Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for loading cellulosic fibers with calcium carbonate comprising: (a) providing a cellulosic fibrous material comprising a plurality of elongated fibers having a fiber wall surrounding a hollow interior, said fibrous material having moisture present at a level sufficient to provide said cellulosic fibrous material in the form of dewatered crumb pulp; (b) adding a chemical selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide to said pulp in a manner such that at least some of said chemical becomes associated with the water present in said pulp; and (c) contacting said cellulosic fibrous material with carbon dioxide while subjecting said cellulosic fibrous material to higher shear mixing so as to provide a cellulosic fibrous material having a substantial amount of calcium carbonate loaded within the hollow interior and within the fiber walls of the plurality of cellulosic fibers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for loading cellulosic fibers with calcium carbonate comprising: (a) providing a cellulosic fibrous material comprising a plurality of elongated fibers having a fiber wall surrounding a hollow interior, said fibrous material having moisture present at a level sufficient to provide said cellulosic fibrous material in the form of dewatered crumb pulp; (b) adding a chemical selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide to said pulp in a manner such that at least some of said chemical becomes associated with the water present in said pulp; and (c) contacting said cellulosic fibrous material with carbon dioxide while subjecting said cellulosic fibrous material to higher shear mixing so as to provide a cellulosic fibrous material having a substantial amount of calcium carbonate loaded within the hollow interior and within the fiber walls of the plurality of cellulosic fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the moisture content of said fibrous material is from about 40% to about 95% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chemical is added at a level of from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight based on the dry weight of said fibrous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chemical is added at a level of from about 5% to about 20% by weight based on the dry weight of said fibrous cellulose material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said contact with carbon dioxide is effected in a closed container pressurized with carbon dioxide gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said carbon dioxide gas pressure is from about 5 psig to about 60 psig.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said carbon dioxide is maintained in contact with said pulp for a period of from about 1 minute to about 60 minutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said high shear mixing is sufficient to impart from about 10 to about 70 watt hours of energy per kilo of fiber, dry weight basis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said higher shear mixing is effected by means of a pressurized paper refiner.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said refiner is provided with devil's tooth refining blades.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for making a filled paper from cellulose fibers having tubular walls and lumens which contain precipitated calcium carbonate comprising: (a) providing cellulose fibers containing water; (b) adding a chemical selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide and calcium oxide to the cellulose fibers; (c) contacting said fibers with carbon dioxide gas while subjecting said fibers to high shear mixing so that there is a reaction with the chemical to form precipitated calcium carbonate both in the interior of the fibers and in the fiber walls; and (d) forming paper from said fibers.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for making a filled paper from cellulose fibers having tubular walls and lumens which contain precipitated calcium carbonate comprising: (a) providing cellulose fibers containing water; (b) adding a chemical selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide and calcium oxide to the cellulose fibers; (c) contacting said fibers with carbon dioxide gas while subjecting said fibers to high shear mixing so that there is a reaction with the chemical to form precipitated calcium carbonate both in the interior of the fibers and in the fiber walls; and (d) forming paper from said fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the water is present at a level of from about 40% to about 95% based on the dry weight of said cellulose fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said chemical is added at a level of from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight based on the dry weight of said cellulose fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said chemical is added at a level of from about 5% to about 20% by weight based on the dry weight of said cellulose fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said contact with carbon dioxide is effected in a closed container pressurized with carbon dioxide gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said carbon dioxide gas pressure is from about 5 psig to about 60 psig.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said carbon dioxide is maintained in contact with said pulp for a period of from about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said high shear mixing is sufficient to impart from about 10 to about 70 watt hours of energy per kilo of fiber, dry weight basis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said high shear mixing is effected by means of a pressurized paper refiner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said refiner is provided with devil's tooth refining blades.