Abstract: Provided is casting sand including sand and a solid acid catalyst mixed with the sand.

Abstract: ABSTRACT A fingerprint detection powder that is capable of collecting a clear fingerprint image even from a sample with a smaller amount of fingerprint constituents adhered thereto and a sample with a smooth glassy surface. The fingerprint detection powder contains pigment particles and calcium lactate. The pigment particles preferably contain at least one selected from titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, colcothar, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, silica, carbon black, aluminum powder, and copper powder. The surface of the pigment particles is preferably covered with the calcium lactate. The fingerprint detection powder further contains a silane coupling agent. Preferably, the silane coupling agent is n-octyltriethoxysilane. The surface of the pigment particles is preferably covered with the n-octyltriethoxysilane as well as the calcium lactate.

Abstract: Provided is a fingerprint detection powder capable of collecting a clear fingerprint image even from a sample with a smaller amount of fingerprint constituents adhered thereto and a sample with a smooth glassy surface. This fingerprint detection powder contains pigment particles and calcium lactate. The pigment particles preferably contain at least one type selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, colcothar, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, silica, carbon black, aluminum powder, and copper powder. The surface of the pigment particles is preferably covered with the calcium lactate. The fingerprint detection powder further contains a silane coupling agent. Preferably, the silane coupling agent is n-octyltriethoxysilane. The surface of the pigment particles is preferably covered with the n-octyltriethoxysilane as well as the calcium lactate.

Abstract: A fingerprint detection liquid that makes it possible to recover clear fingerprints from wet objects and various other objects without adjustment of concentration and composition. The fingerprint detection liquid includes not only pigment particles and a silicone but also a cationic surfactant and an ionizing liquid that ionizes the cationic surfactant. The cationic surfactant preferably includes octyldimethylethylammonium ethylsulfate.

Abstract: Flake-like ?-alumina particles having an average major diameter of 0.5 to 25 ?m and an aspect ratio, expressed by particle major diameter/average thickness, of greater than 50 to 2000 and having a thin flat form. The flake-like ?-alumina particles are produced by a hydrothermal synthesis process of an aqueous slurry in which the slurry comprises an alumina hydrate and/or an alumina gel, having a particle size of not more than 2 ?m and a maximum size of not more than 5.0 ?m and phosphoric acid ions in an amount of 1.0×10?3 to 1.0×10?1 mol per mol of the alumina hydrate and/or alumina gel. The flake-like ?-alumina particles exhibit good dispersibility when being kneaded as fillers or pigments in rubbers or plastics or as coating agents with a resin and also can be easily dispersed as primary particles in aqueous solvent with high dispersion stability when added to an aqueous slurry of precision abrasives or cosmetics.

Abstract: In an electro-rheological composition comprising an electrical insulating medium and solid particles dispersed therein, insulating solid particles possessed of morphological anisotropy are used as the solid particles. In a preferred embodiment, the insulating solid particles mentioned above are plate-like insulating solid particles, preferably plate-like insulating solid particles having a diameter (particle diameter) not less than 1 ?m, more preferably plate-like aluminum oxide particles having a diameter not less than 1 ?m. In another preferred embodiment, the insulating solid particles which have undergone a surface treatment with organic molecules or a semiconducting inorganic material, particularly the insulating solid particles having a metal oxide such as tin oxide and titanium oxide adhered to the surfaces thereof are used as the particles. Still another preferred embodiment is the ER composition of which electrical insulating medium is gelled.