CP-EZ Organoclay — Ultra-Fine Self-Activating Premium Grade

Q: What makes CP-EZ a premium organoclay grade?

CP-EZ combines four premium characteristics: ultra-fine dispersion fineness (≤10μm — the finest in the standard CP range alongside CP-120 and CP-21A); high purity with low residual silica content; self-activating property in medium and high polarity solvent systems (no polar activator required); and the widest application range covering paints, inks, greases, drilling fluids, and cleaning agents. The ≤10μm dispersion fineness eliminates visible texture in high-gloss coatings and prevents plate abrasion in printing inks.

Q: What is the dispersion fineness of CP-EZ and why does it matter?

CP-EZ achieves dispersion fineness ≤10μm — the finest dispersion specification in the standard organoclay range. This ultra-fine dispersion is critical for: high-gloss coatings (undispersed particles >10μm create visible texture and reduce gloss); high-quality printing inks (prevents printing plate and cylinder abrasion); cosmetic formulations (smooth skin feel without grittiness); and nano-composite research where individual clay platelet exfoliation is required. Standard organoclay grades achieve ≤40μm; CP-EZ achieves ≤10μm under equivalent dispersion conditions.

Q: Is CP-EZ self-activating in all solvent systems?

CP-EZ is self-activating (no polar activator required) in medium and high polarity solvents including aromatic hydrocarbons (xylene, toluene), ketones, esters, and ether esters. In low polarity systems such as mineral spirits and aliphatic solvents, a small amount of polar activator (10–20% of CP-EZ weight) is recommended to achieve optimum gel performance. This is significantly less activator than conventional grades such as CP-34 (30–50% activator).

CP-EZ is a premium organophilic clay combining ultra-fine dispersion fineness (≤10 μm), high-purity low-silica base material, self-activating capability in medium and high polarity systems, and exceptional wide-range compatibility. The ≤10 μm dispersion specification — achieved through refined manufacturing and controlled particle size distribution — positions CP-EZ as the grade of choice for applications where visible texture from undispersed clay particles is unacceptable: high-gloss decorative paints, precision printing inks, and appearance-sensitive cosmetic formulations.

Technical Properties

Parameter	Specification	Test Method
Chemical composition	Organic derivative of montmorillonite clay (high purity)	—
Appearance	Fine powder, light yellow	Visual
Moisture content	≤ 3.5%	105°C, 2 hours
Loss on ignition (LOI)	35–37%	1000°C
Bulk density	0.40–0.60 g/cm³	—
Fineness	≥ 99% passing 74 μm (200 mesh)	Sieve analysis
Dispersion fineness	≤ 10 μm	Hegman/fineness gauge
Purity	High purity — low residual silica	XRF

Performance Characteristics

Ultra-fine dispersion ≤10 μm — no visible texture in high-gloss coatings; no abrasion on printing plates or cylinders; smooth cosmetic skin feel
High purity, low silica content — cleaner rheological baseline; reduced abrasion; better batch-to-batch consistency
Self-activating in medium/high polarity systems — no polar activator needed in aromatic, ketone, and ester solvents; only 10–20% activator in aliphatic systems
Wide application range — compatible across virtually all solvent and resin systems
High viscosity and thixotropy efficiency — high LOI (35–37%) ensures maximum gel network density per unit weight

Applications and Dosage

Application	Typical Dosage	Key Advantage of CP-EZ
Top-grade decorative paint (high gloss)	0.2–0.8 wt%	≤10μm — no texture in high-gloss film
Industrial paint	0.3–1.0 wt%	Self-activating, wide polarity range
High-quality printing ink	0.5–2.0 wt%	≤10μm — zero plate/cylinder abrasion
Lubricating grease	8–15 wt%	High purity for specialty grease
Oil drilling fluid (OBM)	5–12 kg/m³	Self-activating in synthetic/mineral base
Cleaning agents	0.5–3.0 wt%	Suspension of cleaning particles
Oil putty	0.5–2.0 wt%	Thixotropy, non-sag

≤10 μm Dispersion: The Quality Standard: Industry-standard organoclay achieves ≤40 μm dispersion fineness. CP-EZ achieves ≤10 μm — four times finer. This matters in: high-gloss topcoats (particles >10 μm create visible orange-peel texture under raking light); offset printing inks (particles >10 μm abrade aluminum lithographic plates); fine cosmetics (particles >15 μm cause perceptible grittiness on skin). Specify CP-EZ when the final product quality depends on the absence of visible or tactile texture from the rheology additive.

Incorporation Method

Add CP-EZ as dry powder before grinding — grinding shear aids full exfoliation to ≤10 μm fineness
No polar activator required in aromatic, ketone, and ester systems
Low-polarity systems: optional polar activator at 10–20% of CP-EZ weight improves performance
High-shear dispersion at 1,500–3,000 rpm for 10–15 minutes
Verify dispersion fineness using Hegman gauge if product specification requires ≤10 μm

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CP-EZ a premium organoclay grade?

CP-EZ combines: ultra-fine dispersion (≤10μm — finest in standard range); high purity with low residual silica; self-activating in medium/high polarity systems (no polar activator needed); and the widest application range. The ≤10μm fineness eliminates visible texture in high-gloss coatings and prevents plate abrasion in printing inks. High LOI (35–37%) provides maximum gel efficiency per unit weight.

What is the dispersion fineness of CP-EZ and why does it matter?

CP-EZ achieves ≤10μm dispersion fineness — four times finer than standard organoclay (≤40μm). This matters for: high-gloss coatings (>10μm particles create texture, reduce gloss); printing inks (>10μm abrades plates/cylinders); cosmetics (>15μm feels gritty on skin). Specify CP-EZ when product quality requires absence of rheology-additive-induced texture or abrasion.

Is CP-EZ self-activating in all solvent systems?

CP-EZ is fully self-activating in medium and high polarity solvents (aromatics, ketones, esters). In low-polarity aliphatic systems, 10–20% polar activator by weight of CP-EZ is recommended — significantly less than conventional grades (CP-34 requires 30–50%). This makes CP-EZ the lowest-activator-requirement option for low-polarity systems where some activation is needed.

Packaging and Storage

Parameter	Specification
Standard packaging	25 kg kraft paper bags with PE inner liner; 22.68 kg bags available
Shelf life	2 years from manufacture date
Storage conditions	Cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse; avoid moisture exposure

Related grades: CP-388 (high purity, wide polarity) · CP-APA (self-activating, standard fineness) · CP-180B (transparent coatings)

Related applications: Paint & Coatings · Printing Ink · Lubricating Grease

CP-EZ Organoclay — Technical Data Sheet