Claims
- 1. A fiber-based composite material comprised of:
- a fiber component including a plurality of fibers of expanded specific surface area and hydrophilic character, having microfibrils on their surface;
- wherein said surface area of said fibers are in the range of 3 to 200 m.sup.2 /g; and
- a mineral component bonded to said fiber component which includes crystals of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC);
- wherein said crystals of PCC are organized essentially in clusters of granules directly grafted on to said microfibrils, without binders or retention aids present at the interface between PCC and microfibrils, so the majority of said crystals trap said microfibrils by reliable and non-labile mechanical bonding;
- said mineral component is equal to or greater than 20% by weight, based on total solids of the composite material.
- 2. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein said microfibrils have a diameter of less than 5 .mu.m.
- 3. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein the particle size of said crystals of PCC are in the range of 0.5 to 10 .mu.m.
- 4. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein said fibers are natural or refined.
- 5. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein said fibers are refined to a freeness greater than 30.degree. Schopper-Riegler.
- 6. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein said mineral component is between 20 to 40% by weight, based on total solids of the composite material.
- 7. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein said mineral component is greater than 40% by weight, based on total solids of the composite material.
- 8. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein said fibers are selected from the group consisting of cellulosic and synthetic fibers.
- 9. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein the composite material is an aqueous suspension, a paste or a compact mass.
- 10. A fiber-based composite material according to claim 1, wherein said composite material is used to produce construction materials, paper products or opacified non-woven substrates.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
92 04474 |
Apr 1992 |
FRX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/044,234 filed on Apr. 7, 1993 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
A 0227853 |
Jul 1987 |
EPX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
44234 |
Apr 1993 |
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