The invention generally relates to fluorescent particles and more specifically to silica-based fluorescent nanoporous particles with physically encapsulated organic dyes. In one aspect of the invention, the nanoporous architecture provides a significant enhancement in fluorescence of the particles brightness compared to free dye. A particular chemical control of the silica matrix prevents the dye molecules from leaking the particles.

In order to provide a filler composition for fabricating a high-performance filler achieving good productivity while preventing worsening of a working environment and production of a VOC and to provide a filler and a method for producing the filler, a filler composition of the present invention contains wet silica, a polyoxyethylene unsaturated fatty acid ester, and a sulfur-containing silane coupling agent.

The present invention relates to a particle of modified silica which comprises a particle of silica which is covalently linked to at least one halohydrin moiety. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of preparing the particle of modified silica, a particle of modified silica obtained by such method, use of the particle of modified silica as a stationary phase for chromatography, as well as a separation column for chromatography comprising the particle of modified silica.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a dispersion comprising a) mixing an aqueous dispersion of silanized colloidal silica particles with at least one organic compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups to provide an aqueous dispersion of silanized colloidal silica particles and said at least one organic compound, wherein the mixing is performed in the substantial absence of any monofunctional alcohol b) withdrawing water from the formed aqueous dispersion until the remainder of water in the dispersion is below about 10 wt %. The invention also relates to a dispersion obtainable therefrom and the use of the dispersion.

A precipitated silica having a CTAB specific surface in the range of from 50 to 300 m.sup.2/g; a BET/CTAB specific surface ratio equal to or greater than 1.3 and comprising at least one polycarboxylic acid.

The invention relates to a novel process for preparing a precipitated silica, in which: a silicate is reacted with an acidifying agent, so as to obtain a suspension of precipitated silica, said suspension of precipitated silica is filtered, so as to obtain a filter cake, said filter cake is subjected to a liquefaction operation comprising the addition of an aluminum compound, after the liquefaction operation, a drying step is performed, characterized in that at least one polycarboxylic acid is added to the filter cake, during or after the liquefaction operation.

The invention also relates to novel precipitated silicas and to uses thereof.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a novel precipitated silica, wherein: a silicate is reacted with an acidifying agent, so as to obtain a silica suspension; said silica suspension is filtered, so as to obtain a filter cake; said filter cake is subjected to a liquefaction operation, in the absence of an aluminium compound; wherein a mixture of polycarboxylic acids is added to the filter cake, during or after the liquefaction operation. It also relates to novel precipitated silicas and to their uses.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a novel precipitated silica, wherein: a silicate is reacted with an acidifying agent, so as to obtain a silica suspension; said silica suspension is filtered, so as to obtain a filter cake; said filter cake is subjected to a liquefaction operation, optionally in the presence of an aluminium compound; wherein at least one polycarboxylic acid is added to the filter cake, during or after the liquefaction operation. It also relates to a novel precipitated silica and to its uses.

Disclosed are a silica sol composition including silica, an anionic dispersant, a cationic dispersant, an epoxy silane coupling agent, and an organic solvent, and a method for preparing the same. In the silica sol composition, a uniform surface modification of silica particles may be achieved by using an anionic dispersant and a cationic dispersant, and it is possible to effectively enhance the compatibility between a silica filler whose surface is modified with an epoxy group and a resin which is an underfill composition.

The method for producing a surface-modified base material according to the present invention includes a step of bringing a base material having a polar group present on a surface thereof into contact with a hydrosilane compound having a molecular structure A and having a SiH group composed of a silicon atom of the molecular structure A and a hydrogen atom bonded to the silicon atom in the presence of a borane catalyst so as to allow a dehydrocondensation reaction to take place between the base material and the compound, thereby forming the base material surface-modified with the molecular structure A. This production method is capable of surface-modifying a base material at a lower temperature in a shorter time than conventional methods and allows a wide variety of options for the form, type, and application of the base material, the mode of the modification reaction, and the type of the molecular structure with which the base material is surface-modified.