Abstract: A process for preparing whitened fly ash includes the steps of: (a) subjecting fly ash to a size classification step to obtain size classified fly ash having a particle size such that at least 90 wt % has a particle size of from 44 ?m to 250 ?m; (b) optionally, contacting the size classified fly ash from step (a) with water to form a slurry, wherein the slurry has a solid content of less than 40 wt %; (c) subjecting the slurry obtained in step (b) to an exhaustive magnetic separation step to form magnetically treated fly ash, wherein the exhaustive magnetic separation step includes a first magnetic extraction step and a second magnetic extraction step, wherein the second magnetic extraction step is carried out at a higher magnetic field strength than the first magnetic extraction step; and (d) subjecting the magnetically treated fly ash obtained in step (c) to milling to form whitened fly ash.

Abstract: A process for the production of a ceramic article includes the steps of: (a) preparing a particulate mixture; (b) contacting the particulate mixture to water to form a humidified mixture; (c) pressing the humidified mixture to form a green article; (d) optionally, subjecting the green article to an initial drying step; (e) optionally, glazing the green article to form a glazed green article; (f) subjecting the green article to a heat treatment step to form a hot fused article; and (g) cooling the hot fused article to form a glazed ceramic article. The particulate mixture includes from 30 wt % to 80 wt % recycled aluminium silicate material. The particulate mixture has: (i) a d50 particle size from 10 ?m to 30 ?m; (ii) a d70 particle size of less than 40 ?m; and (iii) a d98 particle size of less than 60 ?m. Steps (c) and (f), and optionally steps (d) and (e) are continuous process steps.

Abstract: A process for preparing whitened fly ash includes the steps of: (a) subjecting fly ash to a size classification step to obtain size classified fly ash having a particle size such that at least 90 wt % has a particle size of from 44 ?m to 250 ?m; (b) optionally, contacting the size classified fly ash from step (a) with water to form a slurry, wherein the slurry has a solid content of less than 40 wt %; (c) subjecting the slurry obtained in step (b) to an exhaustive magnetic separation step to form magnetically treated fly ash, wherein the exhaustive magnetic separation step includes a first magnetic extraction step and a second magnetic extraction step, wherein the second magnetic extraction step is carried out at a higher magnetic field strength than the first magnetic extraction step; and (d) subjecting the magnetically treated fly ash obtained in step (c) to milling to form whitened fly ash.

Abstract: A porous refractory article including greater than 90 wt % coal combustion fly ash. The coal combustion fly ash is in the form of an interconnected particulate lattice structure, and wherein greater than 50% by volume of the coal combustion fly ash particles within the particulate lattice structure have a particle size of greater than 150 ?m. The article has: (a) an apparent porosity of from 30% to 50%, (b) a porosity such that the maximum pore size is less than 500 ?m; (c) a cold crushing strength of at least 4.0 MPa; and (d) a thermal conductivity of less than 1.5 W/(m·K).

Abstract: A process for making a sintered article including the steps of: (a) preparing a particulate mixture; (b) contacting the particulate mixture to water to form a humidified mixture; (c) pressing the humidified mixture to form a green article; (d) optionally, subjecting the green article to an initial drying step; (e) subjecting the green article to a firing step in a kiln to form a hot fused article; and (f) cooling the hot fused article to form a sintered article. The particulate mixture includes: (i) at least 20 wt % coarse coal combustion fly ash; and (ii) at least 30 wt % clay, wherein the coarse coal combustion fly ash has a particle size in the range of from greater than 150 ?m to less than 250 ?m.

Abstract: A particulate mixture, suitable for use in ceramic article production, wherein the mixture includes from 30 wt % to 80 wt % recycled aluminium silicate material. The particulate mixture has a particle size distribution such that: (i) the d50 particle size is from 10 ?m to 30 ?m; (ii) the d70 particle size is less than 40 ?m; and (iii) the d98 particle size is less than 60 ?m.

Abstract: A recycled aluminium silicate material, suitable for use in ceramic article production, wherein the recycled aluminium silicate material has a particle size distribution such that: (i) the d50 particle size is from 10 ?m to 30 ?m; (ii) the d70 particle size is less than 40 ?m; and (iii) the d98 particle size is less than 60 ?m. A particulate mixture, suitable for use in ceramic article production, includes the above defined recycled aluminium silicate material.

Abstract: A process for the production of a ceramic article includes the steps of: (a) preparing a particulate mixture; (b) contacting the particulate mixture to water to form a humidified mixture; (c) pressing the humidified mixture to form a green article; (d) optionally, subjecting the green article to an initial drying step; (e) optionally, glazing the green article to form a glazed green article; (f) subjecting the green article to a heat treatment step to form a hot fused article; and (g) cooling the hot fused article to form a glazed ceramic article. The particulate mixture includes from 30 wt % to 80 wt % recycled aluminium silicate material. The particulate mixture has: (i) a d50 particle size from 10 ?m to 30 ?m; (ii) a d70 particle size of less than 40 ?m; and (iii) a d98 particle size of less than 60 ?m. Steps (c) and (f), and optionally steps (d) and (e) are continuous process steps.

Abstract: A particulate mixture, suitable for use in ceramic article production, wherein the mixture includes from 30 wt % to 80 wt % recycled aluminium silicate material. The particulate mixture has a particle size distribution such that: (i) the d50 particle size is from 10 ?m to 30 ?m; (ii) the d70 particle size is less than 40 ?m; and (iii) the d98 particle size is less than 60 ?m.

Abstract: A recycled aluminium silicate material, suitable for use in ceramic article production, wherein the recycled aluminium silicate material has a particle size distribution such that: (i) the d50 particle size is from 10 ?m to 30 ?m; (ii) the d70 particle size is less than 40 ?m; and (iii) the d98 particle size is less than 60 ?m. A particulate mixture, suitable for use in ceramic article production, includes the above defined recycled aluminium silicate material.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and systems useful in remote monitoring of chemical hazards, air quality, and medical conditions, for example, robotic systems to search for and detect explosives, mines, and hazardous chemicals. In addition, the methods, systems and compositions of the invention provide the ability to mine data from a database containing a plurality of chemical fingerprints.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and systems useful in remote monitoring of chemical hazards, air quality, and medical conditions, for example, robotic systems to search for and detect explosives, mines, and hazardous chemicals. In addition, the methods, systems and compositions of the invention provide the ability to mine data from a database containing a plurality of chemical fingerprints.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and systems useful in remote monitoring of chemical hazards, air quality, and medical conditions, for example, robotic systems to search for and detect explosives, mines, and hazardous chemicals. In addition, the methods, systems and compositions of the invention provide the ability to mine data from a database containing a plurality of chemical fingerprints.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and systems useful in remote monitoring of chemical hazards, air quality, and medical conditions, for example, robotic systems to search for and detect explosives, mines, and hazardous chemicals. In addition, the methods, systems and compositions of the invention provide the ability to mine data from a database containing a plurality of chemical fingerprints.

Abstract: Soldering with lead-free alloys is enhanced by use of two additives to a molten solder bath. One additive is an oxygen barrier fluid that floats on or envelops a bath. Another additive is an oxygen or metal oxide scavenger in the bath. Exemplary scavengers include metals with a higher free energy of oxide formation than oxide of tin, reducing gas, or an electrode immersed in the bath. The oxygen barrier may be an organic liquid, preferably polar in nature, which forms at least a monomolecular film over static surfaces of the bath. An exemplary soldering process is wave soldering of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A solder paste comprises a lead-free solder powder, a flux and an active additive in the flux. The active additive comprises a material that scavenges metal oxide from molten solder, is a stable liquid at reflow soldering temperature, and has the ability to assimilate oxide of at least one metal in the solder. A preferred active additive is dimer acid present in the range of from 0.5 to 2.5% percent by weight of the paste. Sound joint are obtained when the paste is used in a reflow soldering process wherein the peak reflow temperature is preferably less than 245° C.

Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprising a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive material) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material). In preferred embodiments, the conducting region comprises a nanoparticle. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.

Abstract: A process by which molten solder is purified in-situ, making the soldering process more efficient and yielding better results, particularly for lead-free soldering. Lead-free solder becomes practical for use since the temperature for reliable soldering is reduced. A layer of active additive is maintained on the surface of molten solder for scavenging metal oxide from the solder and assimilating metal oxide into a liquid layer. The active additive is an organic liquid having nucleophilic and/or electrophilic groups. As an example, a layer of dimer acid maintained on a wave soldering apparatus scavenges metal oxide from the bath, and assimilates dross that may form on the surface. Scavenging metal oxide cleanses the bath and lowers viscosity of the solder, and PC boards or the like soldered on the wave have reliable solder joints.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and systems useful in remote monitoring of chemical hazards, air quality, and medical conditions, for example, robotic systems to search for and detect explosives, mines, and hazardous chemicals. In addition, the methods, systems and compositions of the invention provide the ability to mine data from a database containing a plurality of chemical fingerprints.

Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g., electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.