The present invention relates to a synthetic mineral composition. The present invention also relates to a method of forming a synthetic mineral composition. The present invention also relates to uses of a synthetic mineral composition.

The present invention relates to solvothermal vapor synthesis methods for the crystallization of a phase from a mixture of selected inorganic or organic precursors in an unsaturated vapor-phase reaction medium.

The present invention relates to solvothermal vapor synthesis methods for the crystallization of a phase from a mixture of selected inorganic or organic precursors in an unsaturated vapor-phase reaction medium.

Provided is a ceramic composite material and a wavelength converter. The ceramic composite material includes: an alumina matrix, a fluorescent powder uniformly distributed in the alumina matrix, and scattering centers uniformly distributed in the alumina matrix, wherein the alumina matrix is an alumina ceramics, the scattering centers are alumina particles, the alumina particles each have a particle diameter of 1 μm to 10 μm, and the fluorescent powder has a particle diameter of 13 μm to 20 μm.

A ceramic composition according to an embodiment of the present invention contains: a main phase component represented by CaMgSi.sub.2O.sub.6 or Ba.sub.4(Re.sub.(1-x), Bi.sub.x).sub.9.33Ti.sub.18O.sub.54; and an additive component containing a Li component and a B component, An observation field, a part of a sectional surface of the ceramic composition, is divided into a plurality of unit observation regions. Among all the unit observation regions, those containing no or little sintering agent component are referred to as the main crystal regions. An area percentage of main crystal regions relative to the observation field is 30% or more, the main crystal regions being the unit observation regions containing 0.5% or less by area of the additive component.

A ceramic composition according to an embodiment of the present invention contains: a main phase component represented by CaMgSi.sub.2O.sub.6 or Ba.sub.4(Re.sub.(1-x), Bi.sub.x).sub.9.33Ti.sub.18O.sub.54; and an additive component containing a Li component and a B component, An observation field, a part of a sectional surface of the ceramic composition, is divided into a plurality of unit observation regions. Among all the unit observation regions, those containing no or little sintering agent component are referred to as the main crystal regions. An area percentage of main crystal regions relative to the observation field is 30% or more, the main crystal regions being the unit observation regions containing 0.5% or less by area of the additive component.

The invention provides composite materials comprising novel bonding elements exhibiting unique microstructures and chemical compositions, and methods for their manufacture and uses, for example, in a variety of concrete components with or without aggregates in the infrastructure, construction, pavement and landscaping industries.

The invention provides composite materials comprising novel bonding elements exhibiting unique microstructures and chemical compositions, and methods for their manufacture and uses, for example, in a variety of concrete components with or without aggregates in the infrastructure, construction, pavement and landscaping industries.

A process can be used for the preparation of an up-conversion phosphor of the general formula (I):

A.sub.1-x-y-zB*.sub.yB.sub.2SiO.sub.4:Ln.sup.1.sub.x,Ln.sup.2.sub.z,   (I).

The process involves preparing a mixture, introducing the mixture into a reaction chamber of a thermal apparatus, heating the mixture until a thermal treatment temperature is reached with a heating ramp, thermally treating the heated mixture for a holding time of at least 0.02 h, cooling the thermally treated material to room temperature while maintaining a cooling ramp, and obtaining a silicate-based lanthanoid ion-doped phosphor according to formula (I).

The invention provides novel paving stones and construction block composite materials and methods for preparation thereof. The paving stones and construction block composite materials can be readily produced from widely available, low cost precursor materials by a production process that involves compacting in a mold that is suitable for large-scale production. The precursor materials include calcium silicate, for example, wollastonite, and particulate filler materials which can comprise silicon dioxide-rich materials. Additives can include calcium carbonate-rich and magnesium carbonate-rich materials. Various additives can be used to fine-tune the physical appearance and mechanical properties of the composite material, such as colorants such as particles of colored materials, such as, and pigments (e.g., black iron oxide, cobalt oxide and chromium oxide). These paving stones and construction block composite materials exhibit visual patterns similar to stone as well as display compressive strength and water absorption equal to or better than that of stone.