Abstract: A polymer nucleating agent is composed of inorganic particles carrying an anchor layer capable of bonding to an organic acid, such as alumina-coated silica particles, and having a surface coating of a substituted or unsubstituted benzoic acid compound.

Abstract: Isolation of active areas, e.g., transistors, in integrated circuits and the like so that functioning of one active area does not interfere with neighboring ones, is provided by the shallow trench isolation technique followed by chemical-mechanical polishing with a mixed abrasive slurry consisting essentially of (a) relatively large, hard inorganic metal oxide particles having (b) relatively small, soft inorganic metal oxide particles adsorbed on the surface thereof so as to modify the effective charge of the slurry to provide more favorable selectivity of silicon dioxide to silicon nitride, the slurry having a pH below about 5.

Abstract: Isolation of active areas, e.g. transistors, in integrated circuits and the like so that functioning of one active area does not interfere with the neighboring ones, is provided by the shallow trench isolation technique followed by chemical-mechanical polishing with a mixed abrasive slurry consisting essentially of at least two inorganic metal oxide abrasive material particles at a pH below five, preferably on the order of 3.5 to 4.0, in order to control the polish rate selectivity of silicon dioxide to silicon nitride of the circuit and to reduce surface defects.

Abstract: A hydrophilic powder such as silica, adapted for dispersion in organic solvents and polymers, is provided with a coating over the outer surface of the powder particles to modify the surface characteristic from polar to non-polar or organophilic, whereby the thus coated powder is readily dispersible without agglomeration or enlargement of the powder particles. Preferred are nano-sized powders.

Abstract: A method for preparing a surface-modified calcium carbonate useful in the synthesis of polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, etc. to improve the polymer's friction coefficient, which method comprises the step of forming a dispersion comprising calcium carbonate particles and a bi-functional reagent having two functional linking substituents consisting of a first substituent linking to the calcium carbonate particles and a second substituent which can link to the polyester, thereby bonding the calcium carbonate to the polyester through the bifunctional linking reagent; and surface-modified calcium carbonate and polyesters containing same.

Abstract: An abrasive slurry for chemical-mechanical polishing, e.g. to planarize metal and silicon wafers employed in the fabrication of microelectric devices and the like, the slurry consisting essentially only of a mixture of at least two inorganic metal oxides to provide superior performance in properties such as improved oxide and metal polish rates, controlled polish rate selectivity, low surface defectivity and enhanced slurry stability over that obtainable with a single inorganic metal oxide abrasive material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a zinc-oxide containing sol comprising a core of cerium dioxide sol the surface of which particles is coated with zinc oxide; and the method of making the sol. The sol has a mean particle size of less than 50 nm, is characterized as being clear and transparent and is stabilized to resist agglomeration and particle size increase. An essential part of the disclosed invention is the addition of a positive charged oxide such as yttrium oxide to effect the stabilization before significant changes in transparency, agglomeration and/or particle size increase can occur.