About Active Minerals

Active Minerals International, founded in 1964 and headquartered in the USA, is a global leader in the production and supply of high-performance kaolin and attapulgite clay products. With a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability, their minerals are engineered to support low-VOC and eco-friendly formulations, aligning with modern environmental standards. In the coatings industry, Active Minerals plays a critical role by offering mineral additives that enhance rheology, stability, and application properties. Their products are widely used as thickeners, suspending agents, and anti-settling additives in waterborne and solvent-based coatings.

Acti-Min® PG

Acti-Min® PG by Active Minerals is kaolin clay. Strict attention to the clay source and to process control assures a consistently high brightness and suitable particle size for the use in the contractor-grade paints. Its fine particle size allows the paint formulator to maximize the hiding power of titanium dioxide, while reducing overall formulation cost. It offers improved sanding properties for stains and primers, sheen & gloss control in high gloss coatings, and enamel holdout in machine and equipment enamels. In some paint formulations they have demonstrated significant cost reduction by replacing water-washed kaolins while increasing TiO<sub>2</sub> extension.

See the product

Acti-Gel® 208

Acti-Gel® 208 by Active Minerals is a rheology modifier. It is a highly purified magnesium aluminosilicate. It imparts thixotropic properties that enhance pumping and spraying while its extremely fast rate of viscosity recovery reduces misting and over-spray. It also increases adhesion and cohesion which improves vertical hold and sag reduction. It improves- syneresis control and anti-settling, solids without increasing viscosity. It allows thixotropic thickening without loss of recovery, aids dispersion of other pigments and helps reduce cost. It provides excellent suspension and can increase the solids level without increasing viscosity. Exhibits Low abrasion (low free silica, ultra-low dosage), is easy to use and very stable. It is available in powder and liquid form. Suitable for use in high solids and spray coatings - decorative, corrosion resistant, and consumer paints. Recommended dosage for Acti-Gel® 208 is 0.01 - 0.20%. It has shelf life of 2 years (in powder form) and 6 months (in liquid form).

See the product

Min-U-Gel® 400

Min-U-Gel® 400 by Active Minerals is attapulgite clay. Acts as a leveling agent and rheology modifier. Aids in the suspension of pigments and reduces syneresis which is critical to in-can stability. Helps overcome issues with organic pigment flooding and floating, hiding, and color development. The same thixotropic properties that aid in suspension also work to enhance the application of the coating. In reducing cellulosic thickeners in an existing formulation, four to six parts by weight of Min-U-Gel® 400 are generally used to replace one part of cellulosic thickener to reduce splatter and improve sag resistance. Provides stable gel strength, high viscosity at low shear rates, low viscosity at high shear rates, rapid recoverability and consistent gel characteristics at extreme temperature conditions. Suitable for use in paints & coatings, inks, and polishes. The recommended loading level for flat and semi-gloss latex paint, flexographic ink is 0.3-1.0%, 1.5-2.5% for latex texture paint.

See the product