Abstract: A waveguide for receiving an incident electromagnetic wave (EMW) having an operating frequency ? includes an array of spaced apart unit cells arranged along the waveguide. The unit cells are configured to resonantly couple to the incident EMW and radiate an EMW at the operating frequency propagating inside and along the waveguide. Each unit cell is configured to couple to the incident EMW with a first coupling efficiency and includes a dielectric body configured to couple to the incident EMW with a second coupling efficiency and one or more metal layers disposed on and partially covering the dielectric body. The second coupling efficiency is substantially smaller than the first coupling efficiency. A communication system includes the waveguide and a transceiver configured to emit an EMW having the operating frequency ?.

Abstract: A granule and building material including a granule having an inner zone and an outer zone that at least partially surrounds the inner zone and that comprises greater than 10% of the total volume of the granule is provided.

Abstract: An uncolored roofing granule including a low solar absorption base and a low solar absorption and solar opaque coating presented on the base, the coating including a binder, a pigment, wherein the binder includes a curable component and a non-clay, thermally reactive curing agent.

Abstract: A waveguide for receiving an incident electromagnetic wave (EMW) having an operating frequency ? includes an array of spaced apart unit cells arranged along the waveguide. The unit cells are configured to resonantly couple to the incident EMW and radiate an EMW at the operating frequency propagating inside and along the waveguide. Each unit cell is configured to couple to the incident EMW with a first coupling efficiency and includes a dielectric body configured to couple to the incident EMW with a second coupling efficiency and one or more metal layers disposed on and partially covering the dielectric body. The second coupling efficiency is substantially smaller than the first coupling efficiency. A communication system includes the waveguide and a transceiver configured to emit an EMW having the operating frequency ?.

Abstract: A waveguide and a communication system including the waveguide are described. The waveguide is configured to propagate an electromagnetic wave having an operating frequency along the waveguide. The waveguide includes a substrate having a first dielectric constant, and an array of spaced apart unit cells at least partially embedded in the substrate and arranged along the waveguide. Each of a plurality of the unit cells in the array of spaced apart unit cells has a first transmission parameter S121 having a lowest resonant frequency ?1 and includes a dielectric body and one or more electrically conductive layers disposed on and partially covering the dielectric body. The dielectric body has a second dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant at the operating frequency and has a second transmission parameter S221 having a lowest resonant frequency ?2 greater than ?1.

Abstract: A waveguide and a communication system including the waveguide are described. The waveguide is configured to propagate an electromagnetic wave having an operating frequency along the waveguide. The waveguide includes a substrate having a first dielectric constant, and an array of spaced apart unit cells at least partially embedded in the substrate and arranged along the waveguide. Each of a plurality of the unit cells in the array of spaced apart unit cells has a first transmission parameter S121 having a lowest resonant frequency ?1 and includes a dielectric body and one or more electrically conductive layers disposed on and partially covering the dielectric body. The dielectric body has a second dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant at the operating frequency and has a second transmission parameter S221 having a lowest resonant frequency ?2 greater than ?1.

Abstract: Conductive particles, articles including such particles, and methods of making such conductive particles, are provided; wherein the conductive particles include: a core particle including at least one of a glass, a glass-ceramic, or a metal; surface particles adhered to the core particle; and a metal coating disposed on at least a portion of the core and surface particles; wherein the core particle is larger than the surface particles.

Abstract: Plurality of nanocrystalline percent by volume crystalline ceramic oxide beads, wherein the nanocrystalline ceramic oxide beads have an average crystallite size up to 250 nm, wherein each bead collectively comprises, on a theoretical oxides basis, at least one of Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZrO2 at least 40 weight percent, and at least 1 weight percent of at least one of a transition metal oxide or at least one Bi2O3 or CeO2, based on the total weight of the nanocrystalline ceramic oxide beads, and are visibly dark and infrared transmissive. The beads are useful, for example, in pavement markings.

Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a waveguide for propagating an electromagnetic wave. The waveguide includes a base material and a plurality of resonators disposed in a pattern, the plurality of resonators having a resonance frequency. Each of the plurality of resonators has a relative permittivity greater than a relative permittivity of the base material. At least two of the plurality of resonators are spaced according to a lattice constant that defines a distance between a center of a first one of the resonators and a center of a neighboring second one of the resonators.

Abstract: Conductive particles, articles including such particles, and methods of making such conductive particles, are provided; wherein the conductive particles include: a core particle including at least one of a glass, a glass-ceramic, or a metal; surface particles adhered to the core particle; and a metal coating disposed on at least a portion of the core and surface particles; wherein the core particle is larger than the surface particles.

Abstract: Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites with high-loading-level ceramic beads and methods of making and using the same are described. The composites include high-loading-level of ceramic beads distributed inside a polymer matrix. The ceramic beads have a substantially spherical shape. The ceramic beads are formed by melting ceramic powders or particles. In some cases, the ceramic beads include ferrite beads.

Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a communication device for propagating an electromagnetic wave around a blocking structure. The communication device includes a passive coupling device to capture the electromagnetic wave, and a waveguide electromagnetically coupled to the coupling device. The waveguide is disposed around the blocking structure. The waveguide has a resonance frequency matched with the coupling device. The waveguide is configured to propagate the electromagnetic wave captured by the coupling device.

Abstract: A roofing granule includes a glass substrate and a plurality of pores in the glass substrate such that the roofing granule has a minimum total solar reflectance of at least 50%.

Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a communication device for propagating an electromagnetic wave around a blocking structure. The communication device includes a passive coupling device to capture the electromagnetic wave, and a waveguide electromagnetically coupled to the coupling device. The waveguide is disposed around the blocking structure. The waveguide has a resonance frequency matched with the coupling device. The waveguide is configured to propagate the electromagnetic wave captured by the coupling device.

Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a waveguide for propagating an electromagnetic wave. The waveguide includes a base material and a plurality of resonators disposed in a pattern, the plurality of resonators having a resonance frequency. Each of the plurality of resonators has a relative permittivity greater than a relative permittivity of the base material. At least two of the plurality of resonators are spaced according to a lattice constant that defines a distance between a center of a first one of the resonators and a center of a neighboring second one of the resonators.

Abstract: A granule and building material including a granule having an inner zone and an outer zone that at least partially surrounds the inner zone and that comprises greater than 10% of the total volume of the granule is provided.

Abstract: Building materials, such as roofing granules, including greater than 50% volume of glass are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more additives including colored pigments, infrared-reflective particles, infrared-absorbing particles, algicidal particles, photocatalytic particles, thermally conductive particles, or electrically conductive particles are incorporated at least partially throughout or onto the granule.

Abstract: A roofing granule includes a glass substrate and a plurality of pores in the glass substrate such that the roofing granule has a minimum total solar reflectance of at least 50%.

Abstract: An uncolored roofing granule including a low solar absorption base and a low solar absorption and solar opaque coating presented on the base, the coating including a binder, a pigment, wherein the binder includes a curable component and a non-clay, thermally reactive curing agent.

Abstract: Presently described are retroreflective articles, such as pavement markings, that comprise transparent microspheres partially embedded in a binder (e.g., polymeric). Also described are microspheres (e.g., glass-ceramic), methods of making microspheres, as well as compositions of glass materials and compositions of glass-ceramic materials. The microspheres generally comprise lanthanide series oxide(s), titanium oxide (TiO2), and optionally zirconium oxide (ZrO2).