An oxide superconducting wire includes an oriented metal substrate, an intermediate layer formed on the oriented metal substrate, and an oxide superconducting layer formed on the intermediate layer. The oriented metal substrate has an in-plane orientation of 7 or less. The intermediate layer is formed of a single layer.

A process for producing a process for producing a LnM.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.x high-temperature superconductive powder, the process comprising: i) providing an aqueous solution of Ln, M and Cu and at least one mineral acid; ii) adding at least one sequestrating agent and, optionally, at least one dispersant to the solution to form a precipitate; iii) recovering the precipitate from the solution; and iv) heating the precipitate in a flow of oxygen to form the LnM.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.x powder, wherein Ln is a rare earth element, preferably Y, Ce, Dy, Er, Gd, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, Sc, Yb, or a mixture of two or more thereof, and wherein M is selected from Ca, Sr, and Ba.

An oxide superconducting bulk magnet able to prevent breakage of a superconducting bulk member and able to give a sufficient amount of total magnetic flux at a superconducting bulk member surface even under high magnetic field strength conditions, comprising an oxide superconducting bulk laminate formed from sheet-shaped oxide superconducting bulk members and high strength reinforcing members arranged between the stacked oxide superconducting bulk members, the outer circumference of the oxide superconducting bulk laminate being provided with an outer circumference reinforcing member.

An oxide superconducting bulk magnet able to prevent breakage of a superconducting bulk member and able to give a sufficient amount of total magnetic flux at a superconducting bulk member surface even under high magnetic field strength conditions, comprising an oxide superconducting bulk laminate formed from sheet-shaped oxide superconducting bulk members and high strength reinforcing members arranged between the stacked oxide superconducting bulk members, the outer circumference of the oxide superconducting bulk laminate being provided with an outer circumference reinforcing member.

Sintering is an important issue in creating crystalline metal oxides with high porosity and surface area, especially in the case of high-temperature materials such as metal aluminates. Herein we report a rationally designed synthesis of metal aluminates that diminishes the surface area loss due to sintering. Metal aluminate (e.g. MeAl.sub.2O.sub.4or MeAlO.sub.3Me=Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, La, or Ce; or mixture thereof) supported on -Al.sub.2O.sub.3 with ultralarge mesopores (up to 30 nm) was synthesized through microwave-assisted peptization of boehmite nanoparticles and their self-assembly in the presence of a triblock copolymer (Pluronic P123) and metal nitrates, followed by co-condensation and thermal treatment. The resulting materials showed the surface area up to about 410 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.1, porosity up to about 2.5 cm.sup.3.Math.g.sup.1, and very good thermal stability. The observed enhancement in their thermomechanical resistance is associated with the faster formation of the metal aluminate phases. The nanometer scale path diffusion and highly defective interface of -alumina facilitate the counter diffusion of Me.sup.X+ and Al.sup.3+ species and further formation of the metal aluminate phase.

A method of manufacturing core-shell particles comprises: filling a buffer into a rotor, which is extended in a longitudinal direction, and is accommodated so as to be spaced apart from an inner wall side of a non-rotational hollow cylinder extended in a longitudinal direction and then discharging air to outside; rotating the rotor after terminating the filling; forming a core-shell precursor by supplying raw materials from a first storage and a second storage, which comprise a material forming a core, into an interior of the cylinder in which the rotor rotates; supplying a shell material for coating the core to the interior of the cylinder in which a core-type precursor is formed; separating a liquid comprising core-shell particles formed through the supplying into a solid and a liquid; and drying the core-shell particles obtained through the separating.

An electrophoretic medium that may be incorporated into an electrophoretic display includes a dispersion that may be contained in a plurality of microcapsules or microcells or a polymeric continuous phase. The dispersion may include a non-polar fluid, a plurality of first charged particles; and an inhibitor of photo-thermally induced polymerization that inhibits potential cross-linking between the particles and/or the microcells or polymeric continuous phase. The inhibitor may be a compound having an unsaturated hydrocarbon ring and at least one of a hydroxyl group, a carbonyl group, and a nitroso group. The plurality of microcells or polymeric continuous phase and a coating of the particles may include a polymeric material that includes (meth)acrylates.

An electrophoretic medium that may be incorporated into an electrophoretic display includes a dispersion that may be contained in a plurality of microcapsules or microcells or a polymeric continuous phase. The dispersion may include a non-polar fluid, a plurality of first charged particles; and an inhibitor of photo-thermally induced polymerization that inhibits potential cross-linking between the particles and/or the microcells or polymeric continuous phase. The inhibitor may be a compound having an unsaturated hydrocarbon ring and at least one of a hydroxyl group, a carbonyl group, and a nitroso group. The plurality of microcells or polymeric continuous phase and a coating of the particles may include a polymeric material that includes (meth)acrylates.

A copper microparticle with antibacterial and/or biocidal activity, wherein each microparticle has a regular, crystalline and microstructured composition that comprises 5 different copper compounds: Antlerite Cu.sub.3.sup.+2 (SO.sub.4) (OH).sub.4, Brochantite Cu.sub.4.sup.+2SO.sub.4 (OH).sub.6, Chalcantite Cu.sup.+2SO.sub.4.5H.sub.2O, Natrochalcite NaCu.sub.2.sup.+2 (SO.sub.4).sub.2OH.H.sub.2O and Hydrated copper sulfate hydroxide Cu.sub.3 (SO.sub.4).sub.2 (OH).sub.2.4H.sub.2O/2CuSO.sub.4.Cu (OH).sub.2, with the microparticle having a size of between 5 and 50 m. A process for preparing copper microparticles with antibacterial and/or biocidal activity. A concentrated polymeric composition (masterbatch) with antibacterial and/or biocidal activity that is incorporated during the extrusion process to molten polymers for forming rigid or flexible products such as fibers, filaments, and sheets. A use of a copper microparticle with antibacterial and/or biocidal activity. A use of a concentrated polymeric composition (masterbatch) with antibacterial and/or biocidal activity.

This application pertains to methods of recovering metals from metal sulfides that involve contacting the metal sulfide with an acidic sulfate solution containing ferric sulfate and a reagent that has a thiocarbonyl functional group, wherein the concentration of reagent in the acidic sulfate solution is sufficient to increase the rate of metal ion extraction relative to an acidic sulfate solution that does not contain the reagent, to produce a pregnant solution containing the metal ions.