Abstract: Methods for preparing high quality and high yields of nanocrystals, i.e., metal-oxide-based nanocrystals, using a novel solvent-free method. The nanocrystals advantageously comprise organic alkyl chain capping groups and are stable in air and in nonpolar solvents.

Abstract: An aerosol generator includes a saturator having an enclosure for passing a gas therethrough, and a porous substrate being adapted for retaining a non-vaporized form of an aerosol material, wherein the porous substrate is further adapted to release a vaporized form of the aerosol material for introduction into the gas within the enclosure, and a condenser adapted for receiving the gas containing the vapor from the saturator to produce an aerosol containing the aerosol material.

Abstract: A method of preparing stable, transparent photocatalytic titanium dioxide sots is disclosed which involves thermal treatment of a suspension of amorphous titanium dioxide in the presence of certain alpha-hydroxy acids. The sots comprise titanium dioxide particles in the anatase form having a crystallite size less than about 10 nm and exhibit excellent stability and transparency at basic, neutral, and acid pH.

Abstract: A well treatment microemulsion for use in a subterranean formation is disclosed, the microemulsion comprises a solvent blend comprising a solvent and a co-solvent; a surfactant blend comprising a surfactant, wherein the surfactant blend is able to give formation intermediate wettability properties; an alcohol; and a carrier fluid; wherein the alcohol, the solvent and surfactant blends are combined with the carrier fluid to produce the well treatment microemulsion. By intermediate wettability it is meant that the water has an advancing contact angle on the surface between 62 and 133 degrees. The associate method of treating a subterranean formation of a well with the microemulsion and the associate method of modifying the wettability of the formation with the microemulsion are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preparing stable, transparent photocatalytic titanium dioxide sols is disclosed which involves thermal treatment of a suspension of amorphous titanium dioxide in the presence of certain alpha-hydroxy acids. The sots comprise titanium dioxide particles in the anatase form having a crystallite size less than about 10 nm and exhibit excellent stability and transparency at basic, neutral, and acid pH.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of ultralow density, high specific surface area gel products is provided which comprises providing, in an enclosed chamber, a mixture made up of small particles of material suspended in gas; the particles are then caused to aggregate in the chamber to form ramified fractal aggregate gels. The particles should have a radius (a) of up to about 50 nm and the aerosol should have a volume fraction (fv) of at least 10?4. In preferred practice, the mixture is created by a spark-induced explosion of a precursor material (e.g., a hydrocarbon) and oxygen within the chamber. New compositions of matter are disclosed having densities below 3.0 mg/cc.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing nanomaterial dispersions, such as nanomaterial concentrates, and related nanotechnology are provided. The nanomaterial concentrates provided can be more cheaply stored and transported compared to non-concentrate nanomaterial forms.

Abstract: A process for producing a stable acidic aqueous alumina sol containing columnar secondary particles having a length of 50 to 400 nm which are formed by face-to-face coagulation of rectangular plate-like primary particles having a length of one side of 10 to 40 nm and a thickness of 2.5 to 10 nm when observed through an electron microscope, by use of an aqueous alkali aluminate solution and liquid or gaseous carbon dioxide as starting materials. The obtained acidic aqueous alumina sol has a low viscosity and is stable for salts. The dried gel obtained from the sol is characterized in that the gel structure thereof is rigid even though it is porous.

Abstract: There is provided a stable sol comprising modified stannic oxide-zirconium oxide complex colloidal particles, wherein the particles are formed by coating as nuclei stannic oxide-zirconium oxide complex colloidal particles in which stannic oxide colloidal particles obtained by a reaction of metal tin, an organic acid and hydrogen peroxide is bonded to zirconium oxide colloidal particles with tungsten oxide-stannic oxide-silicon dioxide complex colloidal particles. The sol has a high refractive index and is improved in water resistance, moisture resistance and weather resistance, and can be used by mixing with a hard coating paint as a component for improving properties of a hard coating film applied on a plastic lens surface.

Abstract: The colloidal dispersion of the invention is characterized in that it comprises an organic phase; particles of an iron compound in its amorphous form; and at least one amphiphilic agent. It is prepared by a process in which either an iron salt in the presence of an iron complexing agent or an iron complex is reacted with a base, maintaining the pH of the reaction medium at a value of at most 8 to obtain a precipitate, the iron complexing agent being selected from hydrosoluble carboxylic acids with a complexing constant K such that the pK is at least 3 and the iron complex being selected from the products of reacting iron salts with said acids; then the precipitate obtained or a suspension containing said precipitate is brought into contact with an organic phase in the presence of an amphiphilic agent to obtain the dispersion in an organic phase. The dispersion of the invention can be used as a combustion additive in liquid fuel or motor fuel.

Abstract: A method of collecting gold by flowing water over a gold collecting medium located in a sluice to induce a positive surface charge on the gold collecting medium. Feeding gold laden material into the sluice with the flowing water to induce a negative surface charge on gold particles of the gold laden material and create a slurry. Setting the flow rate of the slurry into the sluice such that the gold particles are attracted to the gold collecting medium. Finally, collecting the gold particles attracted to the gold collecting medium from the gold collecting medium. A gold separation device having a sluice having an input end and an output end; a water input directed into the input end of the sluice; and a gold collecting medium in the sluice. The gold collecting medium being of a material which incurs a positive surface charge when immersed in water.

Abstract: For the preparation of pulverulent particle-reduced formulations with the aid of compressed gases, the solid compound to be formulated, a poorly soluble and usually bioactive active compound, is homogeneously ground together with 10-99% by weight (based on the formulation) of a carrier material which is essentially soluble in the compressed gas mixture, in the presence of compressed gas or mixtures thereof in a stirred autoclave having a mechanical grinding device at process temperatures between 10 and 200° C. and at process pressures between 5 and 500 bar, and in a second process stage the compressed gas mixture, usually dimethyl ether, pure propane and/or carbon dioxide, is expanded by lowering the pressure and separated off from the homogenate, which can also be present as a melt.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nanocrystallite from a M-containing salt forms a nanocrystallite. The nanocrystallite can be a member of a population of nanocrystallites having a narrow size distribution and can include one or more semiconductor materials. Semiconducting nanocrystallites can photoluminesce and can have high emission quantum efficiencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous dispersions of sparingly water-soluble or water-insoluble organic UV filter substances, which comprise at least one sparingly water-soluble or water-insoluble organic UV filter substance as colloidally disperse phase in amorphous or partially amorphous form.

Abstract: A method of forming nanoparticles includes steps of forming a metal precursor solution from a transition metal, injecting the metal precursor solution to the surfactant solution, adding a flocculent to cause nanoparticles to precipitate out of solution without permanent agglomeration, and adding a hydrocarbon solvent to redisperse or repeptize the nanoparticles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wood-impregnating agent, which is an emulsion, dispersion or solution of a cationic, quaternary, amphoteric and/or special non-ionic surfactant, the surfactant or surfactants being poorly soluble in water and the dispersion or emulsion having a mean particle size diameter or a mean droplet size diameter smaller than 1 .mu.m. Preferable surfactants include cationic and/or quaternary surfactants or compounds from the group of imidazolines, benzyls, alkyls, dialkyls, monoalkyl-trimethyl, dialkyl-dimethyl, methyl-dialkoxy-alkyl, dialkylmethylbenzyl, diamidoamine and/or cationic and/or quaternary surfactants or compounds from the group of complex diquaternary compounds and/or the group of compounds which assume a cationic character in acid medium and/or non-ionic compounds from the group of fatty amine oxides, amine ethoxylate, and/or adducts of an ethylene oxide, which can be protonated on an heteroatom and/or amphoteric compounds from the group of betaines and/or ampholytes.

Abstract: Sticky high water content gelled fire extinguisher compositions hold the antage of providing a high water content, slightly viscous (sticky) gel with flow properties similar to water. The ability of this material to stick to burning surfaces is what sets it apart from water extinguishers. Not only are fires extinguished, but also surfaces are cooled by the sticky gel as the water evaporates. The basic gelled fire extinguisher composition is comprised of about 88 weight percent water and about 12 weight percent of a 7 nanometer particle size silicon dioxide gellant. The silicon dioxide gellant is available as EH5 tradename by Cabot for this silicon dioxide gellant. Other ingredients such as dispersants, wetting agents and flame retardants can be used as additives in combination with the gelling agent. The actual gel system is inexpensive, made from readily available ingredients and easily prepared.

Abstract: The present invention provides production methods for aqueous dispersion slurry of inorganic particles which are so stable as not to increase in viscosity, gel or sediment even if stored for a long time and whose average particle diameter is 0.01 to 2 .mu.m. As such production method, 2 production methods are available:A production method (A) having a preliminary dispersion process in which the inorganic particles are added to ad dispersed in an aqueous medium and a main dispersion process in which dispersed slurry out of the preliminary dispersion process are collided with each other under a pressure of 100 to 3,000 kg/cm.sup.2 ; andA production method (B) in which the inorganic particles are added to an aqueous medium within a kneading tank of a kneader in which mixing blades rotate around respective subsidiary spindles and the subsidiary spindles revolves around a spindle and dispersed at a solid concentration of 30 to 70 wt %.