Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include an elongated body. The body may define a length (l), a width (w), and a height (h), where the length is the longest dimension. The elongated body may have a first end face, a second end face, and a side surface extending between the first end face and the second end face. The body can include a twist along an axis body.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may include a central portion and 3 radial arms extending outwardly from the central portion along the entire length of the central portion of the body. A first radial arm, a second radial arm, and a third radial arm can define a total angle of less than 180 degrees. The body may also include at least one groove extending from a base surface along a first side of the body.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of composite granules can include: forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate; heating the green body granules to form sintered granules; cooling the sintered granules according to a cooling regime, wherein the cooling regime comprises a temperature hold between 700° C. and 900° C. for at least one hour. In a particular embodiment, the aluminosilicate for making the composite granules can have a particle size less than 150 ?m. The composite granules are particularly suitable as roofing granules and can have a desired combination of high solar reflectance SR and low lightness L*, a low bulk density, good weather resistance and strength.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: Provided are roofing granules, such as solar-reflective roofing granules, methods for making them and their use in roofing products. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a collection of solar-reflective roofing granules having a solar reflectivity of at least 70%, wherein substantially each roofing granule comprises an inner layer, an outer layer disposed on an outer surface of the inner layer and substantially surrounding the inner layer, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are formed from substantially the same composition but have substantially different porosities, the outer layer having a porosity substantially lower than the porosity of the outer layer. Methods for making such roofing granules can include forming layers of substantially the same first and second compositions, wherein the forming of the layer of the second composition is performed under substantially different conditions from the forming of the layer of the first composition.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of composite granules can include: forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate; heating the green body granules to form sintered granules; cooling the sintered granules according to a cooling regime, wherein the cooling regime comprises a temperature hold between 700° C. and 900° C. for at least one hour. In a particular embodiment, the aluminosilicate for making the composite granules can have a particle size less than 150 ?m. The composite granules are particularly suitable as roofing granules and can have a desired combination of high solar reflectance SR and low lightness L*, a low bulk density, good weather resistance and strength.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of composite granules can include: forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate; heating the green body granules to form sintered granules; cooling the sintered granules according to a cooling regime, wherein the cooling regime comprises a temperature hold between 700° C. and 900° C. for at least one hour. In a particular embodiment, the aluminosilicate for making the composite granules can have a particle size less than 150 ?m. The composite granules are particularly suitable as roofing granules and can have a desired combination of high solar reflectance SR and low lightness L*, a low bulk density, good weather resistance and strength.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: Provided are roofing granules, such as solar-reflective roofing granules, methods for making them and their use in roofing products. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a collection of solar-reflective roofing granules having a solar reflectivity of at least 70%, wherein substantially each roofing granule comprises an inner layer, an outer layer disposed on an outer surface of the inner layer and substantially surrounding the inner layer, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are formed from substantially the same composition but have substantially different porosities, the outer layer having a porosity substantially lower than the porosity of the outer layer. Methods for making such roofing granules can include forming layers of substantially the same first and second compositions, wherein the forming of the layer of the second composition is performed under substantially different conditions from the forming of the layer of the first composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates more particularly to roofing granules, such as solar-reflective roofing granules, and to methods for making and using them in roofing products. Provided are, for example, a collection of solar-reflective roofing granules having a solar reflectivity of at least 70%, (e.g., at least 80 wt % or even at least 90 wt %) of the solar-reflective roofing granules of the collection having a major aspect ratio of at least 4 and a minor aspect ratio of at least 3. Also provided is a roofing product that includes a substrate; a bituminous material coated on the substrate, the bituminous material having a top surface; and a collection of solar-reflective roofing granules as described herein disposed on the top surface of the bituminous material, thereby substantially coating the bituminous material in a region thereof.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of composite granules can include: forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate; heating the green body granules to form sintered granules; cooling the sintered granules according to a cooling regime, wherein the cooling regime comprises a temperature hold between 700° C. and 900° C. for at least one hour. In a particular embodiment, the aluminosilicate for making the composite granules can have a particle size less than 150 ?m. The composite granules are particularly suitable as roofing granules and can have a desired combination of high solar reflectance SR and low lightness L*, a low bulk density, good weather resistance and strength.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.

Abstract: An abrasive grain is disclosed and may include a body. The body may define a length (l), a height (h), and a width (w). In a particular aspect, the length is greater than or equal to the height and the height is greater than or equal to the width. Further, in a particular aspect, the body may include a primary aspect ratio defined by the ratio of length:height of at least about 2:1. The body may also include an upright orientation probability of at least about 50%.