(54) DELAMINATED SEDIMENTARY MICA
(75) Inventors: David M. Avant, Jr., Sandersville;
Donald G. Turner, Washington, both of
GA (US)
(73) Assignee: Georgia Industrial Minerals, Inc.,
Sandersville, GA (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/531,109
(22) Filed: Mar. 17, 2000
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Continuation of application No. 09/012,784, filed on Jan. 23, 1998, now abandoned, which is a division of application No. 08/661,985, filed on Jun. 12, 1996.
(51) Int. CI.7 B32B 5/16; C01B 33/42
(52) U.S. CI 428/331; 423/328.3; 428/402
(58) Field of Search 428/331, 302;
423/328.3
Sedimentary mica flakes are produced having a bulk density of between about five and one-half pounds per cubic feet and eight pounds per cubic feet (5.5-11 lbs/ft3), a high aspect ratio, and a G.E. brightness between about seventy-five and ninety (75-90). Operations include applying shear forces to delaminate the mica into flakes. Shear forces are applied by rotating a plurality of arcuate blades within a confined chamber containing the mica, such that the mica is forced between an outer portion of each blade and said chamber. The resulting delaminated mica flakes may be dried and classified.
6 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
