Nano particles are defined as materials having a size of less than 100 nanometers, or less than 0.1 micron. The consumer product grades of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) made by Specialty Minerals Inc. (SMI)—Multifex-MM^® USP and Calofort^® U PCCs—are true nano particles, with median sizes of 70 nanometers, or 0.07 micron.

Consumer Product Uses For Nano Precipitated Calcium Carbonates (PCCs)
PCCs of nano size can be especially useful in liquid applications. According to Stoke’s Law, the rate of settling of a calcium carbonate in a liquid is proportional to the square of its particle size; thus, decreasing the size by a factor of 10 should reduce the settling rate, commensurately improving suspension, by a factor of 100. Click here to read more about the role of particle size in suspending calcium carbonate in liquids.

Calcium-fortified cow’s milk, soymilk, liquid meal supplements, infant formulas, and beverages made from powdered mixes are some of the foods and nutritional supplement formulations where improved settling is commercially desirable. Liquid antacids (where calcium carbonate is the active antacid ingredient) are another class of consumer product that can benefit from the improved suspension of a high-purity nano PCC. Click on one of the links below to learn more about these applications.

Specialty Minerals Nano Precipitated Calcium Carbonates (PCCs)
The uncoated nano PCCs, Multifex-MM^® USP PCC and Calofort^® U PCC, are manufactured at SMI’s Lifford plant in Birmingham, U.K. They are sold under the Multifex-MM^® USP PCC trademark in the U.S. and in the Asia-Pacific region, and under the Calofort^® U PCC name in the rest of the world. Multifex-MM^® USP PCC is certified to meet the requirements of the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), while Calofort^® U PCC is certified to meet the requirements of the British and European Pharmacopeias (BP, EP) and the E170i EU Miscellaneous Food Regulations. All are certified as Kosher. The SMI plant in Birmingham, U.K. is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Drug Manufacturing Facility, and is both ISO 9001 quality certified and ISO 14001 environmental certified.

Learn more:

• SMI minerals in food fortification uses
• SMI minerals in beverages – cow’s milk, soymilk, powdered drinks
• SMI minerals in powdered mixes to make nutritional supplement and food beverages
• SMI minerals in liquid antacids
  
  
• Specialty Minerals calcium carbonates for food, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
• Choosing the right grade of Specialty Minerals calcium carbonate for consumer products
  
  
• Useful information for formulators: Downloadable information sheets on formulating with calcium carbonate, the effect of particle size and shape in a product, high bioavailability of calcium carbonate, California Proposition 65 lead limits and calcium carbonate lead levels.
• U.S. Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for Calcium
• Osteoporosis: Anyone Can Be At Risk – Even You! A downloadable information sheet
  
  
• SMI minerals in consumer products: See all the products you use every day - foods, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toiletries and other personal care items – which use Specialty Minerals talcs and calcium carbonates.
  
  
• What is Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC)? A minerals introductory webpage
• What is Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) for Healthcare?  A downloadable information sheet
  
  
• Download technical data sheets and MSDS for Specialty MInerals products
  
• Request a sample
  
  
• About Specialty Minerals Inc.
• Specialty Minerals plant profiles: Birmingham
• Quality, GMP and ISO at Specialty Minerals