A vanadium dioxide coating for intelligent temperature control is formed by mixing a vanadium dioxide powder slurry, a polymer emulsion, and coating additives, and then coating the mixture onto a substrate. The vanadium dioxide powdery slurry comprises vanadium dioxide composite powders and a dispersion medium, the composite powders comprising vanadium dioxide nanopowders having a chemical composition of V.sub.1xM.sub.xO.sub.2, and the surface of the vanadium dioxide nanopowders being attached to organic modified long-chain molecules, wherein M is a doped element, and 0x0.5. Through using the vanadium dioxide powders and the slurry thereof having an organic modified surface, the coating has higher visible light transmittance, can almost completely screen ultraviolet rays, and simultaneously intelligently adjust infrared rays.

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.

An apparatus, kit, and method 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.

There is provided a dispersion composition having a high dispersion stability, and containing metal oxide particles having a primary particle diameter of 1 nm to 100 nm (A), a polymer compound having an acid value of 120 mgKOH/g or more, which is represented by the following Formula (1) (B), and a solvent (C).

(A.sup.1-R.sup.2.sub.nR.sup.1P.sup.1).sub.mFormula (1)

Coating compositions containing coalescents and a latex polymer, wherein the coalescent has a volatile organic content of less than about 50% and is dispersible in the coating composition.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of an associative thickener having a hydrophobic portion with a calculated log P in the range of from 2.7 to 5.0; and composite particles comprising phosphorus acid functionalized polymer particles adsorbed to the surfaces of TiO.sub.2 particles; wherein the phosphorus acid functionalized polymer particles have a core-shell morphology wherein the core protuberates from the shell. The composition of the present invention provides formulators with flexibility in their use of low and mid shear rate thickeners to balance paint performance properties.

A stable aqueous dispersion including certain composite particles and a method for forming the stable aqueous dispersion is provided. The composite particles include a pigment particle, the pigment particle having disposed thereon a certain water-soluble polymer including copolymerized carboxylic acid monomer and N-containing monomer and the pigment particle bearing the water-soluble polymer having disposed on it a plurality of water-insoluble polymer particles. Also provided is a dry coating formed from the aqueous dispersion.

The present invention relates to a method comprising the steps of a) applying a 0.1-mm to 2-mm thick layer of a pigmented coating composition onto a cement, concrete, or asphalt substrate, and b) allowing the coating to composition to dry. The method of the present invention is useful for preparing a traffic paint with improved color retention and durability.

A coating composition including a coating film-forming resin and a pigment, wherein a chroma C*.sub.15 in an L*C*h color system based on a spectral reflectance of reflected light R.sub.15 having received, at an angle of 15 degrees with respect to specular light, incident light I.sub.45 striking at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to a surface of a cured coating film of the coating composition and a chroma C*.sub.15 in an L*C*h color system based on a spectral reflectance of reflected light R.sub.15 having received the incident light I.sub.45 at an angle of 15 degrees with respect to the specular light satisfy the relationships of:

[00001]$C_{-15}^{*}>C_{15}^{*}>10,\mathrm{and}{C}_{-15}^{*}-C_{15}^{*}>20,$ and wherein a chroma C*.sub.45 in an L*C*h color system based on a spectral reflectance of reflected light R.sub.45 having received the incident light I.sub.45 at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the specular light is 10 or less.

Described herein is a building panel comprising a body having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween, a coating applied to at least one of the first major surface, the second major surface, or the side surface, the coating comprising a binder, and a pigment composition comprising titanium dioxide, an alkali metal silicate, and a clay; wherein the titanium dioxide is present in an amount ranging from about 3.0 wt. % to about 15.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the pigment composition.