Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A process for the production of a free-flowing foam inhibitor concentrate comprising (1) preparing an intimate mixture comprising: (a) from about 1 to about 20% by weight of at least one foam inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a paraffin hydrocarbon, an organopolysiloxane, and a mixture thereof with a finely-divided, hydrophobic solid component, and (b) from about 80 to about 99% by weight of a water-soluble salt having a pH in the form of a 1% aqueous solution of from about 6 to about 9.5, (2) compacting said mixture under pressure without significantly exceeding the pressure limit at which no further compaction of said mixture occurs to provide a compactate having a total particle porosity as measured by mercury porosimetry of below about 10%, said compacting being performed in the roll gap of a roll stand at a specific pressure of from about 15 to about 30 kN/cm roll length applied in said roll gap, and (3) size-reducing said compactate to a granulate having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 2 mm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A process for the production of a free-flowing foam inhibitor concentrate comprising (1) preparing an intimate mixture comprising: (a) from about 1 to about 20% by weight of at least one foam inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a paraffin hydrocarbon, an organopolysiloxane, and a mixture thereof with a finely-divided, hydrophobic solid component, and (b) from about 80 to about 99% by weight of a water-soluble salt having a pH in the form of a 1% aqueous solution of from about 6 to about 9.5, (2) compacting said mixture under pressure without significantly exceeding the pressure limit at which no further compaction of said mixture occurs to provide a compactate having a total particle porosity as measured by mercury porosimetry of below about 10%, said compacting being performed in the roll gap of a roll stand at a specific pressure of from about 15 to about 30 kN/cm roll length applied in said roll gap, and (3) size-reducing said compactate to a granulate having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 2 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said hydrophobic solid component comprises silanized silica.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said intimate mixture contains a blending aid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said compactate has a total particle porosity as measured by mercury porosimetry of below about 7%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble salt comprises sodium sulfate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said paraffin hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of a liquid paraffin, a soft paraffin, a hard paraffin and microcrystalline wax, and a mixture thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said foam inhibitor is hydrophobicized or silanized.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble salt is selected from the group consisting of a sulfate, chloride, phosphate and acetate of sodium and/or potassium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said mixture is preheated to a temperature of from about 40 to about 150° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said mixture contains up to about 15% by weight of water, based on the weight of said mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said mixture contains up to about 25% by weight of an additive selected from the group consisting of a plasticizer, a swelling agent, and a binder, based on the weight of said mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said compacting step is performed in a screw extruder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said compacting step is performed in a pelletizer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said size-reducing step is performed in a mill to provide a size-reduced granulate of said concentrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
A process as in claim 14 including size-grading said granulate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as in claim 15 including returning over-sized particles of said granulate to said size-reducing step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as in claim 15 including returning under-sized particles of said granulate to said compacting step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said compacting step is performed under conditions to provide a granulated compactate having a density of above about 900 g/l.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 1 including subjecting said granulate to a surface abrasion process whereby its density is increased and its empty-space volume is decreased.