An apparatus, kit, and methods for forming a bead between bead-forming blocks having internal bead-forming channels are provided. The bead-forming channels of adjacent bead-forming blocks are slidably engaged to manipulate a measured amount of modeling compound between the bead-forming blocks and within an internal space between the opposing channels. In one embodiment, the bead-forming blocks maintain orientation with respect to an axis of travel based on a block guide. Further, the measured amount of modeling compound is determined using an integrated measuring feature coupled to at least one of the pair of bead-forming blocks. The internal volume of an integrated measuring feature corresponds to a threshold amount of modeling compound for manipulating between the pair of blocks and forming a bead while contacting at least a portion of the mated bead-forming channels. In further aspects, a molded bead may be coated with a multicomponent bead-coating mixture. Multi-component bead-coating mixtures and methods of using thereof are provided.

A metal oxide composition for use in ceramic bodies to form a ceramic whitener-opacifier composition is disclosed. The metal oxide composition includes one or more crystalline metal oxides or crystalline mixed metal oxides of Al, Ca, Mg, Si and Zr. The metal oxide composition includes at least (i) Al in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % measured as Al2O3, (ii) Ca in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % measured as CaO, (iii) Mg in an amount 5 of from about 0 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as MgO, (iv) Si in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as SiO2, and (v) Zr in an amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt % measured as ZrO.

A metal oxide composition for use in ceramic bodies to form a ceramic whitener-opacifier composition is disclosed. The metal oxide composition includes one or more crystalline metal oxides or crystalline mixed metal oxides of Al, Ca, Mg, Si and Zr. The metal oxide composition includes at least (i) Al in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % measured as Al2O3, (ii) Ca in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % measured as CaO, (iii) Mg in an amount 5 of from about 0 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as MgO, (iv) Si in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 25 wt % measured as SiO2, and (v) Zr in an amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt % measured as ZrO.

To provide a dental porcelain paste which can maintain maintaining the paste state and have excellent application property for a long period of time and hardly causes carbonization or bubbles due to the influence of an organic component or a polymer component during firing. The present invention provides a dental porcelain paste for preparing a dental prosthesis device, comprising: 50.0 to 80.0 wt. % of a glass powder (a) having a maximum particle diameter of 100 μm or less and an average particle diameter of 1 to 20 μm, 0.5 to 10.0 wt. % of a hydrophobized fine particle silica (b) having an average primary particle diameter of 1 to 50 nm, and 10.0 to 49.5 wt. % of an organic solvent (c) having a boiling point it is within (bp) of 100 to 300° C.

The invention provides a bright white refractory roofing granule, comprising a ceramic material formed from a substantially homogenous mixture of a ceramic-forming clay, sintering material, and optionally comprising silica particles, and other potential additives, said bright white refractory roofing granule having a total solar reflectance of at least 0.80 and a Hunter Color Lvalue of at least 85.0, together with processes for making and using the same.

The invention provides a bright white refractory roofing granule, comprising a ceramic material formed from a substantially homogenous mixture of a ceramic-forming clay, sintering material, and optionally comprising silica particles, and other potential additives, said bright white refractory roofing granule having a total solar reflectance of at least 0.80 and a Hunter Color Lvalue of at least 85.0, together with processes for making and using the same.

The invention provides a bright white refractory roofing granule, comprising a ceramic material formed from a substantially homogenous mixture of a ceramic-forming clay, sintering material, and optionally comprising silica particles, and other potential additives, said bright white refractory roofing granule having a total solar reflectance of at least 0.80 and a Hunter Color Lvalue of at least 85.0, together with processes for making and using the same.

Solar reflective roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with solar reflective particles dispersed in the binder. An agglomeration process preferentially disposes the solar reflective particles at a desired depth within or beneath the surface of the granules.

Solar reflective roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with solar reflective particles dispersed in the binder. An agglomeration process preferentially disposes the solar reflective particles at a desired depth within or beneath the surface of the granules.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining ceramic spheres from aluminosilicates, comprising: dry-milling a percentage of the aluminosilicates and wet-milling the remaining percentage; mixing the aluminosilicates obtained from the dry- and wet-milling processes with a binding additive; granulating same; drying the resulting granules; sieving the resulting granules in order to separate same into sub-groups; and sintering the granules obtained at a temperature between 800° and 1500° C.