Abstract: A method of treating particulate titanium dioxide includes providing the particulate titanium dioxide which includes a crystal structure and then treating the particulate titanium dioxide with a coating agent that is an alkylphosphonic acid or an ester thereof, and steam micronizing the particulate titanium dioxide with a steam micronizer so that a vapor exit temperature from the steam micronizer is 150° C. or higher, so as to obtain a micronized particulate titanium dioxide which includes the coating agent at an outer surface. The particulate titanium dioxide includes an aluminum oxide coating and/or includes within the crystal structure aluminum oxide in a molar excess of an amount required to compensate any Nb2O5 in the crystal structure. The alkylphosphonic acid includes a C6-C22 alkyl group.

Abstract: A method of treating particulate titanium dioxide includes providing the particulate titanium dioxide which includes a crystal structure and then treating the particulate titanium dioxide with a coating agent that is an alkylphosphonic acid or an ester thereof, and steam micronizing the particulate titanium dioxide with a steam micronizer so that a vapor exit temperature from the steam micronizer is 150° C. or higher, so as to obtain a micronized particulate titanium dioxide which includes the coating agent at an outer surface. The particulate titanium dioxide includes an aluminum oxide coating and/or includes within the crystal structure aluminum oxide in a molar excess of an amount required to compensate any Nb2O5 in the crystal structure. The alkylphosphonic acid includes a C6-C22 alkyl group.

Abstract: A colored composition comprising: a) NIR scattering TiO2 particulate material with an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m and a particle size distribution such that 30% or more of the particles are less than 1 ?m; b) one or more non-white colorant; wherein the particulate material and the non-white colorant are dispersed within a vehicle. This material with a large crystal size has unusually high reflection of NIR radiation and, simultaneously, noticeably diminished reflectance of visible light. Also disclosed is a coated particulate TiO2 material, wherein the material has an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m, and the coating comprises one or more oxide material; this provides low levels of photocatalytic activity that were previously unattainable. This coated TiO2 material may be provided in a composition.

Abstract: A coloured composition comprising: a) NIR scattering TiO2 particulate material with an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m and a particle size distribution such that 30% or more of the particles are less than 1 ?m; b) one or more non-white colorant; wherein the particulate material and the non-white colorant are dispersed within a vehicle. This material with a large crystal size has unusually high reflection of NIR radiation and, simultaneously, noticeably diminished reflectance of visible light. Also disclosed is a coated particulate TiO2 material, wherein the material has an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m, and the coating comprises one or more oxide material; this provides low levels of photocatalytic activity that were previously unattainable. This coated TiO2 material may be provided in a composition.

Abstract: A colored composition comprising: a) NIR scattering TiO2 particulate material with an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m and a particle size distribution such that 30% or more of the particles are less than 1 ?m; b) one or more non-white colorant; wherein the particulate material and the non-white colorant are dispersed within a vehicle. This material with a large crystal size has unusually high reflection of NIR radiation and, simultaneously, noticeably diminished reflectance of visible light. Also disclosed is a coated particulate TiO2 material, wherein the material has an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m, and the coating comprises one or more oxide material; this provides low levels of photocatalytic activity that were previously unattainable. This coated TiO2 material may be provided in a composition.

Abstract: Multiple peer domain name system (DNS) servers are included in a multi-master DNS environment. One of the multiple peer DNS servers is a key master peer DNS server that generates one or more keys for a DNS zone serviced by the multiple peer DNS servers. The key master peer DNS server can also generate a signing key descriptor that identifies the set of one or more keys for the DNS zone, and communicate the signing key descriptor to the other ones of the multiple peer DNS servers.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition imparting UV protective capability comprising an effect coated particulate material having a substantially rutile crystal habit and an average particle size greater than or equal to about 0.5 ?m dispersed in a medium at a concentration within a range of about 1% by volume to about 40% by volume, based on the total volume of composition. The composition may be coloured or non-coloured and applied onto one or more surfaces of a substrate to provide UV light protection without also increasing UV light activated photocatalytic effects which are generally observed.

Abstract: Multiple peer domain name system (DNS) servers are included in a multi-master DNS environment. One of the multiple peer DNS servers is a key master peer DNS server that generates one or more keys for a DNS zone serviced by the multiple peer DNS servers. The key master peer DNS server can also generate a signing key descriptor that identifies the set of one or more keys for the DNS zone, and communicate the signing key descriptor to the other ones of the multiple peer DNS servers.

Abstract: A coloured composition comprising: a) NIR scattering TiO2 particulate material with an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m and a particle size distribution such that 30% or more of the particles are less than 1 ?m; b) one or more non-white colorant; wherein the particulate material and the non-white colorant are dispersed within a vehicle. This material with a large crystal size has unusually high reflection of NIR radiation and, simultaneously, noticeably diminished reflectance of visible light. Also disclosed is a coated particulate TiO2 material, wherein the material has an average crystal size of greater than 0.40 ?m, and the coating comprises one or more oxide material; this provides low levels of photocatalytic activity that were previously unattainable. This coated TiO2 material may be provided in a composition.

Abstract: To improve upon existing Winsock implementations, the claimed system and method adapts an existing Winsock system to use out-of-process NSP services. The claimed method and system provides asynchronous Winsock Next calls to provide client application processing flexibility. Further, the claimed method and system provides additional structures for passing additional NSP specific information for a result set to enable further client functionality. One embodiment of the claimed system provides additional client Winsock API functions to aggregate and manage asynchronous calls to multiple NSPs and/or multiple namespaces.

Abstract: A composition suitable for the production of ceramics is provided. The composition comprises a particulate material which is a nitride, carbide, carbonitride or boride of Ti, Zr, Al, Si or B having a coating on the particle comprising 5 to 75 wt % with respect to particulate material of an oxide or hydrous oxide of zirconium.The composition can be used to produce a tough zirconia/non-oxide ceramic without the need to co-mill the ingredients.A stabilising agent for the zirconia may also be present in the coating although the invention is designed to avoid the necessity for such agents.Coating usually is effected by a wet treatment process in which the particles are dispersed in a solution of a hydrolysable zirconium salt and the oxide or hydrous oxide is coated on the particles by adjusting the pH of the dispersion.

Abstract: A process for forming ceramics comprises mixing titanium nitride with an average particle size less than 0.2 micron, zirconia having a particle size less than 1 micron and a stabilizing agent for stabilizing the zirconia in the tetragonal or cubic phase forming the mixture into a desired shape and firing at between 1300.degree. and 1700.degree. C.Preferably the stabilizing agent is in the form of coating on the zirconia.The process is suitable for forming hard and tough ceramics which are electroconducting and can be shaped by electro-discharge machining. It is particularly suitable for forming ceramics containing between 70 and 90% by weight titanium nitride.

Abstract: A method for the production of a nitride of zirconium, hafnium, silicon, germanium, tin, lead, boron, aluminium, gallium, indium or thallium either alone or as mixtures is claimed. Ammonia and a halide of at least one of these elements are heated by means of a direct electric current plasma in a non-oxidizing gas in a reactor in which recirculation is induced such that the defined recirculation ratio is greater than 2.5 and preferably greater than 4.0. Any titanium halide present shall be less then 40% by weight of mixed halides.

Abstract: A method which comprises the manufacture of black titanium nitride which comprises heating ammonia and titanium halide by means of an electric plasma formed in a stream of non-oxidizing gas generated by the discharge of direct current electricty between a pair of electrodes. The heated gases are introduced through an inlet nozzle into a reactor so constructed and operated as to induce circulation of the gases with a specifically defined recirculation ratio.