The Specialties Laboratory supports the use of Company products used extensively in the personal care products, pharmaceutical, household and institutional specialties, and agricultural industries. Our range of products include rheological agents, emulsion and suspension stabilizers, dispersing agents, biocides, corrosion inhibitors, water treatment chemicals, industrial talc, wollastonite, kaolin clay, and pyrophyllite. Our brand names include VEEGUM^® Magnesium Aluminum Silicate and VAN GEL^® Magnesium Aluminum Silicate purified smectite clays, VANATURAL^® Bentonite Clay, VANZAN^® Xanthan Gum, DARVAN^® Dispersing Agents, DIXIE CLAY^® Filler, CONTINENTAL^® Clay and BILT-PLATES^® Clays and PYRAX^® Pyrophyllite.

Our emphasis is on rheology control in aqueous systems with products as diverse as liquid makeups, oven cleaners, and pesticide suspension concentrates. Our primary objective is to assist our customers in optimizing the flow properties, suspension stability, emulsion stability, and esthetic properties of their products. We do this by publishing prototype formulations and technical reports that are widely distributed in the industries we serve. We also work with individual customers on a confidential basis to address specific formulating needs.