(19)

(11)

EP 1 579 068 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 24.02.2005 (43) Date of publication: 28.09.2005 Bulletin 2005/39 (21) Application number: 03787248.8 (22) Date of filing: 03.12.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: D21H 17/70 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/038360 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/053228 (24.06.2004 Gazette 2004/26)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 09.12.2002 US 314730 (71) Applicant: Specialty Minerals (Michigan) Inc. Michigan 49080 (US)	(72) Inventor: HUGHES, Geoffrey, Lamar Northampton, PA 18067 (US) (74) Representative: Bawden, Peter Charles  Bawden & Associates, 4 The Gatehouse, 2 High Street Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2TH Hertfordshire AL5 2TH (GB)