Active Minerals International’s Innovation Brings a Portfolio of Rheology Modifiers to the CASE Industry

Active Minerals International (AMI), a leader in the production of Air Float Kaolin and Gelling Grade Attapulgite, is continuing to expand its horizons and commitment to a strong emphasis on innovation and research. Our Research & Development (R&D) Innovation Center in Houston, Texas, leads the way by assuring we have a portfolio of rheological performance products available for a wide range of formulations. This includes the most recent development, designed for the CASE industry, of Min-U-Gel^® 500+ rheology additive. This advanced portfolio addition represents a product offerings leap forward in gelling and rheological properties, offering enhanced performance and reliability in diverse formulations.

AMI’s R&D Center

Equipped with state-of-the-art instruments such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser particle size analyzers, rheometers and paint testing equipment, our Houston-based R&D Center focuses on the development of new products, including materials and mineral research, as well as application testing. By investing in high-tech research tools, AMI affirms its commitment to product innovation, delivering enhanced technical support to customers and providing formulating solutions. This focus is driven by a customer-centric philosophy and desire to deliver world-class technical solutions and customer service.

The R&D Center engages directly with AMI’s customers, providing technical support through customer-focused service projects. This direct engagement ensures that AMI's research efforts are aligned with market needs, fostering long-term partnerships and enhancing the value of AMI's product offerings.

–Credit: Courtesy of Active Minerals–

A Portfolio Designed for the CASE industry:

Min-U-Gel^® FG attapulgite is a coarser grade product valued for consistent high quality and reliable supply. The product is widely used in joint compounds for providing critical properties of thixotropic thickening, suspension, syneresis control, easy workability/troweling and shelf-life stability.

Min-U-Gel^® 300 attapulgite mid-range fineness is designed to add stability, sag control, and anti-settling properties to adhesive, sealant, and mastic formulations.

MIN-U-GEL^® 400 fine grade is recommended and widely used in aqueous systems for controlling rheology, suspension, and syneresis in a wide range of applications, like architectural paints & coatings, latex caulks, foundry mold washes, plastisols, tile adhesives (thin-sets), wood lamination adhesives, and asphalt cutback mastics. This low reside product can be used alone or in conjunction with associative thickeners where a low shear thixotrope is needed to support the high shear thixotropy of the associative thickener.

Min-U-Gel^® 500+ product is engineered with a fine particle size, providing superior characteristics for suspension and syneresis control in both aqueous and solvent based systems. This is particularly beneficial in coatings applications where controlling pigment stability and minimizing syneresis are critical for product performance and shelf life.

Acti-Gel^® 208 rheology modifier and suspension agent is a unique formulary tool. It is a highly purified magnesium aluminosilicate that suspends and homogeneously disperses other particles in liquid systems creating a very stable mixture, yet enables higher loadings of solids without increasing viscosity. This product can be used as an add-on-top syneresis fix.

Enhancing Formulation Flexibility – Solvent-Based Systems

A key advantage of the Min-U-Gel^® 500+ product, the most recent addition to AMI’s portfolio, is its versatility. It can be used as a standalone solution or in combination with associative thickeners, where low-shear thixotropy is required to complement high-shear rheology. This makes Min-U-Gel^® 500+ product a valuable addition to a range of coating formulations, including solvent-based systems like oil and alcohol-based coatings.

The product's high performance is maintained across different pH levels, ionic concentrations, and in the presence of biological agents, offering formulators increased flexibility in their applications. Whether used for improving viscosity, reducing pigment flotation, or ensuring consistent performance in challenging environments, Min-U-Gel^® 500+ product can deliver reliable results on par with industry leading rheological additives.

A Commitment to Quality

Active Minerals International emphasizes the importance of consistent product quality through its company-wide Quality Management System (QMS), in compliance with ISO 9001:2015 standards. This ensures that the full portfolio of CASE industry products meet the highest standards, providing customers with confidence that they are using a product that has been rigorously tested and consistently manufactured.

Conclusion

Active Minerals International's investment in its Houston-based R&D Innovation Center and the development of products like Min-U-Gel^® 500+ rheology modifier underscores its commitment to advancing the performance of industrial minerals and providing a portfolio of solutions. The combination of cutting-edge research, experienced leadership, and a focus on customer needs positions AMI as a key innovator in the coatings industry. The wide range of quality rheological products stands as a testament to AMI’s ability to translate technical expertise into practical solutions, helping formulators achieve better stability, viscosity, and overall performance in their products.