Incorporation

Claytone® and Tixogel® self-activating organoclays are easy dispersing and incorporate very readily with no polar activation. Significant reductions in the level of incorporation shear can be realized by the utilization of these products. In systems which are lightly loaded (e.g. stains, clears, and finishes), organoclays such as Tixogel® EZ 100, Tixogel® MP 100, Tixogel® MP 250, Claytone® AF, Claytone® APA, and Claytone® HY perform very efficiently and result in the rapid achievement of grind specification. Incorporation of these high performance products can typically be achieved through moderate-to-high shear rates in the grind phase. Much less shear is required when compared to conventional organoclays. Post addition in the let-down phase is possible in some systems, but adequate shear levels must be achieved. The presence of surface active additives before the organoclay is fully dispersed can adversely affect the dispersion and efficiency of the organoclay. Full viscosity development of Claytone® and Tixogel® organoclays should be achieved before the introduction of surface active materials.

Application Levels

A polar activator is usually not necessary when using Tixogel® EZ 100 or Claytone® AF.

However, in some systems, low levels of activator can enhance viscosity development.

Southern Clay Products invented and developed the use of close tolerance and ultra-high pressure milling technology for the manufacture of organoclays. This process represented a major technological breakthrough in the manufacture of organoclays. Organoclay products manufactured with this process offer unprecedented rheological performance. Formulators obtain up to a 10%-20% increase in efficiency versus the traditional technology. In many cases, this eliminates settling and sag problems in systems which pose particular rheological challenges. Many customers have taken advantage of the greater efficiency by using lower loading levels...up to 20% lower! Not only can this save money, but it can also improve performance in systems that will benefit from reduced mineral loads.

A wide range of Southern Clay Products’ organoclays take advantage of this performance enhancing processing. Tixogel® MP, Tixogel® MPZ, Tixogel® MPI, Claytone® HT, and Claytone® PS3 represent our cutting edge conventional organoclay offerings which take advantage of this superior processing technology. Tixogel® MP, Tixogel® MPZ, Tixogel® MPI, Claytone® HT, and Claytone® PS3 still require a polar activator in most applications. Southern Clay Products has also developed self-activating organoclays which use this same technology. Those products include Tixogel® MP 100, Tixogel® MP 250, Claytone® HY, Claytone® APA, and Garamite® LS. All of these products offer up to 10-20% greater efficiency versus any organoclays available in the world today. Of particular benefit with these products is the increased efficiency in the low shear viscosity range. This results in greatly improved anti-settling and sag resistance. The rheology profile of these products shows an extremely steep decline in viscosity as shear increases. This means that the formulator can take advantage of the easy incorporation inherent with the exceptional organoclay products while approaching the rheology offered by castor thixotropes.