Abstract: Feeding device for feeding burned lime to a reaction vessel for causticizing soda liquor to caustic soda. The feeding device, in its upper part, has an inlet for receiving slurry of the burned lime and the soda liquor for formation of said slurry inside said feeding device. The system further comprises a tall and slender feed vessel having a lower part having an outlet defined therein for the slurry. The outlet, via a pump, is operatively connected to the reaction vessel. The process and the feeding system utilize the feeding device, in which process the slurry is created of the burned lime and a first part of the soda liquor, a second part being preheated before addition to the slurry, whereafter slaking and causticizing reactions are completed under elevated temperature and pressure.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making micron/nano meter sized particles of various inorganic materials such as minerals/oxides/sulphides/metals/ceramics at a steadily expanding liquid-liquid interface populated by suitable surfactant molecules that spontaneously organize themselves into superstructures varying over large length-scales. This experiment is realized in a radial Hele-Shaw cell where the liquid-liquid interfacial growth rate and consequently time scales such as arrival of surfactant molecules to the interface, the hydrodynamic flow effect to modulate the material organization into super structures at the dynamic charged interface.

Abstract: The negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery of the present invention includes a carbonaceous material and a silicon-based compound represented by Formula 1: Si(1-y)MyO1+x ??(1) where 0<y<1, ?0.5?x?0.5, and M is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The sintered magnesium oxide according to one embodiment has a density of less than 3.5 g/cm3 and an average grain size of about 3 to about 10 ?m. A MgO protective layer made from the sintered magnesium oxide reduces a discharge voltage of a plasma display panel, improves its response speed, and provides it with high-purity film quality.

Abstract: A method for the production of Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles, by means of polyol-mediated synthesis, from an Mg precursor as well as a base. The particles produced with this method have a diameter between 10 nm to 300 nm, have a mono-disperse particle distribution, and are present in non-agglomerated form. They can be converted to MgO particles by means of calcination.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cathode active material for a lithium rechargeable battery, including: selecting a first metal compound from a group consisting of a halide, a phosphate, a hydrogen phosphate and a sulfate of Mg or Al; selecting a second metal compound from a group consisting of an oxide, a hydroxide and a carbonate of Mg or Al; combining the first metal compound and the second metal compound to obtain a metal compound, the metal compound containing either Mg or Al atoms; mixing a lithium compound, a transition metal compound and the metal compound to obtain a mixture; and sintering the mixture.

Abstract: Complex ceramic oxides of the general formula Mg2MM?O6+x where M=Rare metal ion or Yttrium or Lanthanum and M?=Sn, Sb, Zr, Hf, Ta, and Nb; and where ?0.5<x<0.5; having a defective pyrochlore structure are useful for active and passive electronic applications, as dielectrics, catalyst sensors, hosts for radioactive waste, etc. This process for the preparation of this class of compounds comprises: (i) mixing the compounds of magnesium, M and M? to get the molar ratio as 2:1:1 (ii) the mixture obtained in step (i) along with a wetting medium may be ball milled or mixed; (iii) the resultant slurry may be dried to obtain dry powder, (iv) the resultant mixture may be heated to a temperature in the range of 1000-1600° C. for the duration ranging from 3 hours to 50 hours, either in a single step or by taking out the reactant after heating, checking for the structure formation and heating again after grinding, if necessary.

Abstract: A method for preparation for mesoporous oxide comprising a non silica oxide having a hexagonal pore structure periodicity and an average maximum pore length of from 2 nm to 5 nm, characterized by comprising blending 0.003 mol to 0.01 mol of TaCl5, NbCl5 or a mixture thereof and Al isopropoxide comprising 10 g of an aliphatic linear alcohol and 1 g of a template compound to prepare a mixture for forming a sol solution, adding 5 mol to 35 mol (based on the metal compounds) of water or an aqueous inorganic acid solution to the mixture followed by hydrolysis and polycondensation to give a sol solution, transferring the sol into an oxygen containing atmosphere followed by again at 40° C. to 100° C. to form a gel, and then calcinating the gel in an oxygen containing atmosphere at 350° C. to 550° C.; and the mesoporous oxide obtained by the method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing fine metal oxide particles, comprising the following steps of reacting a reactant mixture comprising i) water, ii) at least one water-soluble metal nitrate and iii) ammonia or ammonium salt at 250–700° C. under 180–550 bar for 0.01 sec to 10 min in a reaction zone to synthesize the metal oxide particles, the metal nitrate being contained at an amount of 0.01–20 wt % in the reactant mixture; and separating and recovering the metal oxide particles from the resulting reaction products. According to the present invention, nano-sized metal oxide particles are synthesized, while the harmful by-products generated concurrently therewith are effectively decomposed in the same reactor.

Abstract: Described is a method for the production of metal oxides by flame spray pyrolysis, in particular mixed metal oxides such as ceria/zirconia, and metal oxides obtainable by said method. Due to high enthalpy solvents with a high carboxylic acid content said metal oxides have improved properties. For example ceria/zirconia has excellent oxygen storage capacity at high zirconium levels up to more than 80% of whole metal content.

Abstract: The room temperature, low field intergrain magnetoresistance (IMR) of the double perovsktite SrFe0.5MO0.5O3 is found to be highly tunable by doping either Ca or Ba into the Sr site. The dopant exerts a chemical pressure, changing the Curie temperature and the magnetic softness. The IMR at optimal doping (Sr0.2Ba0.8Fe0.5Mo0.5O3) is approximately 3.5% in 100 Oe, and increases further in high fields. The unprecedented strength of the IMR in this highly spin polarized system provides new grounds for employing novel magnetic materials for new magnetic sensing applications and spin electronics.

Abstract: A method for producing nanostructured multi-component or doped oxide particles and the particles produced therein. The process includes the steps of (i) dissolving salts of cations, which are either dopants or components of the final oxide, in an organic solvent; (ii) adding a dispersion of nanoparticles of a single component oxide to the liquid solution; (iii) heating the liquid solution to facilitate diffusion of cations into the nanoparticles; (iv) separating the solids from the liquid solution; and (v) heat treating the solids either to form the desired crystal structure in case of multi-component oxide or to render the homogeneous distribution of dopant cation in the host oxide structure. The process produces nanocrystalline multi-component or doped oxide nanoparticles with a particle size of 5–500 nm, more preferably 20–100 nm; the collection of particles have an average secondary (or aggregate) particle size is in the range of 25–2000 nm, preferably of less than 500 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for treating flue gas containing sulfur dioxide using a scrubber, and more particularly relates to recovering gypsum and magnesium hydroxide products from the scrubber blowdown. The gypsum and magnesium hydroxide products are created using two separate precipitation reactions. Gypsum is crystallized when magnesium sulfate reacts with calcium chloride. Magnesium hydroxide is precipitated when magnesium chloride from the gypsum crystallization process reacts with calcium hydroxide. The process produces a high quality gypsum with a controllable pH and particle size distribution, as well as high quality magnesium hydroxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing particles, such as oxide nanoparticles, in a substantially water-free environment. The process involves mixing at least one metal compound of the formula MX(m?n) with at least one surfactant and at least one solvent, wherein M is an electropositive element of Groups 1–15; each X is independently selected from the group consisting of O1/2, F, Cl, Br, I, OR, O2CR, NR2, and R; each R is independently a hydrocarbyl group; n is equal to ½ the oxidation state of the metal M in the product particle; and m is equal to the oxidation state of the element M. The components are typically combined to form a mixture which is thermally treated for a time period sufficient to convert the metal compound into particles of the corresponding oxide, having sizes in a range between about 0.5 nanometer and about 1000 nanometers.

Abstract: A method of joining at least two sintered bodies to form a composite structure, including providing a first multicomponent metallic oxide having a perovskitic or fluorite crystal structure; providing a second sintered body including a second multicomponent metallic oxide having a crystal structure of the same type as the first; and providing at an interface a joint material containing at least one metal oxide containing at least one metal identically contained in at least one of the first and second multicomponent metallic oxides. The joint material is free of cations of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, P and Te and has a melting point below the sintering temperatures of both sintered bodies. The joint material is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the metal oxide(s) and below the sintering temperatures of the sintered bodies to form the joint. Structures containing such joints are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of treating metal oxide nanoparticles that includes mixing metal oxide nanoparticles, a solvent, and a surface treatment agent that is preferably a silane or siloxane is described. The treated metal oxide nanoparticles are rendered hydrophobic by the surface treatment agent being surface attached thereto, and are preferably dispersed in a hydrophobic aromatic polymer binder of a charge transport layer of a photoreceptor, whereby ?—? interactions can be formed between the organic moieties on the surface of the nanoparticles and the aromatic components of the binder polymer to achieve a stable dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer that is substantially free of large sized agglomerations.

Abstract: Provided are magnesium hydroxide particles having a hexagonal crystal form and having an aspect ratio (H) which satisfies the following expression (I), 0.45·A·B<H<1.1·A·B??(I) (wherein H is an aspect ratio, A is an average secondary particle diameter (?m) of all of the particles measured by a laser diffraction scattering method and B is a specific surface area (m2/g) of all of the particles measured by a BET method), a flame-retardant comprising the particles, a flame-retardant resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a synthetic resin and a 5 to 300 parts by weight of the magnesium hydroxide particles, and a molded article therefrom. The magnesium hydroxide particles are hexagonal single crystals, the hexagonal form thereof are not necessarily required to be regular hexagonal, and the size thereof are not necessarily constant.

Abstract: A body pigment with a good skin feel for cosmetics is provided which has an appropriate crumbling property and combines slipping property and adhesiveness without compromising oil absorption. The body pigment is comprised of a metal-containing compound and has a structure in which leaf-shaped flakes are combined and/or intersected.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite structure includes: (1) providing first and second sintered bodies containing first and second multicomponent metallic oxides having first and second identical crystal structures that are perovskitic or fluoritic; (2) providing a joint material containing at least one metal oxide: (a) containing (i) at least one metal of an identical IUPAC Group as at least one sintered body metal in one of the multicomponent metallic oxides, (ii) a first row D-Block transition metal not contained in the multicomponent metallic oxides, and/or (iii) a lanthanide not contained in the multicomponent metallic oxides; (b) free of metals contained in the multicomponent metallic oxides; (c) free of cations of boron, silicon, germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony, phosphorus and tellurium; and (d) having a melting point below the sintering temperatures of the sintered bodies; and (3) heating to a joining temperature above the melting point and below the sintering temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a magnesium oxide particle aggregate with the requirement of a first inflection point diameter is more than 0.30×10?6 to 0.60×10?6 m, a particle void volume is 0.50×10?3 to 0.90×10?3 m3·kg?1, and a micropore volume is 0.04×10?3 to 0.11×10?3 m3·kg?1 in the cumulative intrusion volume curve of said particle by having controlled particle aggregation structure so that the solid phase-solid phase reaction between magnesium oxide and the SiO2 film on the surface can be appropriately controlled.

Abstract: Composites of ceramic materials, notably alumina or metal oxides in general, with single-wall carbon nanotubes are consolidated by electric field-assisted sintering to achieve a fully dense material that has an unusually high fracture toughness compared to the ceramic alone, and also when compared to composites that contain multi-wall rather than single-wall carbon nanotubes, and when compared to composites that are sintered by methods that do not include exposure to an electric field.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a magnesium oxide particle aggregate having a controlled particle aggregation structure so that the solid phase-solid phase reaction between magnesium oxide and the SiO2 film on the surface can be appropriately controlled. The object can be achieved by a magnesium oxide particle aggregate characterized in that a first inflection point diameter is 0.30×10−6 m or less, an interparticle void volume is 1.40×10−3 to 2.20×10−3 m3/kg and a particle void volume is 0.55×10−3 to 0.80×10−3 m3/kg in a cumulative intrusion volume curve of the particle aggregate.

Abstract: A metal oxide powder except &agr;-alumina, comprising polyhedral particles having at least 6 planes each, a number average particle size of from 0.1 to 300 &mgr;m, and a D90/D10 ratio of 10 or less where D10 and D90 are particle sizes at 10% and 90% accumulation, respectively from the smallest particle size side in a cumulative particle size curve of the particles. This metal oxide powder contains less agglomerated particles, and has a narrow particle size distribution and a uniform particle shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnesium compound effective in producing olefin polymers having an increased bulk density and a narrowed particle size distribution, not lowering the stereospecificity of the polymers produced and not lowering the polymerization activity in producing the polymers, to an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising the compound, and to a method for producing such olefin polymers. The olefin polymerization catalyst comprises (A) a solid catalyst component prepared by contacting a magnesium compound having a specific particle size distribution index (P), a titanium compound and an electron donor compound with each other, (B) an organometallic compound, and (C) an electron donor. The olefin polymerization method comprises polymerizing an olefin in the presence of the catalyst to give olefin polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a single step process for the synthesis of nanoparticles of phase pure ceramic oxides of a single or a multi-component system comprising one or more metal ions. The process comprises preparing a solution containing all the required metal ions in stoichiometric ratio by dissolving their respective soluble salts in an organic solvent or in water, preparing a precursor, adjusting the nitrate/ammonia content in the system, and heating the system.

Abstract: A black pigment substantially free of objectionable transition metal materials is disclosed. This pigment is particularly useful for coloring glass since the absence of the transition metal gives it excellent recycling properties. The pigment is an alkaline earth (preferably strontium) iron maganese oxide material as specifically defined the in the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing photooxidation or air oxidation in susceptible materials such as food, plastics or pharmaceuticals comprising mixing the material with an antioxidation composition comprising at least one amino acid, at least one metal ion, and at least one carboxylic acid in an amount effective to reduce photooxidation in the material.

Abstract: Provided are magnesium hydroxide particles having a hexagonal crystal form and having an aspect ratio (H) which satisfies the following expression (I), 0.45·A·B<H<1.1·A·B  (I) (wherein H is an aspect ratio, A is an average secondary particle diameter (&mgr;m) of all of the particles measured by a laser diffraction scattering method and B is a specific surface area (m2/g) of all of the particles measured by a BET method), a flame-retardant comprising the particles, a flame-retardant resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a synthetic resin and a 5 to 300 parts by weight of the magnesium hydroxide particles, and a molded article therefrom. The magnesium hydroxide particles are hexagonal single crystals, the hexagonal form thereof are not necessarily required to be regular hexagonal, and the size thereof are not necessarily constant.

Abstract: Disclosed are a porous material comprising particles without substantial fibrous structure and having pores, the pores having a mean pore diameter in a meson-pore region, sharp pore size distribution, and at least a part of the pores being connected three-dimensionally to form a three-dimensional network structure with random passages, the porous material preferably being of alumina and having a spongy structure or the porous material preferably being an aggregate of particles having an aspect ratio of 3 or less; a process of producing the porous material which includes a step of aging a system capable of becoming an oxide on thermal decomposition; a catalyst for exhaust gas purification having excellent NOx removal performance, high resistance against sulfur poisoning, and satisfactory high-temperature durability which comprises the porous material as a carrier having supported thereon a noble metal and an NOx storage component; and a method of exhaust gas purification using the catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high oxygen ion conducting/oxygen storage (OIC/OS) materials, a catalyst employing the OIC/OS materials, and a method for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides using the catalyst. The OIC/OS materials have significantly higher oxygen storage capacity than that predicted based on Ce content due to the unexpected high and facile redox activity of the added niobium. These materials are further characterized by having a tetragonal crystalline structure under oxidizing conditions (in air) up to about 1,200° C. and a cubic crystalline structure in reducing conditions (5% hydrogen) up to about 1,000° C. for 24 hours. These materials comprise, based upon 100 mole % of the metal component in the material, up to about 95 mole % zirconium, up to about 50 mole % cerium, about 0.5 to about 15 mole % rare earth metal(s), alkaline earth metal(s) or a combination thereof, and about 0.5 to about 15 mole % niobium.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of crystalline anionic clay-containing bodies from sources comprising an aluminum source and a magnesium source comprising the steps of: a) preparing a precursor mixture, b) shaping the precursor mixture to obtain shaped- bodies, c) optionally thermally treating the shaped bodies, and d) aging to obtain crystalline anionic clay-containing bodies. The quintessence of the present invention is that the bodies are shaped prior to the forming of the crystalline anionic clay in said bodies. This results in very attrition resistant bodies, without the need to add a binder material.

Abstract: The present invention includes lithium cobalt oxides having hexagonal layered crystal structures and methods of making same. The lithium cobalt oxides of the invention have the formula LiwCo1−xAxO2+y wherein 0.96≦w≦1.05, 0≦x≦0.05, −0.02≦y≦0.02 and A is one or more dopants. The lithium cobalt oxides of the invention preferably have a position within the principal component space defined by the relationship axi+byi≦c, wherein xi={right arrow over (S)}i&Circlesolid;{right arrow over (P)}c1; yi={right arrow over (S)}i&Circlesolid;{right arrow over (P)}c2; the vector {right arrow over (S)}i is the x-ray spectrum for the LiwCo1−xAxO2+y compound; the vectors {right arrow over (P)}c1 and {right arrow over (P)}c2 defining the principal component space are determined by measuring the x-ray powder diffraction values {right arrow over (S)}i between 15° and 120° using a 0.

Abstract: A method of producing an electronic device including a dielectric layer includes a dielectric ceramic composition containing a main component expressed by a formula of {(Sr1−xCax)O}m.(Ti1−yZry)O2, wherein x fulfills 0≦x≦1.00 and y fulfills 0≦y≦0.20, and producing said dielectric ceramic composition by using a material expressed by a formula of {(Sr1−xCax)O}m′.(Ti1−yZry)O2 wherein the mole ratio m′ fulfills m′<m. It is possible to produce an electronic device, such as a chip capacitor, having excellent resistance to reducing during firing and excellent capacity-temperature characteristics after firing, wherein the insulation resistance is hard to be deteriorated particularly when made to be a thin layer and defect rate of the initial insulation resistance is low.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing high-purity magnesium hydroxide by reaction of magnesium or reactive magnesium compounds with hydroxy compounds yielding magnesium alkoxides, followed by hydrolysis to form magnesium hydroxide, or a process for producing magnesium oxide by calcination of magnesium hydroxide.

Abstract: A resin composition which comprises 100 parts by weight of a synthetic resin and 50 to 1,500 parts by weight of magnesium oxide particles, wherein the magnesium oxide particles satisfy the following requirements (i) to (v): (i) an average secondary particle diameter of 0.1 to 130 &mgr;m, (ii) a BET method specific surface area of 0.1 to 5 m2/g, (iii) a total content of an Fe compound and an Mn compound of 0.01 wt % or less in terms of metals, (iv) an Na content of 0.001 wt % or less, and (v) a Cl content of 0.005 wt % or less, and a molded product formed therefrom. Since the resin composition of the present invention has excellent flame retardancy, heat conductivity and water resistance, it is advantageously used as a material for sealing a heat generating electronic member such as a semiconductor.

Abstract: The invention allows the fabrication of small, dense, highly polished spherical beads of hexagonal ferrites with selected compositions for use in nonreciprocal microwave and mm-wave devices as well as in microwave absorbent or reflective coatings, composites, and the like. A porous, generally spherical bead of hydrous iron oxide is made by a sol-gel process to form a substantially rigid bead having a generally fine crystallite size and correspondingly finely distributed internal porosity. The resulting gel bead is washed and hydrothermally reacted with a soluble alkaline earth salt (typically Ba or Sr) under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure to convert the bead into a mixed hydrous iron-alkaline earth oxide while retaining the generally spherical shape. This mixed oxide bead is then washed, dried, and calcined to produce the desired (BaFe12O19 or SrFe12O19) crystal structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inorganic dispersant having a high specific surface area and a high surface activity which comprises a calcium phosphate type compound having a specific particle composition, particle shape, particle size and dispersibility, and specific surface area. When used as a suspension polymerization stabilizer, it provides polymer particles having a uniform and sharp particle size distribution, and when the polymer particles are contained in an unsaturated polyester resin composition and a toner composition, the obtained compositions have excellent quality.

Abstract: A composite metal material of formula (I) are stable and not deteriorated for a long time and have excellent activities in photolyzing water with visible light: x(A)y(B)z(C)-p(P)n(N)  (I) wherein, (A) is Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 or Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3, (B) is PbTiO3, (C) is LiTaO3, (P) is a metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Au, Ag, Pd and Rh, (N) is an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Sr, Sc, Ru, Cu and Cd, x is a number in the range of 0.65 to 0.98, y is a number in the range of 0.01 to 0.34, z is a number in the range of 0.01 to 0.1, and p and n are each independently a number in the range of 0.01 to 5.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to Mg—Al anionic clay having 3R2 stacking. This new polytype of anionic clay has a three-layer repeat, but it has a different interlayer arrangement than the conventional 3R1 hydrotalcite. Said new polytype can be applied in all applications described before for the conventional 3R1 polytype anionic clay such as in catalyst compositions, catalyst additive compositions, catalyst supports, absorbent compositions, stabilizer compositions and in medicaments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the improvement of a replenishment method of a magnesium-based compound and to the improvement of a double decomposition method, which can be used in a magnesium hydroxide desulfurization method. In the improved replenishment method, the magnesium-based compound is supplemented with water and the ratio of Mg/H2O is adjusted to the total Mg/H2O in the desulfurization system. In the improved double decomposition method, a tank for use is provided with an inner cylinder which partitions the tank into an inner part and an outer part, but does not reach the bottom of the tank, and a part of the slurry drawn through the bottom of the tank is fed to the outer upper position in the tank.

Abstract: A cathode material for a lithium secondary battery having a high capacity, an excellent cycle property, and an excellent thermal stability. The cathode material for the lithium secondary battery is a layered compound having a general formula: LixNi1-a-b-c-dCOaM1bM2cM3dO2, wherein M1, M2, M3 are selected from Ti, Mg, B and Al and wherein the characters x, a, b, c and d respectively satisfy 1.0≦x≦1.2; 0.3≦a≦0.3; 0.005≦b≦0.1; 0.005≦c≦0.1; 0.005≦d≦0.1; and 0.115≦a+b+c+d≦0.

Abstract: Magnesium oxychloride and magnesium oxysulfate materials and methods of making the same are disclosed. The materials are cured reaction products of a magnesium oxide, and an aqueous magnesium salt solution. The aqueous salt solution preferably has a specific gravity of about 1.18 to about 1.4. The magnesium oxide has a platelet or flake structure, a bulk density of about 30 lbs/ft3 (about 0.48 g/cm3) to about 70 lbs/ft3 (about 1.12 g/cm3), and a particle density of about 215 lbs/ft3 (about 3.45 g/cm3) or less. The platelet/flake magnesium oxide is prepared, preferably from particles of magnesium oxide ore or brucite ore, using brine-free methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a product based on a simple or mixed metal oxide, or silicon oxide, from a charge of one or more precursors comprising one or more organic precursors. These oxides can be, for example, oxides of Ti, Al, Mg, Th, Si, Ba, Bc or Zr etc. The method comprises bringing the charge of organo-metallic precursors into contact with a reaction medium that comprises supercritical C02, at a temperature of from 31 to 100° C. and a supercritical pressure of from 3×107 to 5×107 Pa, in order to form from the precursor, a product based on a simple or mixed metal oxide, or silicon oxide, from the reaction medium by reducing the pressure of the supercritical C02 to a pressure lower than the supercritical pressure.

Abstract: This invention provides a complex oxide comprising the features of: (i) being represented by the formula: Ca3-xRExCo4Oy wherein RE is a rare earth element, 0≦x≦0.5 and 8.5≦y≦10, (ii) having a Seebeck coefficient of 100 &mgr;V/K or more at a temperature of 300° C. or higher, and (iii) having an electric conductivity of 103 S/m or more at a temperature of 300° C. or higher. The complex oxide is composed of low-toxicity elements, excellent in heat resistance and chemical durability and high in thermoelectric conversion efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention is a Ca(OH)2 particle composition and a method of making the composition, the composition consisting essentially of dried calcium hydroxide particles having a moisture content of less than 2 percent by weight of the total composition, a specific surface area greater than 30 m2/g, a total nitrogen desorption pore volume of at least 0.1 cm3/g, and a CO2 content of less than 2 percent by weight of the total composition, the aforementioned particles being in the form of a mixture comprising first fraction of particles having a size of less than 32 micrometers and a second fraction of particles of a size greater than 32 micrometers, the weight percent of the second fraction ranging from 20 to 50 percent, the aforementioned particles having a nitrogen desorption pore volume consisting of pores with a diameter ranging from 100 to 400 Angstroms.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an oxide thin film which exhibits a widegap or transparency and p-type conductivity although it has heretofore been very difficult to form. The oxide thin film formed on a substrate contains copper oxide and strontium oxide as a main component and exhibits p-type conductivity at a bandgap of at least 2 eV.

Abstract: A barium titanate powder has an average particle size ranging from 0.1-1.0 &mgr;m, a CV value (standard deviation of the particle size/the average particle size) of the particle size distribution being 40% or less, and a zeta-potential ranging from −30 to −60 mV measured by a laser Doppler method using electrophoresis at pH 6.4. The barium titanate powder is presintered at a temperature ranging from 900 to 1200° C. The barium titanate powder has superior dispersion characteristics in slurrying, and is capable of partly inhibiting agglomeration of the barium titanate after sintering. It is therefore suitable as materials for dielectric layers of multilayer ceramic capacitors. In particular, the barium titanate has a sintered density of 95% or more of the theoretical density thereof, and the dielectric constant is 4000 or more.

Abstract: This invention provides a complex oxide comprising the features of: (i) being represented by the formula: Ca3-xRExCo4Oy wherein RE is a rare earth element, 0≦x≦0.5 and 8.5≦y≦10, (ii) having a Seebeck coefficient of 100 &mgr;V/K or more at a temperature of 300° C. or higher, and (iii) having an electric conductivity of 103 S/m or more at a temperature of 300° C. or higher. The complex oxide is composed of low-toxicity elements, excellent in heat resistance and chemical durability and high in thermoelectric conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A process for preparing an alkaline earth metal hydroxide which comprises reacting particulate alkaline earth metal oxide having a particle size in the range from about 100 &mgr;m to about 10,000 &mgr;m with a sufficient quantity of water for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to carry out the reaction effectively thereby the alkaline earth metal hydroxide is prepared.

Abstract: Pelletized adsorbent compositions and methods of adsorbing toxic target compounds are provided for the destructive adsorption or chemisorption of toxic or undesired compounds. The pelletized adsorbents are formed by pressing together powder nanocrystalline particles comprising a metal hydroxide or a metal oxide at pressures of from about 50 psi to about 6000 psi to form discrete self-sustaining bodies. The pelletized bodies should retain at least about 25% of the surface area/unit mass and total pore volume of the starting metal particles.