Abstract: An assembly for providing a saggar for use in high temperature applications, may include a first substantially rectangular base element and two sets of two substantially rectangular side elements, wherein the side elements of each set of side elements have at least one dimension corresponding to dimensions of first and second opposite edges of the base element. The assembly may also include four corner elements and fasteners, wherein the base element and the side elements are configured to be assembled into a box-shaped saggar and secured to one another using the corner elements and the fasteners, and wherein the first base element is made of a corrosion resistant material.

Abstract: A flotation process for recovering feldspar from a feldspar containing feed material is disclosed. The process includes forming an aqueous suspension of a feldspar containing feed material, in the absence of hydrofluoric acid, wherein the suspension includes from 0.004 to 0.3% wt. of a flotation reagent including: (a) one or more amines, containing at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, including 8 to 50 carbon atoms, or a salt thereof; and (b) one or more primary, secondary or tertiary alcohols, containing at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, including 8 to 50 carbon atoms; the ratio of (a) to (b) ranging from 500:1 to 1:40 by weight. The process further includes agitating the obtained suspension to produce a feldspar containing fraction, and separating the feldspar containing fraction.

Abstract: A graphite powder may include highly oriented grain aggregates, wherein the electrical resistivity of the powder decreases with increasing density. A process for coating a substrate may include providing a coating dispersion including such a graphite powder and applying the coating dispersion to the substrate. An electrode may contain such a graphite powder. A coating dispersion may include such a graphite powder dispersed in a liquid medium. A battery may include such a graphite powder. A compressed body of pure graphite may include such a graphite powder. A lubricant may include such as graphite powder.

Abstract: A heterogeneous composition for use as rock dust is disclosed. The heterogeneous composition includes a fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material treated with at least one fatty acid, a salt thereof, or an ester thereof, and a coarse, untreated, dry ground inorganic particulate material. Also disclosed is a heterogeneous composition including coal dust and mine rock dust including a fine, wet ground inorganic particulate material treated with at least one fatty acid, a salt thereof, or an ester thereof, and a coarse, untreated, dry ground inorganic particulate material. The amount of mine rock dust may be sufficient to render the coal dust explosively inert. The fine, treated, wet ground inorganic particulate material may be calcium carbonate. The coarse, untreated inorganic particulate material may be calcium carbonate. The fatty acid may be stearic acid.

Abstract: Dry precipitated calcium carbonate and a slurry of precipitated calcium carbonate (“PCC”) particles at least partially in the form elongated entities, especially of nanofibers or nanochain like agglomerates constituted by at least two interconnected primary particles, and preferably, with a content of scalenohedron particles, is provided having opacifying properties. The slurry may be produced on site of its use and, due to its high concentration of CaCO3, may be applied directly after its manufacture.

Abstract: A water filter may include a diatomite-based ceramic filter having a median pore size greater than about 5 microns, and at least one of a halogen source, a UV source, an active carbon source, or a filtration membrane. A method of filtering water includes passing water from a source chamber through a diatomite-based ceramic filter having a median pore size greater than about 5 microns, and passing the water through at least one of a halogen source, an active carbon source, a UV source, or a filtration membrane to a collection chamber. The diatomite-based ceramic filter may further include bentonite. The water filter may include a biocide. The water filter may have a flow rate greater than about 5 L/hr when normalized to a surface area of 0.015 m2. The water filter may reduce bacteria by greater than about 6-log. The halogen source may include a halogen elution system or a surface modification of the diatomite-based ceramic filter.

Abstract: A catalyst includes (i) a primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, and (ii) an electrically conductive carbon support material for the primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, wherein the carbon support material: (a) has a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g, and (b) has a micropore area of 10-90 m2/g.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to ground expanded graphite agglomerate compositions, methods for making such agglomerates, their use as conductive additives, and conductive composites including such ground expanded graphite agglomerates. The disclosure also relates to methods for making such composites and the use of such composites in preparing thermally conductive materials. The agglomerates may be characterized by a certain softness allowing the agglomerates to dissolve, for example, through shear forces applied during compounding, thereby leading to an improved feedability and a highly homogenous distribution of the expanded graphite material in the composite matrix.

Abstract: A diatomaceous earth product may include diatomaceous earth having a loose weight density of less than about 14 lbs/ft3, and a stoichiometric ratio of alkali metal to iron and/or aluminum ranging from about 100% to about 400%. A diatomaceous earth product may include diatomaceous earth having a loose weight density of less than about 14 lbs/ft3, and a silica specific volume of at least about 3.2, A method for making a low loose weight density diatomaceous earth product may include providing a feed material comprising diatomaceous earth having a silica specific volume of at least about 3.5. The method may further include adding alkali flux to the feed material to achieve a combination having a stoichiometric ratio of alkali metal to iron and/or aluminum that ranges from about 100% to about 400%, calcining the combination at a temperature ranging from about 1,600° F. to about 2,200° F.

Abstract: A composition for fused filament fabrication may include polylactic acid resin and talc. The composition may range from 50% by weight to 99% by weight polylactic acid resin, and from 7% by weight to 40% by weight talc. The composition may be configured as filaments or pellets adapted to be used in a fused filament fabrication process. A method for generating a resin-based structure may include providing a resin source that may include polylactic acid resin and talc. The resin source may include from 50% by weight to 99% by weight polylactic acid resin, and from 7% by weight to 40% by weight talc. The method may also include heating the resin source to a temperature greater than the melting temperature for semi-crystalline resins or significantly greater than glass transition temperature for amorphous resins, and depositing the heated resin source in a layered manner to form the resin-based structure.

Abstract: Described herein are spunlaid fibers including at least one polymeric resin and at least one filler having an average particle size of less than or equal to about 5 microns and/or having a top cut of less than about 15 microns. The at least one filler may be present in an amount of less than about 40% by weight, relative to the total weight of the spunlaid fibers. Also described herein is a method for producing spunlaid fibers including adding calcium carbonate to at least one polymeric resin and extruding the resulting mixture. Further described herein are nonwoven fabrics including such spunlaid fibers, and methods for producing them.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation by fracturing the subterranean formation is disclosed. The method may include injecting a fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the fluid comprises a blend of a sintered ceramic rod-shaped proppant and a substantially spherical proppant.

Abstract: A method of making a diatomaceous earth granulate may include spray-drying a suspension including particles of diatomaceous earth, a liquid medium, and a binder, wherein inorganic solids in the suspension include at least 80 wt % diatomaceous earth. The method may further include recovering a diatomaceous earth spray-dried granulate. A granular diatomaceous earth product obtained by the method may include substantially spherical granules, each having a shell including diatomaceous earth surrounding a hollow core. The product may be used as a filter aid or in filtration.

Abstract: A composition suitable for firing to obtain a ceramic material therefrom may include from about 1 to about 40 wt. % based on the total dry weight of the composition a first particulate material having a Mohs hardness of at least about 8.5 and a d50 of from about 7 ?m to about 500 ?m. The composition may include at least about 50 wt. % based on the total dry weight of the composition a second particulate material comprising alumina. The composition may include from 0 to about 10 wt. % based on the total dry weight of the composition a sintering aid. A green body or ceramic material may be formed from the composition. Ballistic armor may be formed from the composition or may include the ceramic material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition comprising plasma coated fullerenic soot particles, methods for the preparation thereof, and its use in polymer blends.

Abstract: A water-based paint composition may include at least one mineral treated with at least one hydrophobizing agent. The at least one mineral may include at least one of clay, kaolin, mica, titanium dioxide, talc, natural or synthetic silica or silicates, feldspars, nepheline syenite, talc, wollastonite, diatomite, barite, glass, and calcium carbonate. The at least one hydrophobizing agent may include at least one of fatty acids, fatty amines, and silanes. A method of making water-based paint may include treating at least one mineral with a hydrophobizing agent, and combining the at least one treated mineral with a binder.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for use in the bleaching of pulps may include one or more particulate alkaline earth metal oxides or alkaline earth metal hydroxides or mixtures thereof, and one or more pitch control additives. The compositions may be suitable for use in a pulp preparation or a papermaking process. A method for the bleaching of pulps may include providing the composition.

Abstract: A product including ultrafine natural glass, methods of producing the ultrafine natural glass, and methods of use thereof are provided. The product may have, for example, a small top cut (d99) particle size of, for example, less than 12 microns. The product may also have high blue light brightness higher than, for example, 69, and/or low oil absorption, for example, less than 100 percent in volume. The product may be used in a variety of applications, such as, for example, anti-block filler in plastic films and/or reinforcement filler in polymers.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aqueous suspension may include providing a fibrous substrate comprising cellulose having a Canadian Standard freeness equal to or less than 700 cm3, and microfibrillating the fibrous substrate in an aqueous environment by grinding in the presence of a grinding medium which is to be removed after completion of grinding. The grinding may be carried out in the absence of grindable inorganic particulate material, wherein the grinding medium is present in an amount of at least about 10% by volume of the aqueous environment, and wherein the microfibrillated cellulose has a fibre steepness of from about 20 to about 50.

Abstract: The present invention describes clear coating compositions comprising a particulate inorganic mineral, wherein the d50 of the particulate inorganic mineral is less than about 1 ?m, and wherein the mineral includes a kandite clay.