim 1, wherein the product has a blue light brightness greater than 80.

16. The expanded perlite product of claim 15, wherein the product has a blue light brightness greater than 82.

17. The expanded perlite product of claim 16, wherein the product has a blue light brightness greater than 83.

18. The expanded perlite product of claim 17, wherein the product has a blue light brightness greater than 85.

19. The expanded perlite product of claim 1, wherein the product has a Hegman fineness greater than 1.0.

20. The expanded perlite product of claim 19, wherein the product has a Hegman fineness greater than 2.0.

21. The expanded perlite product of claim 20, wherein the product has a Hegman fineness greater than 3.0.

22. The expanded perlite product of claim 21, wherein the product has a Hegman fineness greater than 4.0.

23. The expanded perlite product of claim 22, wherein the product has a Hegman fineness greater than 5.0.

24. The expanded perlite product of claim 23, wherein the product has a Hegman fineness greater than 6.0.

25. A filter, insulating material, filler, horticultural media, hydroponic media, or chemical carrier comprising the expanded perlite product of claim 1.

26. A method of separating components from a solution, comprising filtering a solution comprising the components through a filter comprising the expanded perlite product of claim 1.

3. The expanded perlite product of 2, wherein the ratio of the standard deviation of particle size distribution to the median particle size is less than 0.58.

4. The expanded perlite product of claim 3, wherein the ratio of the standard deviation of particle size distribution to the median particle size is less than 0.55.