Abstract: The disclosure features methods that include obtaining a first plurality of particles that include calcium carbonate, where the particles have a distribution of sizes between 8 mm and 12 mm, and heating the first plurality of particles to a temperature of between 900° C. and 1200° C. for a time period of at least 1 hour to generate a second plurality of particles that include calcium oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of chipboard comprising a centre layer (18) of coarse chips and outer layers (20) of chips whose fibers are oriented in the plane of the board. In order to be able to reduce the density of the finished board while retaining the intrinsic characteristic profile of the board, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the chips used to compose the centre layer (18) will comprise end-grain cut, flake-like chips (22) whose fibers are oriented in the thickness direction (24) of the chips, the chip fibers in the centre layer being oriented substantially transversely to the plane of the chipboard. The invention also relates to chipboard manufactured in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic substrate, a ferromagnetic thin film on the non-magnetic substrate, a hard carbon film on the ferromagnetic thin film, a modified layer of which atomic ratio of nitrogen/carbon is 0.8% or more, and of which thickness is less than 3 nm on the hard carbon film, and a lubricant layer on the modified layer, has excellent electromagnetic conversion characteristic, running stability, durability, and weatherability.