Transparent and insulating materials having evacuated capsules are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a method includes forming evacuated capsules within a solution, and dispersing and suspending the evacuated capsules within the solution such that a packing density of the evacuated capsules within the solution is greater than 30%, and a visible light transmission of the solution including the evacuated capsules is greater than 75%. According to another aspect of the invention, a layer includes a plurality of evacuated capsules distributed within a dried sol-gel. A thermal conductivity of the layer is between 0.02 W/m-K and 0.001 W/m-K, and the layer has a visible light transmission of greater than 30%.

A method for establishing a runway safety area adjacent a runway, wherein the runway safety area is a cement matrix having a plurality of foamed glass aggregate bodies suspended therein, including mixing cement and foamed glass aggregate bodies to define a composite material, forming the composite material into a runway safety area defining a plurality of foamed glass aggregate bodies suspended in a cement matrix, taxiing an aircraft over the runway safety area and crushing at least a portion of the runway safety area with the aircraft to bleed off the aircraft's kinetic energy, wherein the runway safety area has a crushing failure mode.

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional product having uniform mechanical properties using an SLS 3D printer including the steps of: preparing a mixed powder material by mixing resin powder and glass bubbles, wherein the specific gravity of the glass bubbles is from about 0.8 to about 1.2 times that of the resin powder; supplying the mixed powder material to the 3D printer using a roller; and selectively sintering the mixed powder material by irradiating the powder material using a laser based on 3D data of the product to be manufactured.

An article having a nanostructured surface and a method of making the same are described. The article can include a substrate and a nanostructured layer bonded to the substrate. The nanostructured layer can include a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features comprising a contiguous, protrusive material and the nanostructured features can be sufficiently small that the nanostructured layer is optically transparent. A surface of the nanostructured features can be coated with a continuous hydrophobic coating. The method can include providing a substrate; depositing a film on the substrate; decomposing the film to form a decomposed film; and etching the decomposed film to form the nanostructured layer.

Glass flakes of the present invention include glass flake substrates and a coating covering at least a portion of the surface of each of the glass flake substrates and composed of a binder. The binder includes a silane coupling agent, an epoxy resin, and a carbodiimide compound as essential components and includes, as an optional component, a crosslinking agent other than a carbodiimide compound. The total amount of the carbodiimide compound and the crosslinking agent is 20 mass % or less with respect to the total mass of the binder.

Glass flakes of the present invention include glass flake substrates and a coating covering at least a portion of the surface of each of the glass flake substrates and composed of a binder. The binder includes a silane coupling agent, an epoxy resin, and a carbodiimide compound as essential components and includes, as an optional component, a crosslinking agent other than a carbodiimide compound. The total amount of the carbodiimide compound and the crosslinking agent is 20 mass % or less with respect to the total mass of the binder.

A hollow spherical glass particle, comprising aluminum oxide Al.sub.2O.sub.3, silicon dioxide SiO.sub.2 and at least one metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal oxides and alkaline earth metal oxides, wherein the ratio of aluminum atoms to alkali metal atoms is about 1:1 and the ratio of aluminum atoms to earth alkali atoms is about 2:1, with the proviso that the hollow spherical glass particle is free of boron.

A passive fire suppression system including at least one tapered cellular glass block and having a cap with a tapered shape disposed on the top of the at least one cellular glass block. The passive fire suppression system allows drainage from the upper surface to the bottom of the system. The drainage is beneficial for both environmental conditions such as rain as well as for incidents where combustible liquids are spilled on the top surface of the system. Therefore, the system will not only shield any combustible materials that are under the system but will also quickly drain any combustible liquids that may spill onto the top of the system to the lower surface.

A passive fire suppression system including at least one tapered cellular glass block and having a cap with a tapered shape disposed on the top of the at least one cellular glass block. The passive fire suppression system allows drainage from the upper surface to the bottom of the system. The drainage is beneficial for both environmental conditions such as rain as well as for incidents where combustible liquids are spilled on the top surface of the system. Therefore, the system will not only shield any combustible materials that are under the system but will also quickly drain any combustible liquids that may spill onto the top of the system to the lower surface.

An aluminoborate composition, an alumino-borosilicate glass composition, or a mixture thereof, and solid or hollow microspheres thereof, as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the disclosed compositions, for example, forming microspheres for use in bioactive applications, and composition extracts for use in treating or healing wounds.