Acti-Gel 208
Mineralogy
- Attapulgite
Links to Other Materials
Miscellaneous
- Family: Additive
- Region: North America
- Mined At: Unspecified
- Raw Mineral: No
- Generic: No
Notes
Acti-gelŪ is a self dispersing Thixotrope having rod-shaped particles that average 2 microns in length by 30 Angstrom in diameter. The particles are highly charged along the axis which enables Acti-Gel 208 to bind with the other particles present. Acti-Gel does not absorb moisture and this allows it to dry very quickly during the drying and firing processes.
Ceramic Glazes:
Fritted Glazes
Frit is a glassy material and therefore has no charges present. When frit glaze customers first try Acti-Gel they find that it does not work. This is because Acti-GelŪ 208 needs both Mineral Particles & Soluble ions to "Activate" Acti-GelŪ 208 .
The solution to this problem is to add a small amount of Epsom Salts (MgSO4) to the suspension. Epsom Salts are IMMEDIATELY soluble, even in cold water and they provide the soluble ions necessary for Acti-GelŪ 208 to work. Dosage Levels are in the 2% to 3% Epsom Salt BASED on the WEIGHT of Acti-GelŪ 208 .
Dosage rates for Acti-GelŪ 208 are in the 0.25% to 0.50% range (based on formula weight) for glaze slurries in the 50% solids and higher range.
Glaze slurries in the 30% to 40% solids range require 0.5% to 1.0% Acti-Gel(tm)208 .
Natural Glazes
Natural Glazes generally have enough soluble ions present. To gain additional gel strength with Acti-GelŪ 208 , add Epsom Salts as above. Dosage levels of Acti-GelŪ 208 are similar to Fritted Glazes.
Acti-GelŪ 208 Advantages in Glazes
In both kinds of glazes, we find that many customers use HEC, CMC or HPMC to stabilize the glaze along with Laponite, Bentonite (Bentone EW, LT, etc.).
When Acti-GelŪ 208 is used, we can reduce Cellulose to 0.05% or 0.1% and, at the same time, eliminate the Bentonite or Laponite.
Acti-GelŪ 208 DRIES very QUICKLY. This can be a big advantage to many glaze formulas. For those that require a little longer dry time, we found that by adding about 0.05% Cellulose, customers can "dial-in" dry times.
Acti-GelŪ 208 enables the glaze to SPRAY much better than other systems.
Acti-GelŪ 208 glazes have HIGHER ADHESION STRENGTHS.
Acti-GelŪ 208 glazes can be applied thicker without running, sagging, settling.
Dry Press Tile Applications:
Acti-GelŪ 208 has been used successfully in tile making formulas that include Extrusion & Pressing followed by flash calcining.
Acti-GelŪ 208 allows the formulator to use less Ball Clay and add more Feldspar, Calcined Talc and Kaolin.
This enables the formulator to decrease formula variations as a result of inconsistencies in Ball Clay.
Reductions in warpage and cracking.
Improvements in forming properties.
Dosage level is typically 2-5% Acti-GelŪ 208 based on dry solids weight of the formula.
Incorporating Acti-Gel into your system:
For Low Shear Mixing applications, we recommend that you first make a predispersion of Acti-GelŪ 208 in water. The pre-dispersion must be made in a high shear mixer. Solids levels can range from 15-25% solids dispersion of Acti-GelŪ in water.
In High Shear Mixing, add Acti-GelŪ 208 as a dry powder to the mix.
Either way, after adding Acti-GelŪ 208 to the formula, remember to mix very well.
After mixing, the compound is tested in the pressing and extrusion processes to see how it performs and to establish optimum dosage levels.
Advantages of using Acti-Gel 208 in Dry Press Tile Bodies
Most customers see a huge difference in the behavior of the mix containing Acti-GelŪ 208 .
The mix is more consistent.
Flow properties are improved, extrusion pressures are lowered.
Tooling and Mold Release properties are better.
Tiles made with Acti-GelŪ 208 are easy to form, very manageable - having very good plastic characteristics.
Delamination is dramatically reduced improving Production Efficiencies.
Some customers have seen their production recovery rates increase from just 65% to over 90%.
Addition Level:
Acti-GelŪ 208 is used at 2-5% (based on formula weight) in Dry Press Tile Formulas.
URLs
- Data Sheet - http://www.itcglobal.com/pdf/AMC/Actigeltds.pdf
Suppliers
- Active Minerals Co LLC
Authors
- Tony Hansen (Owner)
Pictures
-
Actigel Micrograph
XML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<material name="Acti-Gel 208" descrip="" generic="0" rawmineral="0" searchkey="Antigel 208, Actigel Attapulgite" loi="0.00">
<families>
<family name="Additive"/>
</families>
<regions>
<region name="North America"/>
</regions>
<references>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
</references>
<minerals>
<mineral name="Attapulgite" detail=""/>
</minerals>
<suppliers>
<supplier name="Active Minerals Co LLC" country="US" url="www.acti-gel.com" label=""/>
</suppliers>
<notes>
<note>Acti-gel® is a self dispersing Thixotrope having rod-shaped particles that average 2 microns in length by 30 Angstrom in diameter. The particles are highly charged along the axis which enables Acti-Gel 208 to bind with the other particles present. Acti-Gel does not absorb moisture and this allows it to dry very quickly during the drying and firing processes.
Ceramic Glazes:
Fritted Glazes
Frit is a glassy material and therefore has no charges present. When frit glaze customers first try Acti-Gel they find that it does not work. This is because Acti-Gel® 208 needs both Mineral Particles & Soluble ions to "Activate" Acti-Gel® 208 .
The solution to this problem is to add a small amount of Epsom Salts (MgSO4) to the suspension. Epsom Salts are IMMEDIATELY soluble, even in cold water and they provide the soluble ions necessary for Acti-Gel® 208 to work. Dosage Levels are in the 2% to 3% Epsom Salt BASED on the WEIGHT of Acti-Gel® 208 .
Dosage rates for Acti-Gel® 208 are in the 0.25% to 0.50% range (based on formula weight) for glaze slurries in the 50% solids and higher range.
Glaze slurries in the 30% to 40% solids range require 0.5% to 1.0% Acti-Gel(tm)208 .
Natural Glazes
Natural Glazes generally have enough soluble ions present. To gain additional gel strength with Acti-Gel® 208 , add Epsom Salts as above. Dosage levels of Acti-Gel® 208 are similar to Fritted Glazes.
Acti-Gel® 208 Advantages in Glazes
In both kinds of glazes, we find that many customers use HEC, CMC or HPMC to stabilize the glaze along with Laponite, Bentonite (Bentone EW, LT, etc.).
When Acti-Gel® 208 is used, we can reduce Cellulose to 0.05% or 0.1% and, at the same time, eliminate the Bentonite or Laponite.
Acti-Gel® 208 DRIES very QUICKLY. This can be a big advantage to many glaze formulas. For those that require a little longer dry time, we found that by adding about 0.05% Cellulose, customers can "dial-in" dry times.
Acti-Gel® 208 enables the glaze to SPRAY much better than other systems.
Acti-Gel® 208 glazes have HIGHER ADHESION STRENGTHS.
Acti-Gel® 208 glazes can be applied thicker without running, sagging, settling.
Dry Press Tile Applications:
Acti-Gel® 208 has been used successfully in tile making formulas that include Extrusion & Pressing followed by flash calcining.
Acti-Gel® 208 allows the formulator to use less Ball Clay and add more Feldspar, Calcined Talc and Kaolin.
This enables the formulator to decrease formula variations as a result of inconsistencies in Ball Clay.
Reductions in warpage and cracking.
Improvements in forming properties.
Dosage level is typically 2-5% Acti-Gel® 208 based on dry solids weight of the formula.
Incorporating Acti-Gel into your system:
For Low Shear Mixing applications, we recommend that you first make a predispersion of Acti-Gel® 208 in water. The pre-dispersion must be made in a high shear mixer. Solids levels can range from 15-25% solids dispersion of Acti-Gel® in water.
In High Shear Mixing, add Acti-Gel® 208 as a dry powder to the mix.
Either way, after adding Acti-Gel® 208 to the formula, remember to mix very well.
After mixing, the compound is tested in the pressing and extrusion processes to see how it performs and to establish optimum dosage levels.
Advantages of using Acti-Gel 208 in Dry Press Tile Bodies
Most customers see a huge difference in the behavior of the mix containing Acti-Gel® 208 .
The mix is more consistent.
Flow properties are improved, extrusion pressures are lowered.
Tooling and Mold Release properties are better.
Tiles made with Acti-Gel® 208 are easy to form, very manageable - having very good plastic characteristics.
Delamination is dramatically reduced improving Production Efficiencies.
Some customers have seen their production recovery rates increase from just 65% to over 90%.
Addition Level:
Acti-Gel® 208 is used at 2-5% (based on formula weight) in Dry Press Tile Formulas. </note>
</notes>
<pictures>
<picture description="Actigel Micrograph" filename="actigelsem.gif"/>
</pictures>
</material>
Much more information with complete interlinking to many related Copyright 2003 http://digitalfire.com, All Rights Reserved Please support http://ceramicmaterials.info to improve this library |  |
INSIGHT is ceramic chemistry |