Patent 7678723 was granted and assigned to Carbo Ceramics Inc. on March, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Sintered, spherical composite pellets or particles comprising alumina fines, at least one of clay and bauxite and optionally a sintering aid, are described, along with a process for their manufacture. The use of such pellets in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations and in grinding is also described.