Patent ID: 6846435

Claim:
A process for preparing modified metal oxides or metal aquoxides that are dispersible in organic solvents comprising: (I) reacting at a temperature of above 0° C. and not exceeding 90° C. (A) at least one metal oxide or metal aquoxide having a crystallite size of 4 to 100 nm, determined by x-ray diffraction on the 021 reflex, and a particle size of 5 to 500 nm, determined by photon correlation spectroscopy in dispersion; with (B) a modifier consisting essentially of at least one organic sulfonic acid wherein (i) in case the reaction takes place in a mainly aqueous medium or in the absence of a diluent/solvent, the organic sulfonic acid is a mono-, di-, or trialkylbenzene sulfonic acid, wherein the alkyl residue(s) are C 1 to C 6 alkyl residue(s) and wherein the component (A), calculated as metal oxide, and (B) are used at weight ratios from 98:2 to 70:30, or (ii) in case the reaction takes place in the presence of an organic aprotic solvent or an organic protic solvent, the organic sulfonic acid comprises at least 14 carbon atoms and at least one aromatic ring, and wherein the components (A), calculated as metal oxide, and (B) are used at weight ratios from 98:2 to 70:30, (II) drying the modified metal oxide or metal aquaoxide to produce a substantially non-water dispersible dried modified metal oxide or metal aquoxide; and (III) dispersing the dried modified metal oxide or metal aquoxide in a non-aqueous organic solvent.