The invention relates to precipitated silica, characterized by BET: 150 m.sup.2/g-400 m.sup.2/g, preferably 200 m.sup.2/g-300 m.sup.2/g, determined to ISO 9277 DOA: 220 ml/100 g-400 ml/100 g, preferably 250 ml/100 g-350 ml/100 g, determined to ISO 19246 d.sub.50: 3.0 ?m-5.0 ?m, determined by laser diffraction on a Coulter LS to ISO 13320, particle size ratio d.sub.5:d.sub.50:d.sub.95: >0.3:1:<2, particle size distribution d.sub.95?d.sub.5/d.sub.50: between 1.3 and 1.7.

Provided is a metal-dioxide nanofiller including at least two graft chains, at least one of the chains being a hydrophilic and the other being a hydrophobic chain compatible with fluorinated polymers. The hydrophobic chain is an oligomer, the weight-average molar mass Mw of which is between 300 and 20, 000 g/mol-1 .Math. Also provided is a non-stick coating comprising such a filler, as well as to a culinary article provided with such a coating.

A nanoparticulate organic hybrid material comprising inorganic nanoparticles covalently grafted with at least one anion of an organic sodium or lithium salt is provided. In addition, a process for preparing the nanoparticulate organic hybrid material and its use in the preparation of electrolytes suitable for lithium and sodium secondary batteries are provided.

The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition containing aluminate-modified silica particles, a polyacrylamide, a heterocyclic film-forming agent, and water. The invention also provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate, especially a nickel-phosphorous substrate, by contacting a substrate with a polishing pad and the chemical-mechanical polishing composition, moving the polishing pad and the polishing composition relative to the substrate, and abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate.

Methods for of synthesizing a polymer functionalized nanoparticle are provided. The method can comprise: attaching an anchoring compound to a nanoparticle; attaching a RAFT agent to the anchoring compound; and polymerizing a plurality of butadiene-derived monomers on the anchoring compound to form a polymeric chain covalently bonded to the nanoparticle via the anchoring compound. Polymer functionalized nanoparticles are also provided that include a nanoparticle defining a surface; a butadiene-derived polymeric chain covalently bonded to the surface of the nanoparticle. Nanocomposites are also provided that include a plurality of such polymer functionalized nanoparticles dispersed within a polymeric matrix.

Provided is a metal-oxide nanofiller including at least two graft chains, at least one of the chains being hydrophilic and the other being a hydrophobic chain compatible with fluorinated polymers. The hydrophobic chain is an oligomer, the weight-average molar mass Mw of which is between 300 and 20,000 g/mol.sup.1. Also provided is a non-stick coating comprising such a filler, as well as to a culinary article provided with such a coating.

Colored polymeric sand that is made by mixing a pigment onto sand to form colored sand, applying an acrylate-based polymeric coating on the colored sand, drying the acrylate-based polymeric coating, and applying a second polymeric material on the dried acrylate-based polymeric coating. The second polymeric material can have an ingredient (e.g., coating) that is water soluble. The resulting colored sand product can be used, for example, between pavers.

Method of producing a high strength (with improved tensile strength and elongation at break properties), high quality, cost effective, nanoparticle enhanced polyurea, polyurethane, and epoxy composites with chemical bonding into polymer backbone. The mechanical properties of tensile strength and elongation at break improves concurrently and significantly with tensile strength increasing well over 300%. The polymer/nanoparticle composite can be produced cost effectively as a high quality coating system or in nanoparticle concentrate forms.

Improved silica-based matting agents are disclosed. The matting agents are useful in waterborne coatings composition to provide exceptional properties to a wood based substrate. Films resulting from the silica-based matting agents on a wood substrate unexpectedly provide improved chemical resistance and/or film clarity to the surface of the wood substrate. Methods of making and using the matting agents are also disclosed.

The present invention is a multilayered composite comprising porous metal oxide particles that are covalently bonded by way of inorganic ether groups to one or more sites of a first polyhydroxyl-functionalized polymer. This first polymer is in turn covalently bonded by way of inorganic ether groups to one or more sites of a second polyhydroxyl-functionalized polymer. The multilayered composites can be prepared by contacting porous inorganic-oxide particles with a sufficient amount of OH-reactive crosslinking agent to form metal oxide particles imbibed with the crosslinking agent, and then contacting the inorganic-oxide particles with a solution of polyhydroxyl-functionalized polymer under reactive conditions.