Abstract:
Processes for continuously coalescing particles from an aggregated particle slurry are disclosed. The aggregated particle slurry is heated, then coalesced by raising the pH. The coalesced particles are homogenized and exit as a coalesced particle slurry. A multi-screw extruder is used for the coalescing. These processes are useful for providing coalesced particles such as toner compositions.
Abstract:
A continuous process for making a pigment dispersion includes continuously feeding a pigment into a feed section of a screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding a surfactant into the feed section of the screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding water downstream of the feed section to emulsify the pigment and the surfactant, forming a water-in-pigment dispersion, continuously feeding additional water downstream of the previously fed water to cause a phase inversion of the water-in-pigment dispersion, forming a pigment-in-water dispersion, continuously homogenizing the pigment-in-water dispersion in the screw extruder to create a homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion and collecting the homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion from an exit section of the screw extruder.