The invention relates to a method for producing functionalised bimodal periodic mesoporous organosilicates (PMOs) by means of pseudomorphic transformation, to functionalised bimodal periodic mesoporous organosilicates (PMOs) that comprise at least one organosilicate and at least one functional component, and to the use of the PMO as a filter material, adsorption means, sensor material or carrier material for pharmaceutical products, insecticides or pesticides.

A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.

A composite particle includes a discrete, hollow, ceramic spheroid and a fluoropolymer layer disposed thereon. The fluoropolymer is a homopolymer or copolymer of a perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether; a perfluoroalkoxy vinyl ether; at least one fluoroolefin independently represented by formula C(R).sub.2═CF—Rf, wherein Rf is fluorine or a perfluoroalkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and R is hydrogen, fluorine, or chlorine; or a combination thereof. Methods of making the composite particles, composite materials, and articles including them are also disclosed.

A nanocomposite solid material includes nanoparticles of a metal coordination polymer with CN ligands comprising M.sup.n+ cations, in which M is a transition metal and n is 2 or 3; and anions [M′(CN).sub.m].sup.x− in which M′ is a transition metal, x is 3 or 4, and m is 6 or 8. The M.sup.n+ cations of the coordination polymer are bound through an organometallic bond to an organic group of an organic graft chemically attached inside the pores of a support made of porous glass. The material can be used in a method for fixing (binding) a mineral pollutant, such as radioactive cesium, contained in a solution by bringing the solution in contact with the nanocomposite solid material.

A coated insulation material comprising an insulation material substrate and a coating on at least part of a surface of the insulation material substrate and wherein the coating comprises 20 to 65 wt % alkali silicate based on the total weight of the cured coating and the alkali silicate comprises potassium silicate. Also described is an aqueous coating composition useful in providing the insulation material coating, a potassium silicate coating, methods of producing the coated insulation material and potassium silicate coating and kit of parts including an insulation material substrate and either the aqueous coating composition or the potassium silicate coating.

A coated insulation material comprising an insulation material substrate and a coating on at least part of a surface of the insulation material substrate and wherein the coating comprises 20 to 65 wt % alkali silicate based on the total weight of the cured coating and the alkali silicate comprises potassium silicate. Also described is an aqueous coating composition useful in providing the insulation material coating, a potassium silicate coating, methods of producing the coated insulation material and potassium silicate coating and kit of parts including an insulation material substrate and either the aqueous coating composition or the potassium silicate coating.

A spinal interbody device fabricated of fully resorbable bioactive glass materials is used to maintain the intervertebral spacing in a fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The spinal interbody device can include regions of porous material having various levels of bioactivity so that fusion through ingrowth of bone tissue can be provided while regions of the spinal interbody device can continue to maintain the intervertebral space.

A spinal interbody device fabricated of fully resorbable bioactive glass materials is used to maintain the intervertebral spacing in a fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The spinal interbody device can include regions of porous material having various levels of bioactivity so that fusion through ingrowth of bone tissue can be provided while regions of the spinal interbody device can continue to maintain the intervertebral space.

A method of manufacture of a powder comprising, or consisting essentially of, microspheres, the method comprising: providing a feed powder; and applying at least one spheroidisation flame to the powder. The powder may be suitable for use in medical and/or non-medical applications.

The disclosure provides a method of producing a mesoporous phosphate-based glass. The method comprises (a) contacting a phosphate with an alcohol and/or a glycol ether to create a reaction mixture; (b) contacting the reaction mixture with alkali metal cations and/or alkaline earth metal cations; (c) contacting the alcohol, the glycol ether or the reaction mixture with a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is configured to provide channel-like pores in the resultant mesoporous phosphate-based glass; (d) allowing the reaction mixture to gel; and (e) calcinating the gel to obtain the mesoporous phosphate-based glass.