Min-U-Gel®
Product Overview
Thixotropic Thickeners and Binders for Industrial Applications
Attapulgite is a naturally occurring hydrous magnesium aluminosilicate mineral, with a three dimensional chain structure. Min-U-Gel® products are specially processed, colloidal gelling agents prepared in fine particle sizes from attapulgite clay.
Attapulgite Structure
Min-U-Gel® Attapulgite Grades
FG Coarse Grade
Min-U-Gel® FG attapulgite product is widely used in joint compounds for providing critical properties of thixotropic thickening, suspension, syneresis control, easy workability/troweling and shelf-life stability. FG can be used alone or in conjunction with associative thickeners where a low shear thixotrope is needed to support the high shear thixotropy of the associative thickener. This coarser grade product is valued for consistent high quality and reliable supply.
200 Coarse Grade
MIN-U-GEL® 200 coarse grade is used in agricultural suspensions, such as liquid animal feed supplements, liquid suspension fertilizer, foliar sprays, and various ag chemicals such as wettable powders (WP), water-dispersible granules (WDG) and water-reducible (WR) pesticides. It is an EPA approved inert pesticide ingredient.
Min-U-Gel MB Mid-Grade
MIN-U-GEL® MB attapulgite was specially developed with controlled properties specifically to function as a binder during the production of molecular sieves. Because attapulgite gel is colloidal, it also helps to promote and preserve the porosity and uniformity of pores in molecular sieves to increase their precision and effectiveness.
400 Fine Grade
MIN-U-GEL® 400 fine grade is recommended and widely used in aqueous systems for controlling rheology, suspension, and syneresis in applications, like paints & coatings (architectural, industrial, asphalt roof, masonry, texture, fire retardant, and traffic), latex caulks, foundry mold washes, plastisols, tile adhesives (thin-sets), wood lamination adhesives, and asphalt cutback mastics. It also provides these same benefits in a variety of agricultural chemical applications and is registered as an EPA-approved inert pesticide ingredient. In molecular sieves and ceramic catalysts, it is used as a binder.
500+ Fine Grade
Min-U-Gel® 500+ product is engineered with a fine particle size, providing superior characteristics for suspension and syneresis control. A key advantage of Min-U-Gel® 500+ attapulgite is its versatility. It can be used as a standalone solution or in combination with associative thickeners, where low-shear thixotropy is required to complement high-shear rheology. This makes Min-U-Gel® 500+ product a valuable addition to a range of coating formulations, including solvent-based systems like oil and alcohol-based coatings. The product’s high performance is maintained across different pH levels, ionic concentrations, and in the presence of biological agents, offering formulators increased flexibility in their applications.
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FEATURES
What makes MIN-U-GEL® the Best Stabilizer Additive
Stable Gel Strength - Control or prevention of settling and phase separation or syneresis.
High Viscosity at Low Shear Rates - Maintain uniformity and minimize sag and flow.
Low Viscosity at High Shear Rates - Faster mixing, ease of application, and improved flow and leveling.
Rapid Recoverability - Quick return to original viscosity after mixing or application
Consistent Gel Characteristics at Extremes Temperatures - Performance in high or low-temperature manufacturing or application.
Product Range - A range of products available for multiple manufacturing applications and aqueous or solvent-based formulations.
Benefits
Why use MIN-U-GEL® Products?
- Provide a consistent and stable thixotropic rheology and suspension, while homogeneously dispersing other particles, creating a very stable mixture
- Greatly enhanced mixing and workability. Improved stability has little to no viscosity fade or creep and reduces syneresis.
- Unique interaction with other particles and keeping them dispersed allowing higher loadings of solids without increasing viscosity.
- Performance is minimally affected by pH, salt, temperature, enzyme, or bacterial attack (except in extreme cases) and it does not swell or affect water demand.
APPLICATION
Markets that utilize MIN-U-GEL®
Paints & Coatings
Coatings are complex composites designed to have a stable shelf-life, apply easily to a substrate, and provide lasting durability in varied environments. These performance criteria require disparate materials to be finely dispersed and work cohesively, which presents a major challenge as composites can be unstable and ultimately fail at points of inconsistency.
A well-known, tried-and-true method to stabilize composites and improve their uniformity is to use high-quality, gel-grade attapulgite mineral products.
Learn More
Building Products
The construction market encompasses many end-use products and AMI’s Min-U-Gel® attapulgite additives are used to impart important properties to many, such as rheology modification, suspension, syneresis control, easy workability/troweling and shelf-life stability. Min-U-Gel® additives are also valued for their consistent high quality and reliable supply in applications such as joint tape compounds, asphaltic-based roof coatings, adhesives and driveway sealers.
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Fertilizer Suspensions
The ability to suspend insoluble plant nutrients in water combines the advantage of higher analysis found in bulk dry blend fertilizers with the ease and uniformity of a liquid spray application. The unique and consistent thixotropic properties of our Min-U-Gel® attapulgite mineral products are of particular value to suspension and foliar fertilizer users because little viscosity results when the suspension is under shear, allowing the mix to pass through application spray nozzles easily and uniformly.
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Liquid Animal Feeds
Vitamins, trace minerals and other nutrients are provided to livestock as liquid feed supplements in silage troughs, lick tanks and range blocks. It is imperative that they remain suspended in a stable mixture. AMI’s Min-U-Gel® attapulgite gelling clay is a very effective, value-add thixotropic thickener, suspending agent and syneresis control to maintain a uniform, pumpable mix and it is palatable to the animal.
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Catalyst and Molecular Sieves
AMI’s gel-quality attapulgite serves multiple functions in this industry. The primary application for attapulgite is as a binder in the formation of molecular sieve granules. These colloidal gellants are specially designed for binding molecular sieves with their controlled fine particle size, purity, and low silica and carbonate content.
Learn More
- Paints & Coatings
- Building Products
- Fertilizer Suspensions
- Liquid Animal Feeds
- Catalyst and Molecular Sieves
Coatings are complex composites designed to have a stable shelf-life, apply easily to a substrate, and provide lasting durability in varied environments. These performance criteria require disparate materials to be finely dispersed and work cohesively, which presents a major challenge as composites can be unstable and ultimately fail at points of inconsistency.
A well-known, tried-and-true method to stabilize composites and improve their uniformity is to use high-quality, gel-grade attapulgite mineral products.
Learn More
The construction market encompasses many end-use products and AMI’s Min-U-Gel® attapulgite additives are used to impart important properties to many, such as rheology modification, suspension, syneresis control, easy workability/troweling and shelf-life stability. Min-U-Gel® additives are also valued for their consistent high quality and reliable supply in applications such as joint tape compounds, asphaltic-based roof coatings, adhesives and driveway sealers.
Learn More
The ability to suspend insoluble plant nutrients in water combines the advantage of higher analysis found in bulk dry blend fertilizers with the ease and uniformity of a liquid spray application. The unique and consistent thixotropic properties of our Min-U-Gel® attapulgite mineral products are of particular value to suspension and foliar fertilizer users because little viscosity results when the suspension is under shear, allowing the mix to pass through application spray nozzles easily and uniformly.
Learn More
Vitamins, trace minerals and other nutrients are provided to livestock as liquid feed supplements in silage troughs, lick tanks and range blocks. It is imperative that they remain suspended in a stable mixture. AMI’s Min-U-Gel® attapulgite gelling clay is a very effective, value-add thixotropic thickener, suspending agent and syneresis control to maintain a uniform, pumpable mix and it is palatable to the animal.
Learn More
AMI’s gel-quality attapulgite serves multiple functions in this industry. The primary application for attapulgite is as a binder in the formation of molecular sieve granules. These colloidal gellants are specially designed for binding molecular sieves with their controlled fine particle size, purity, and low silica and carbonate content.
Learn More
How it Works
How MIN-U-GEL® Works
Electrically charged rod-shaped particles form a 3-D lattice structure that traps and suspends dispersed liquids and solids.
1
At Rest (Gelled)
Attapulgite’s rod-shaped particles form a lattice structure.
2
Under Motion
Applied energy (mixing, pumping, spraying, etc.) instantly separates and the network collapses.
3
Return to At Rest (Gelled)
Energy dissipates, the lattice instantly reforms causing thickening and suspension.
Contact Us for Min-U-Gel or a Sample
We are happy to discuss your MIN-U-GEL needs and provide you with a quality product. Please reach out to us to get started, if you would like a sample, or if you have any questions!
SDS Sheets
MIN-U-GEL® Saftey Data Sheets
