A microwavable thermodynamic element that can be used to reduce the cooling rate of an object that has been previously heated to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature of the object or for use in the reduction of the cooling rate of a heated liquid by immersion of the thermodynamic element into the liquid.

A microwavable thermodynamic element that can be used to reduce the cooling rate of an object that has been previously heated to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature of the object or for use in the reduction of the cooling rate of a heated liquid by immersion of the thermodynamic element into the liquid.

A microwavable thermodynamic element that can be used to reduce the cooling rate of an object that has been previously heated to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature of the object or for use in the reduction of the cooling rate of a heated liquid by immersion of the thermodynamic element into the liquid.

The present invention concerns a method for modifying the properties of the surface (F) of a material. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a first layer (12; 12) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of a cathode, a second layer (14) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of an anode and an intermediate layer (16) suited to become impregnated with an electrolyte in the liquid phase or to regulate its flow between said cathode and said anode; associating an electrolyte in the liquid phase with one or more of said layers (12, 14, 16); positioning the anode or the cathode on the surface (F) to be treated; supplying power to the cathode and the anode in order to activate the electrochemical process of the electrolyte in the liquid phase for a predetermined time interval.

The present invention concerns a method for modifying the properties of the surface (F) of a material. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a first layer (12; 12) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of a cathode, a second layer (14) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of an anode and an intermediate layer (16) suited to become impregnated with an electrolyte in the liquid phase or to regulate its flow between said cathode and said anode; associating an electrolyte in the liquid phase with one or more of said layers (12, 14, 16); positioning the anode or the cathode on the surface (F) to be treated; supplying power to the cathode and the anode in order to activate the electrochemical process of the electrolyte in the liquid phase for a predetermined time interval.

Disclosed herein are floor tiles comprising, for instance, a substrate and a surface coating provided on an upper surface of the substrate, wherein the surface coating comprises (i) a base formula comprising a glaze and (ii) solid particles comprising tabular alumina.

Disclosed herein are floor tiles comprising, for instance, a substrate and a surface coating provided on an upper surface of the substrate, wherein the surface coating comprises (i) a base formula comprising a glaze and (ii) solid particles comprising tabular alumina.

A preparation method includes the following steps: Step (1): pressing and then drying body powder to form a green brick; Step (2): applying a ground coat on the surface of the green brick; Step (3): inkjet-printing a pattern on the surface of the green brick having the ground coat, and applying an isolation glaze; Step (4): applying a fully polished glaze on the surface of the green brick having the isolation glaze; and Step (5): drying, firing, and polishing the green brick having the fully polished glaze to obtain a hard wear-resistant polished glazed ceramic tile. The phase composition of the fired fully polished glaze is as follows: 10 to 20 percent by weight of corundum, 20 to 30 percent by weight of hyalophane, 0.5 to 1.0 percent by weight of hematite, and 50 to 68 percent by weight of amorphous phase.

A preparation method includes the following steps: Step (1): pressing and then drying body powder to form a green brick; Step (2): applying a ground coat on the surface of the green brick; Step (3): inkjet-printing a pattern on the surface of the green brick having the ground coat, and applying an isolation glaze; Step (4): applying a fully polished glaze on the surface of the green brick having the isolation glaze; and Step (5): drying, firing, and polishing the green brick having the fully polished glaze to obtain a hard wear-resistant polished glazed ceramic tile. The phase composition of the fired fully polished glaze is as follows: 10 to 20 percent by weight of corundum, 20 to 30 percent by weight of hyalophane, 0.5 to 1.0 percent by weight of hematite, and 50 to 68 percent by weight of amorphous phase.

Disclosed is a sanitary ware having not only a practical antivirus property but also a property which allows a pollution to be difficultly attached to, and to be easily removed from the sanitary ware. A sanitary ware comprising a pottery substrate and a glaze layer formed on a surface of the pottery substrate, wherein the glaze layer contains a metal element as an antivirus agent, and the metal element is present in a state of a spinodal phase separation in at least a surface region of the glaze layer, has a practical antivirus property as well as a property which allows a pollution to be difficultly attached to, and to be easily removed from, the sanitary ware.