Described herein is a conductive composition that includes a silver powder, an organic medium, an optional inorganic additive, elemental thallium and/or a thallium containing compound, elemental tellurium and/or a tellurium containing compound, and optionally, a glass frit. The composition may be a paste. Other inorganic additives and glass may be present in the composition. Further described are devices such as semiconductors, photovoltaic devices, and solar cells in which the substrates thereof are coated with the conductive compositions. Such devices exhibit improved efficiency.

An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition contains one or more antimicrobial agents disposed therein. Methods for making and using the glazing composition are disclosed, as well as substrates having a fired antimicrobial glaze thereon. The antimicrobial agents comprise metallic oxides, with a subset of the disclosed combinations exhibiting synergistic effect in fired glazes.

An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition contains one or more antimicrobial agents disposed therein. Methods for making and using the glazing composition are disclosed, as well as substrates having a fired antimicrobial glaze thereon. The antimicrobial agents comprise metallic oxides, with a subset of the disclosed combinations exhibiting synergistic effect in fired glazes.

An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition contains one or more antimicrobial agents disposed therein. Methods for making and using the glazing composition are disclosed, as well as substrates having a fired antimicrobial glaze thereon. The antimicrobial agents comprise metallic oxides, with a subset of the disclosed combinations exhibiting synergistic effect in fired glazes.

A glazing comprises a glass substrate having an enamel layer adhered to at least a first surface portion, the enamel comprising 20 to 80 wt % frit and 10 to 50 wt % inorganic pigment. The thickness of the enamel layer is 2 ?m to 50 ?m, and the inorganic pigment has an infra-red reflectance such that the infra-red reflectance of the first portion of the glass substrate surface is 37% or higher over a region in the wavelength range 800 nm to 2250 nm. The glazing may be laminated, and may be a vehicle windscreen. A process for producing the glazing involves applying ink to a glass substrate, curing the ink thereby producing an enamel adhered to the glass substrate, and shaping the glass substrate by heating to a temperature above 570? C. The preferred inorganic pigments are of the Fe and/or Cr type in spinel, haematite or corundum crystal form.

Disclosed herein are floor tiles comprising, for instance, a substrate and a surface coating, wherein the surface coating comprises (i) a base formula comprising a glaze and (ii) particles comprising alumina trihydrate.

A method for forming an oxidation protection system on a carbon-carbon composite structure can comprise applying a boron slurry to the carbon-carbon composite structure, wherein the boron slurry comprises a boron compound, a first glass mixture, a first glass former, a first glass modifier, and a first carrier fluid, the first glass mixture including a first glass compound and a second glass compound, the first glass compound having a first viscosity-temperature profile that is at least one order of magnitude below a second viscosity-temperature profile of the second glass compound; applying a silicon slurry to the carbon-carbon composite structure, wherein the silicon slurry comprises a silicon compound, a third glass compound, a second glass former, a second glass modifier, and a second carrier fluid; and heating the carbon-carbon composite structure.

A glass flux material for applying an opaque coating is provided. The glass flux material includes at least one pigment and a glass component with the following composition: SiO.sub.2 55-70 mol %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 2.5-8 mol %, Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 0.5-<4 mol %, B.sub.2O.sub.3 14-27 mol %, with at least 2.5 mol % of at least one oxide of the group Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, and K.sub.2O, wherein the ratio of alkali oxides to aluminum oxide ?R.sub.2O/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 is less than 6.

A nozzle assembly, for a metal casting apparatus selected from a sliding gate and a tube exchange device, comprises a first refractory element comprising a first coupling surface which includes a first bore aperture, and a second refractory element comprising a second coupling surface, which includes a second bore aperture, the first and second elements being coupled to one another in a sliding translation relationship through their respective first and second coupling surfaces such that the first and second bore apertures can be brought into and out of registry to define, when in registry, a continuous bore for discharging molten metal from a molten metal inlet to a molten metal outlet of said nozzle assembly. A sealing member is provided between the first and second coupling surfaces of the first and second elements. The sealing member comprises a thermally intumescent material.

Disclosed herein are tiles, coatings, and related methods that provide both high cleanability and high slip resistance. The coating can be a surface coating with a unique chemical make-up. The surface coating can also have particles suspended within it. During a firing process, the coating and particles can settle in such a manner that the surface structure of the coating, and thus the surface structure of the tile, is both easy to clean and slip-resistant.