Abstract: The invention concerns the use as filler in a rubber composition based on an elastomer, of a compound consisting of an amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, hydroxyoxycarbonate or oxycarbonate. The invention also concerns rubber compositions comprising such a filler and finished products based on such a composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for obtaining a substrate provided with a coating having photocatalytic properties, wherein the coating includes crystallized particles of an oxide of a metal A having photocatalytic properties. The crystallized particles are incorporated into the coating using a mineral binder comprising at least one oxide of a metal B also having photocatalytic properties in the crystallized state. The coating optionally includes at least oxide of a metal M devoid of photocatalytic properties and/or at least one silicon compound of the silicon oxide SiO2 type. The coating is deposited from liquid-phase dispersions containing the crystallized particles of the oxide of metal A and at least one precursor compound for the oxide of metal B of the binder and optionally a precursor compound for the oxide of metal M and for the Si compound, in a relative proportion A/(B+M+Si) by weight of the metals and Si ranging between 60/40 and 40/60.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate provided, on at least a portion of one of its faces, with a coating with a photocatalytic property based on titanium dioxide which is at least partially crystalline and which is incorporated in the said coating partly in the form of particles predominantly crystallized in the anatase form. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of this substrate and organic dispersions of titanium dioxide particles used in the said process for the preparation of the substrate.

Abstract: Thermally/chemically stable and nontoxic inorganic pigments/colorants, characteristically green and well suited for the coloration of a wide variety of materials and substrates, for example, plastics, ceramics, etc., comprise at least one mixed oxide of the formula: R2MxM′yO5 in which R is at least one element selected from among yttrium and a rare earth having an atomic number ranging from 62 to 71, inclusive, M and M′, which may be identical or different, are each at least one metallic element exhibiting at least one valence state of +2, and x and y are numbers, the sum x+y of which is equal to 2.

Abstract: Storage-stable colloidal organic sols comprise suspended tetravalent metal oxide particulates in an organic diluent medium, notably cerium dioxide particulates, the tetravalent metal oxide particulates having a particle size d90 no greater than 200 nanometers and being complexed with at least one amphiphilic organic acid, and either said tetravalent metal oxide particulates comprising agglomerates of crystallites, the d80 of which being no greater than 5 nanometers and at least 90% of said agglomerates comprising from 1 to 5 crystallites, and/or said at least one amphiphilic organic acid has from 11 to 50 carbon atoms and is branched in at least one of the &agr;-, &bgr;-, &ggr;- or &dgr;-positions relative to the atom bearing the acidic hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention concerns titanium dioxide particles coated at least partially: with a first layer of at least a cerium and/or iron compound, and a second layer of at least a metal oxide, hydroxide or oxohydroxide, the said particles having a BET specific surface area of at least 70 m2/g and a density of 2.5. The invention also concerns a method for preparing these particles and their use as anti-UV agent.

Abstract: Composite particles having a core consisting of an organic polymer and a coating including at least one aluminum, silicon, zirconium and/or transition metal oxide and/or hydroxide, and optionally containing calcium carbonate, as well as methods for preparing same, are disclosed. The use of said composite particles for preparing hollow particles with a shell of the same kind as the above-mentioned coating is also disclosed. Finally, the use of said hollow composite particles as fillers or additives in plastics and elastomers is disclosed.

Abstract: Colloidal dispersions of finely divided particulates, well suited for the production of catalysts for the catalytic conversion of exhaust gases emanating from internal combustion engines, notably vehicular exhaust gases, comprise at least one rare earth compound and, optionally, at least one compound of at least one other element selected from among those of groups IVa, VIIa, VIII, Ib, IIb, IIIb and IVb of the Periodic Table, said particulates being at least 50% dispersible in water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate provided, on at least a portion of one of its faces, with a coating with a photocatalytic property based on titanium dioxide which is at least partially crystalline and which is incorporated in the said coating partly in the form of particles predominantly crystallized in the anatase form. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of this substrate and organic dispersions of titanium dioxide particles used in the said process for the preparation of the substrate.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the invention, a colloidal dispersion of a cerium compound is characterised in that it has a pH of at least 4 and a conductivity of at most 5 mS/cm. In a second embodiment, the colloidal dispersion is characterised in that it has a pH of more than 5. In a third embodiment, the colloidal dispersion is characterised in that the colloids have a carbon content such that the carbon/cerium mole ratio is at Least 0.01 and in that the pH is greater than 5.A process for the preparation of these dispersions is characterised in that a first colloidal dispersion is used as a starting material, with a pH which is lower than the pH of the dispersion which is to be prepared, and the pH of the first dispersion is raised while reducing the ionic strength. For the third embodiment, an organic acid is added to the starting dispersion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure for preparation of a precursor of a mixed cerium and zirconium oxide-based composition, characterized by the following steps:a liquid mixture is prepared containing cerium and zirconium compounds;the preceding mixture is placed in contact with carbonate or bicarbonate, thus forming a reactive medium exhibiting a neutral or basic pH during the reaction;the precipitate obtained is collected.A mixed cerium and zirconium oxide-based composition is obtained by calcining this precursor. This composition is characterized by the fact that it has a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm.sup.3 /g, and that at least 40%, and more particularly at least 50%, of the total pore volume is composed of pores having a diameter of at most 1 .mu.m.

Abstract: Alkaline-earth metal- and copper- and optionally titanium-based silicates in the form of agglomerates consisting either of monocrystalline grains or of aggregates themselves consisting of monocrystalline particles.These silicates are prepared by a process including the following stages: a silica sol or a silicate and optionally a titanium sol is mixed with salts of the other constituent elements of the silicate with the exception of oxygen; the mixture thus obtained is dried, preferably by spraying, and the product obtained is calcined. The silicates may be employed as colored pigments in plastics, paints, varnishes, rubbers, ceramics, glazes, papers, inks, cosmetic products, dyes and laminated coatings.

Abstract: Thermally stable/highly reducible catalyst compositions, well suited for the catalytic conversion of exhaust gases emanating from internal combustion engines notably vehicular exhaust gases, comprise alumina, the oxides of cerium praseodymium and zirconium, and, optionally, at least one other oxide of bismuth, of a rare earth, or of an element of group VIII of the Periodic Table, and exhibit a stabilized hydrogen-absorption capacity up to a temperature of at least 1,000.degree. C.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the present invention concerns a colloidal dispersion of a cerium compound, characterised in that it has a CeO.sub.2 concentration of between 500 and 700 g/l and a conductivity of at most 50 mS/cm. In a second embodiment, the colloidal dispersion is characterised in that it has a CeO.sub.2 concentration of more than 700 g/l.A process for the preparation of the dispersion of the invention is characterised in that a starting suspension or dispersion is treated by dialysis or with a cationic resin and an anionic resin.Colloidal dispersions of the invention can be used in automobile post combustion catalysis, in cosmetics, in lubrication, in ceramics or as an anticorrosion agent.

Abstract: Heat-stable alumina particulates well suited as catalysts/catalyst supports, notably for the catalytic conversion of vehicular exhaust gases, contain a stabilizing amount of lanthanum values, optionally a costabilizing amount of neodymium values, and have a specific surface area of greater than 40 m.sup.2 /g after calcination at 1,200.degree. C. for 4 hours; these are produced by ripening/rehydrating an alumina powder at least partially into boehmite/pseudo-boehmite state in the presence of a stabilizing amount of at least one lanthanum compound, e.g, lanthanum nitrate, and, optionally, also at least one neodymium compound, the starting alumina powder being the product of rapid dehydration of at least one aluminum hydroxide and/or aluminum oxyhydroxide.

Abstract: Cerium/zirconium mixed oxides (optionally including yttrium values), comprising solid solutions thereof, having contents of zirconium of up to 60 atom % and having thermally stable, very high specific surface areas at least greater than 80 m.sup.2 /g, preferably at least 100 m.sup.2 /g and more preferably at least 150 m.sup.2 /g, are well suited as catalysts and/or catalyst supports, notably for the treatment/conversion of vehicular exhaust gases; such Ce.sub.x Zr.sub.1-x O.sub.2 particulates are conveniently prepared by thermally treating an aqueous solution of soluble compounds of cerium and zirconium (and optionally yttrium), e.g. the nitrates thereof, present in the desired stoichiometric amounts, and thence recovering and, if appropriate, calcining the reaction product thus formed.

Abstract: Cerium/zirconium mixed oxides (optionally including yttrium values), comprising solid solutions thereof, having contents of zirconium of up to 60 atom % and having thermally stable, very high specific surface areas at least greater than 80 m.sup.2 /g, preferably at least 100 m.sup.2 /g and more preferably at least 150 m.sup.2 /g, are well suited as catalysts and/or catalyst supports, notably for the treatment/conversion of vehicular exhaust gases; such Ce.sub.x Zr.sub.1-x O.sub.2 particulates are conveniently prepared by thermally treating an aqueous solution of soluble compounds of cerium and zirconium (and optionally yttrium), e.g. the nitrates thereof, present in the desired stoichiometric amounts, and thence recovering and, if appropriate, calcining the reaction product thus formed.

Abstract: Colloidal dispersions of solid colloidal particulates in a liquid medium, preferably an aqueous medium, said colloidal particulates comprising a core of cerium oxide at least partially coated with a sheathing layer of titanium oxide, are well suited for the photocatalytic coating of a variety of substrates, e.g., glass or metal, to impart anti-IV, anti-reflecting and/or anti-staining properties thereto.

Abstract: Activated alumina agglomerates having a crush resistance of at least 12 daN, measured on that fraction thereof having a mean diameter ranging from 3 to 4 mm, and an adsorptive capacity greater than 18% by weight, well adopted as adsorbents in a wide variety of purification processes, are prepared by agglomerating activated alumina particulates, maturing the resulting agglomerates in the presence of a complexing agent for the cation Al.sup.3+, and then thermally treating the matured agglomerates at a temperature ranging from about 100.degree. to 500.degree. C.

Abstract: Zirconium/cerium mixed oxides (optionally including thermally stabilizing dopant values), comprising solid solutions thereof, having contents of zirconium of up to 99% by weight, and having high specific surface areas, are well suited as catalysts and/or catalyst supports, notably for the treatment/conversion of vehicular exhaust gases; such ZrO.sub.2 /CeO.sub.2 mixed oxides are conveniently prepared by (i) intimately admixing a zirconium sol with a cerium sol, the ratio r of the mean diameter r.sub.l of the particles of the zirconium sol to the diameter r.sub.2 of the particles of the cerium sol being at least 5, (ii) adding a precipitating amount of a base thereto, (iii) recovering the precipitate thus formed, and (iv) calcining the recovered precipitate.