Abstract: A glass microsphere, comprising: a main body, wherein the main body is solid while including a network of inter-connected pores produced from a phase separation process and thermal and chemical leaching operations, with porosity extending throughout a cross-section of the solid glass microsphere.

Abstract: A method for the production of an optical glass element, with the following process sequence: a) applying a liquid embossing material on an embossing die, b) embossing the embossing material at a temperature of less than 500° C., c) hardening the embossing material, d) sintering the embossing material and thus executing the primary forming of the optical glass element. In addition, an optical glass element that is produced with the method, a device for implementing the method, and a use of this device are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a porous glass includes: forming a phase-separated glass by heating at a temperature in a range of 300 to 500 degrees Celsius for 3 to 50 hours for phase separation of a glass body in which the concentration of SiO2 is 50 to 70 percent by weight, the concentration of B2O3 is 15 to 40 percent by weight, the concentration of Li2O is 1.0 to 8.0 percent by weight, the concentration of Na2O is 2.0 to 8.0 percent by weight, the concentration of K2O is 0.3 to 5.0 percent by weight, the total concentration of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O is 3.5 to 15 percent by weight, and the ratio of the concentration of K2O to the total concentration of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O is 0.10 to 0.30; and forming a porous glass by etching the phase-separated glass.

Abstract: An insulating glass-ceramic substrate for synthesizing graphene includes discrete, crystalline, nanophase metallic regions capable of catalyzing graphene growth. The nanophase regions may be formed by thermal treatment of a glass-ceramic substrate containing the corresponding metal oxide. Single layer and double layer graphene are prepared on the modified glass-ceramic substrate in a vacuum chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process from hydrocarbon precursors. The graphene-coated glass-ceramic substrate is electrically conductive.

Abstract: A method of producing hollow glass microspheres comprising melting a batch into a first glass melt, processing the first glass melt into a second glass comprising adding at least one component selected from a group consisting of a liquid, a solid, a gas, an aerosol and a combination thereof to the first glass melt to create a plurality of chemical species in the second glass, pulverizing the second glass into a plurality of glass fragments, and thermally processing the plurality of glass fragments, wherein the thermally processing comprises heating the plurality of glass fragments, reacting the plurality of chemical species in the second glass, and expanding the glass fragments to produce the hollow glass microspheres.

Abstract: Elastic and ultra-lightweight hollow carbon fine particles and a method for producing such hollow carbon fine particles are to be provided. In the method, fine droplets are formed from a mixed solution containing a water soluble organic substance and lithium carbonate; composite fine particles of the water soluble organic substance and the lithium carbonate are prepared by drying the fine droplets formed from the mixed solution; and the composite fine particles are decomposed at a temperature in a range of 500° C. to 900° C.

Abstract: The production of quartz glass granules comprises the granulation of pyrogenically produced silicic acid and the formation of a SiO2 granulate (9), the drying and cleaning of the SiO2 granulate (9) by heating in an atmosphere containing halogen, and the vitrification of the SiO2 granulate (9) under a treatment gas which contains at least 30% by volume of helium and/or hydrogen. This process is time-consuming and expensive.

Abstract: In a known method for producing a mold body from synthetic quartz glass, quartz glass granules (15) are heated in an electrically heated melt container (31) to form a softened quartz glass mass (57), and the softened quartz glass mass (57) is formed to the mold body. In order to achieve an advantageous melting behavior also in continuous melting processes, it is proposed according to the invention that synthetically produced quartz glass granules (15) of granular particles are used in which helium is enclosed, wherein said quartz glass granules (15) are produced by granulating pyrogenically produced silicic acid with the formation of a SiO2 granulate (9) and subsequent vitrification of the SiO2 granulate in a rotary kiln (1), which has a rotary tube (6) which is at least partially made of a ceramic material, and under a treatment gas that contains at least 30% by volume of helium.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plurality of glass microspheres comprises: melting a batch into a first glass melt in a melter system, processing the first glass melt into a second glass, pulverizing the second glass into a plurality of glass fragments, thermally processing the plurality of glass fragments into a plurality of glass microspheres, providing at least one of a plurality of redox reactions and a plurality of events in at least one of the first glass melt and a melt of the second glass, and the plurality of redox reactions and the plurality of events are induced by a plurality of redox active group (RAG) components.

Abstract: A foaming process for preparing wafer-level glass micro-cavities that include, etching silicon trenches on a Si wafer through Si micro-machining process; placing high-temperature outgassing agent in the silicon trenches; bonding the Si wafer with a piece of glass wafer by anodic bonding to form sealing cavities; heating up the bonded wafer, and holding the temperature the high-temperature outgassing agent such that the molten glass corresponding to the sealing cavities deforms and structures corresponding to the silicon trenches are formed in the glass; cooling down to obtain wafer-level glass micro-flow channels.

Abstract: A process for making inorganic, metal oxide spheres that includes exposing solidified, molded microparticles that include a glass precursor composition to a temperature sufficient to transform the molded microparticles into molten glass and cooling the molten glass to form inorganic, metal oxide spheres.

Abstract: There is provided hollow microspheres comprising: at least 45 wt % of recycled glass based on the total weight of a feed composition from which the hollow microspheres are derived, wherein the hollow microspheres have a density of less than 1.25 g/cm3, strength at 20% volume reduction greater than 20 MPa and have a substantially single cell structure. There is also provided hollow microspheres comprising: a blend of recycled glass and glass feed, wherein the hollow microspheres have a density of less than 1.25 g/cm3 and are made from a feed composition that is essentially free of an added effective blowing agent. There is provided a method for making hollow microspheres.

Abstract: There is provided a method for making hollow microspheres by means of dispensing the feed using vibratory energy, preferably ultrasonic energy, hollow microspheres made using the method, and an apparatus for making hollow microspheres.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for enhancing the formation of a uniform population of hollow glass microspheres. A burner head is used which directs incoming glass particles away from the cooler perimeter of the flame cone of the gas burner and distributes the glass particles in a uniform manner throughout the more evenly heated portions of the flame zone. As a result, as the glass particles are softened and expand by a released nucleating gas so as to form a hollow glass microsphere, the resulting hollow glass microspheres have a more uniform size and property distribution as a result of experiencing a more homogenous heat treatment process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the manufacture of glass-crystalline particles comprising a glass component and a crystalline component comprising the steps of: a) providing a precursor solution comprising a solvent, a glass component composition, and a crystalline component composition; b) forming an aerosol comprising finely divided droplets of the precursor solution, wherein the droplet concentration which is below the concentration where collisions and subsequent coalescence of the droplets results in a 10% reduction in droplet concentration; c) heating the aerosol wherein, upon heating, glass-crystalline particles are formed, wherein the glass-crystalline particles comprise a glass component and a crystalline component, and wherein the crystalline component comprises one or more metal oxides; and d) isolating the glass-crystalline particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spherical beads comprising at least one metal and/or semimetal oxide, having a mean diameter in the range from 10 to 120 ?m, a BET surface area in the range from 400 to 800 m2/g and a pore volume in the range from 0.3 to 3.0 cm3/g, wherein the diameter of a given bead at any one point of said bead deviates by less than 10% from the average diameter of said bead and the surface of said bead is substantially smooth, and also to a process for producing these spherical beads, to a particulate catalyst comprising the spherical beads and to the use of the spherical beads as catalysts or catalyst carriers.

Abstract: A lightweight composite having an activated surface contains a lightweight hollow core particle having cement grains which may be adhered to the hollow core or embedded in the surface of the hollow core. The hollow core particle may be prepared from calcium carbonate and a mixture of clay, such as bentonite, and a glassy inorganic material, such as glass spheres, glass beads, glass bubbles, borosilicate glass and fiberglass.

Abstract: There is provided a method for making hollow microspheres including heating a feed under conditions sufficient to convert at least a portion of the feed into hollow microspheres, where the heating is conducted under a vacuum. There is also provided hollow microspheres made using this method.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of a particulate polymer material as a support for an active agent, characterised in that said polymer material is a polymer produced by copolymerising an unsaturated heterocyclic monomer and squaric or croconic acid or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A preparation method of low cost hydrophobic hollow glass micro bead by means of spray drying includes the steps of adding an atomized mixed solution of boric acid, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide into a high-speed stirred water glass solution, spray drying the solution, and then treating the surface of the micro bead with an organic silicon water repellent.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method for producing high silicate glass which has a low Fe concentration and can achieve a high UV transmittance while retaining advantages of Vycor glass that mass-production at low cost is feasible and that complex formation with various photofunctional ions can be effected; and high silicate glass of a high UV transmittance. For obtaining the above high silicate glass, the method is characterized by comprising the steps of: heating borosilicate glass including a heavy metal or rare-earth element (preferably a high-valence heavy metal or rare-earth element) so as to phase-separate the borosilicate glass; subjecting the phase-separated borosilicate glass to acid treatment so as to elute a metal; and sintering the acid-treated borosilicate glass.

Abstract: The invention concerns silica microspheres (M) having an outer diameter between 50 and 125 ?m, preferably between 60 and 90 ?m, a wall thickness not less than 1 ?m, preferably between 1 and 3 ?m and a density between 0.3 and 0.7/cm3, a manufacturing method by injecting silica microsphere precursors (MS, PR1, PR1?, PR2?) into an inductive plasma (P), assembly methods and possible uses of silica microspheres.

Abstract: Hollow glass microspheres are made using selenium oxide as the blowing agent. The use of selenium oxide provides two unique advantages: lower density and smaller hollow microspheres are obtained because loss of selenium oxide gas out of the liquid glass bubble during formation is slow, and the hollow microspheres will contain a vacuum due to the condensation of selenium oxide gas blowing agent upon cooling of the spheres below 315 deg. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing ceramic microspheres from industrial slag. The microspheres have a particle size of about 38 microns to about 150 microns. The microspheres are used to create a cement slurry having a density of at least about 11 lbs/g. The resultant cement slurry may then be used to treat subterranean wells.

Abstract: A synthetic microsphere having a low alkali metal oxide content and methods of forming the microsphere and its components are provided. The synthetic microsphere is substantially chemically inert and thus a suitable replacement for natural cenospheres, particularly in caustic environments such as cementitious mixtures. The synthetic microsphere can be made from an agglomerate precursor that includes an aluminosilicate material, such as fly ash, a blowing agent such as sugar, carbon black, and silicon carbide, and a binding agent. The synthetic microsphere is produced when the precursor is fired at a pre-determined temperature profile so as to form either solid or hollow synthetic microspheres depending on the processing conditions and/or components used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a porous glass and glass powder using a partial Vycor process on an alkali metal borosilicate glass material. The process is characterized in that an addition of metal oxides and/or rare earth metal oxides in variable proportions of from 0.05 to 15 percent by mass is carried out on the alkali metal borosilicate glass material during the course of the Vycor process, with a doping incorporation of the metal oxides and/or the rare earth metal oxides into the resulting SiO2 matrix with an increase in the optical index of refraction of the porous glass being brought about during the Vycor process, and an opposed jet milling process is employed in combination with a ceramic sifter wheel in a subsequent dry milling process, with classification of the porous glass particles produced which have a size range of less than 15 ?m being carried out.

Abstract: Inorganic hollow powder is provided having a high purity, an enhanced fineness and a high hollowness. Specifically, inorganic hollow powder is provided having an average particle diameter of 1 to 5 ?m, the maximum particle diameter of 20 ?m or less, a particle size distribution standard deviation of 3 ?m or less, and an average hollowness of 35 to 70 vol %. The inorganic hollow powder is obtained, for instance, by supplying, via an inorganic feed material powder supply pipe at a discharge rate of 80 m/s or more, inorganic raw material powder having a specific surface area of 500 m2/g or more and an average particle diameter of 7 ?m or less, into a flame formed by a burner comprising at least a triple pipe portion sequentially arranged with, in order from outside, a combustion supporting gas supply pipe, a combustible gas supply pipe and the inorganic feed material powder supply pipe.

Abstract: A porous wall hollow glass microsphere is provided having a diameter range of between 1 to 200 microns, a density of between 1.0 to 2.0 gm/cc, a porous-wall structure having wall openings defining an average pore size of between 10 to 1000 angstroms, and which contains therein a hydrogen storage material. The porous-wall structure may be modified by precise control of heat treatment temperatures of precursor hollow glass microspheres such that the pore diameter and percentage of pore formation may be regulated. The ability to control characteristics of porosity allow customization of specific applications for the PWHGM in a variety of biomedical, sensor, hydrogen storage, and other microencapsulation technologies.

Abstract: Apparatus to eject on demand discrete hollow microsphere droplets that are characterized by a highly regular and predictable spherical shape, devoid of tails or other irregularities common in the prior art with a selected pure gas contained in the center. With this method and apparatus, droplets may be formed of any suitable material including glass, ceramic, plastic, or metal. A variety of gases at various pressures including complete vacuums may be contained in the hollow microsphere. Microspheres filled with ionizable gas may be used as pixels in a plasma display panel. Microspheres used as a pixel elements may be referred to as Plasma-spheres. The inside of each Plasma-sphere may contain a luminescent material such as a phosphor and/or a secondary electron emission material such as magnesium oxide or a rare earth oxide introduced during the gas filling of the microsphere.

Abstract: Pellets encapsulating selenium or a compound of selenium comprise one hollow cavity filled with the selenium surrounded by a matrix which is able to form an eutectic with at least one of the constituents of a batch of molten raw materials for the manufacture of glass.

Abstract: The present invention provides fine silicon-containing glass beads each having one or more cavities therein and containing nanoparticles in a glass phase of each of the silicon-containing glass beads, and a method of producing such glass beads, and also provides silicon-containing glass beads containing nanoparticles, which may be identical to or different from the nanoparticles in the glass phase, and a functional material such as pharmaceutical molecules (e.g., materials having fluorescent properties, magnetic properties, drug effects, etc.), and a method of producing such glass beads. The present invention relates to silicon-containing glass beads each having one or more cavities therein and having an average particle diameter of 20 nm to 1 ?m, the silicon-containing glass beads containing nanoparticles A in the silicon-containing glass phase, and also containing a functional material in the cavity.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a night glow glass includes the steps of manufacturing a small glass frit, combining a luminescent material, manufacturing a large glass frit, shaping a night glow glass and annealing, such that the luminescent material is wrapped in a glass wall of the night glow glass to prevent a color fade of the luminescent material and extend the expiration date of the night glow glass. The night glow glass of the invention can be applied in a table lamp, a garden lamp and a glass lamp house for various different illumination devices, or a decoration having a night glow effect.

Abstract: A molding composition formulation includes a thermoset cross-linkable polymeric resin. Glass microspheroids are present such that upon cure of the resin the resulting article has a linear shrinkage of less than ±0.06% and a density of less than 1.65. An article formed from such a composition is further strengthened by the addition of a surface activating agent bonded to the surface of the glass microspheroids. Conventional particulate fillers when added to an inventive formulation provide enhanced performance when the filler particle has a size sufficiently small to insert within adjacent microspheroid interstitial voids. An unsaturated polyester resin so formed is particularly well suited for the formation of sheet molding compound formulations.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for enhancing the formation of a uniform population of hollow glass microspheres. A burner head is used which directs incoming glass particles away from the cooler perimeter of the flame cone of the gas burner and distributes the glass particles in a uniform manner throughout the more evenly heated portions of the flame zone. As a result, as the glass particles are softened and expand by a released nucleating gas so as to form a hollow glass microsphere, the resulting hollow glass microspheres have a more uniform size and property distribution as a result of experiencing a more homogenous heat treatment process.

Abstract: Hollow glass microspheres are made using selenium oxide as the blowing agent. The use of selenium oxide provides two unique advantages: lower density and smaller hollow microspheres are obtained because loss of selenium oxide gas out of the liquid glass bubble during formation is slow, and the hollow microspheres will contain a vacuum due to the condensation of selenium oxide gas blowing agent upon cooling of the spheres below 315 deg. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a low cost method of converting solid glass or ceramic microparticles into hollow microspheres by feeding them, along with pulverized coal, into coal-powered furnaces. Coal-powered furnaces generally produce microsized fused particles of the ash in the coal—called fly ash; and some of the fly ash particles may be hollow. By the present invention the yield of hollow microparticles is greatly increased by co-feeding, along with the pulverized coal, very small amounts of microparticles of inorganic materials known to have the ability to form hollow microspheres upon fusion.

Abstract: Pellets encapsulating selenium or a compound of selenium comprise one hollow cavity filled with the selenium surrounded by a matrix which is able to form an eutectic with at least one of the constituents of a batch of molten raw materials for the manufacture of glass.

Abstract: Ceramics comprising (i) at least one of Nb2O5 or Ta2O5 and (ii) at least two of (a) Al2O3, (b) REO, or (c) at least one of ZrO2 or HfO2. Embodiments of ceramics according to the present invention can be made, formed as, or converted into optical waveguides, glass beads, articles (e.g., plates), fibers, particles (e.g., abrasive particles), and thin coatings.

Abstract: A porous calcium phosphate ceramic comprising a support portion having pores, and ring-shaped portions formed in the pores, the ring-shaped portions having pluralities of fine pores so that they have a network structure. A method for producing a porous calcium phosphate ceramic comprising stirring a slurry containing coarse calcium phosphate particles, fine calcium phosphate particles, a nonionic surfactant and a water-soluble high-molecular compound to foam the slurry; gelling the foamed slurry; and then drying the resultant get to obtain a sintered porous calcium phosphate ceramic; the nonionic surfactant being malamide and/or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether.

Abstract: A method for constructing a mirror blank, including arranging hollow glass balls, on a front face sheet, and in close proximity to each other to permit fusing upon expansion; restricting the expansion of the hollow glass balls with a bounding structure during expansion of the hollow glass balls to force the hollow glass balls into a densely packed array of cells; applying heat to soften the hollow glass balls and increase the pressure within the hollow glass balls as the hollow glass balls fuse with each other during expansion, forming cells, wherein as a result of fusing, the hollow glass balls contact the front face sheet as a result of the increased pressure within the hollow glass balls; annealing and cooling the mirror blank to below annealing temperature associated with the hollow glass balls; and venting the cells.

Abstract: The oxides-enclosed fine glass particles are arranged such that two or more pieces of at least two kinds of enclosing particles, which comprise oxides, double oxides, or salts of oxyacids, or double oxides or double salts thereof, are enclosed in each of the fine glass particles. The fine particles can be easily manufactured by mixing a powder material of glass with a powder material of oxides which comprise oxides, double oxides, or salts of oxyacids, or double oxides or double salts thereof that are not made to glass; converting the thus obtained mixture of the materials into a mixture in a vapor-state by supplying the thermal plasma thereto; and quickly cooling the mixture in the vapor-state. Highly-scattered fine particles of oxides can be easily obtained from the fine particles, and thus a plurality of kinds of fine particles of oxides can be evenly and uniformly mixed in a small amount with a mother material without being unevenly scattered.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide hollow glass microspheres having particle properties of a low particle density and grain size properties of a sharp grain size distribution, having a high homogeneity and having such strength that they are less likely to fracture during processing. In the present invention, a glass material containing a foaming agent and containing B2O3 in an amount of from 9 to 20%, is subjected to wet grinding to obtain a slurry having an average particle size of at most 3 &mgr;m, droplets thereof are heated, to obtain hollow glass microspheres having an average particle size of at most 15 &mgr;m, a maximum particle size of at most 45 &mgr;m, a particle density of at most 0.5 g/cm3 and a grain size gradient of at most 2.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to microemulsion techniques for rapidly preparing photochromic glass nanoparticles and to the photochromic glass nanoparticles so prepared. More particularly, the method of the invention comprises the combination of two microemulsions, one containing a water-soluble silver salt and a glass precursor and the other containing a halide salt and an initiator for glass formation, which process rapidly yields silver halide particles. This invention gives nanometer-sized silver halide particles embedded in glass, thus providing photochromic glass nanoparticles without further annealing, or at most mild annealing. These nanoparticles are valuable as added components to any macro-material that one might wish to have photochromic properties. The particles would impart photochromism while not affecting the physical properties of the material.

Abstract: In a process for manufacture of dense, amorphous quartz glass granulate by production of a porous granulate from amorphous SiO2 powder and vitrification of the granulate, a porous SiO2 granulate is exposed to a fuel gas flame and is finely dispersed, heated and vitrified therein. The fuel gas flame is more flexible as concerns adjustment of the temperature than in known processes. It is in particular possible to set higher temperatures. The granulate can be exposed to very high sintering temperatures in the fuel gas flame without sintering into agglomerates. At the same time, heat resistance problems of sintering containers such as furnaces and melting pots are avoided. In addition, contamination of the SiO2 granulate by contact with the walls of sintering or vitrifying containers is eliminated. The process makes it possible to economically produce a highly pure and dense quartz glass granulate.