The invention relates to a process for preparing a precipitated silica, to precipitated silicas, and to uses thereof. The process of the invention generally includes reacting a silicate with an acidifying agent, so as to obtain a suspension of precipitated silica; filtering the precipitated silica to obtain a filter cake; subjecting the filter cake to a liquefaction operation to form a second filter cake; and drying the second filter cake. In the process of the invention, at least one polycarboxylic acid is added to the filter cake, during or after the liquefaction operation.

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.

A composite filler comprising thermally processed porous inorganic mixed particles of silica and at least one heteroparticle selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia, or yttria and a polymer occupying the pores of the porous inorganic mixed particles, wherein the porous inorganic mixed particles are thermally processed at a temperature of from 650 to 900 C., as well as a dental restorative comprising a resin and a composite filler, and optionally other fillers, wherein said resin has a refractive index that increases upon curing, and wherein the opacities of the both uncured and cured restorative are less than 45.

Provided are inorganic nanocages. The inorganic nanocages may be non-metal nanocages, transition metal oxide nanocages, or transition metal nanocages. Non-metal nanocages may include metal oxides. The inorganic nanocages can be made using micelles formed using pore expander molecules. The inorganic nanocages may be used as catalysts, drug delivery agents, diagnostic agents, therapeutic agents, and theranostic agents.

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.

A lightweight particle composition includes a plurality of lightweight particles that are one of enclosed or loose. The plurality of lightweight particles include one of an inorganic or organic composition including a bulk density within a range from about 0.001 g/cc to about 1.5 g/cc, and a particle size within a range from about 0.01 microns to about 90 millimeters (mm). An interstitial void space between the plurality of lightweight particles includes a total of less than about 70% of a volume of the plurality of lightweight particles.

There is provided a spherical organic-inorganic composite particle having good biodegradability. The organic-inorganic composite particle according to the present invention includes 1 to 79% by weight of a silica component and 21 to 99% by weight of a biodegradable plastic. The organic-inorganic composite particle has an average particle diameter d.sub.1 of 0.5 to 25 m, a true density of 1.03 to 2.00 g/cm.sup.3, and a sphericity of 0.80 or more. A cosmetic product including the organic-inorganic composite particle having such properties has excellent texture properties.

A method for producing an acrylic resin-coated silica particle dispersion by (1), mixing and heating silica particles (A), an organic solvent (B) and a monomer having a polymerizable unsaturated group and a hydrolyzable silyl group (C) to obtain a polymerizable unsaturated group-containing silica particle dispersion (i), (2) adding a tertiary amine (D) with a molecular weight of 120 to 380 and having a terminal alkyl and/or aryl group, to the component (i) dispersion, to obtain a polymerizable unsaturated group-containing silica particle dispersion (ii), and (3) reacting the component (ii) dispersion with a polymerizable unsaturated monomer (E), in a solid mass ratio of (ii):(E)=20:80 to 90:10, to obtain an acrylic resin-coated silica particle dispersion.

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 addresses the problem of providing a super-liquid-repellent coating film that has improved abrasion resistance. Provided as a means for solving the problem is a coating film that has a fluorine atom content of 1 to 60 wt %, the coating film having a surface that has an average surface roughness Ra of 0.5 to 20, a surface area ratio of 1.7 to 5, a contact angle with water of 150 or more, a contact angle with n-hexadecane of 80 or more, and a surface that has a contact angle with water of 150 or more after being rubbed 100 times with a PET film under a load of 100 g.