The present invention is generally directed to fire retardant compositions containing one or more fire retardants, one or more polymers (e.g., one or more biopolymers such as xanthan gum) and colloidal silica. Certain aspects of the present invention are directed to liquid fire retardant concentrate compositions that form a durable (e.g., water-resistant) barrier when applied. The compositions of the present invention optionally include micronized clay. The present invention is also directed to various other compositions, which may be referred to as water-resistant film forming compositions that contain one or more polymers (e.g., one or more biopolymers such as xanthan gum) and colloidal silica. The present invention is also directed to such compositions containing micronized clay and colloidal silica. A water-resistant barrier formed by the compositions of the present invention provide compositions suitable for use in a variety of other applications, in addition to fire retardant compositions.

Coatable compositions for formation of ink-receptive layers, which may be aqueous suspensions, comprise a mixture of: a) colloidal silica particles; b) polyester polymers; c) polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane polymers and (meth)acrylate polymers; and d) crosslinkers. Ink-receptive layers, which may exhibit high gloss and high ink anchoring are also provided, as are constructions comprising such layers.

A color coating solution is produced by dispersing a nano-color pigment and a metallic gloss pigment into a polymer resin, and the solution is coated and molded on a cover layer having a color similar to that of the color coating solution. Since the pigment composition is different between the cover layer and the color coating layer, internal shieldability is improved. As a result, a dark color or uneven surface of the core, mantle, or cover is not exposed, so that a surface defect rate can be reduced. Since both the nano-color pigment and the metallic gloss pigment are used in the color coating layer, the metallic gloss and the color are exhibited in a single layer. Therefore, it is possible to provide natural metallic gloss without a strange texture feeling.

A Passive Radiative Coating (PRC) is designed to dissipate heat generated mainly by solar radiation, intended for use in the manufacture of overhead conductors and cables. Additionally, this coating can dissipate heat produced by the conductors themselves, known as the Joule effect, providing environmental protection and significantly improving heat dissipation capacity. The PRC is composed of at least one filler, at least one binder, and at least one surfactant. In particular, the use of calcium carbonate and/or barium sulfate as fillers, and epoxy resins, alkyd varnishes, polyurethane dispersions, casting resins, silicone-based varnishes, and sodium silicate as binders are highlighted. The surfactant is used to stabilize the mixture and acts as a stabilization additive.

A structure that includes: one or more substrates having flexibility; and one or more films in contact with the one or more substrates. The one or more films contain two-dimensional particles including one or plural layers, and a polymer. The one or plural layers include a layer body represented by: M.sub.mX.sub.n, wherein M is at least one metal of Groups 3-7, X is a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, or a combination therefor, n is 1 to 4, and m is more than n and 5 or less. A modifier or terminal T exists on a surface of the layer body. A proportion of the two-dimensional particles in the one or more films is 5 to 75 vol % based on 100 vol % of a total of the two-dimensional particles and the polymer, and the two-dimensional particles have a number average particle size of 0.001 m to 0.8 m.

Proposed are copper sulfide nanoparticles having a core-shell structure included in a coating composition for blocking near-infrared light, and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, a method of manufacturing copper sulfide nanoparticles having a core-shell structure includes manufacturing CuS nanoparticles, manufacturing Cu.sub.2-xS nanoparticles by heating a mixed solution of the CuS nanoparticles, a reducing agent, and a solvent, and manufacturing Cu.sub.2-xS@Cu.sub.2-yO core-shell nanoparticles by heating a mixed solution of the Cu.sub.2-xS nanoparticles, an oxidizing agent, and a solvent.

A pigment water dispersion including pigment-containing polyester resin particles. An alcohol component as a raw material monomer of the polyester resin satisfies the following conditions 1 and 2. Condition 1: a content of a compound (I) represented by the following formula (I) in the alcohol component is not more than 7 mol %, ##STR00001##
wherein OR.sup.1 and R.sup.2O are each independently an oxyalkylene group comprising not less than 1 and not more than 4 carbon atoms, and x and y are each independently a positive number of not less than 0. Condition 2: a content of a compound (II) comprising two secondary hydroxy groups except for the compound (I) in the alcohol component is not less than 45 mol %.

A photoluminescent material comprising, by weight, between 19.8% and 54.8% of a polymer matrix, between 45% and 80% of a photoluminescent compound, between 0.2% and 5% of a first dye system and optionally between 0% and 1% of a porous silica, and a second dye system and additives, the total percentage of the second dye system and additives being between 0% and 15%, the first dye system comprising one or more dyes chosen from a trichromy of pigments formed by green pigments, blue pigments and red pigments, and a synthetic black pigment. Also, to an item coated with this photoluminescent material or made as a whole from the photoluminescent material.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include an apparatus for voltage equalization in square-wave voltages of electric motors. The apparatus may include: a terminal board circuit wherein phases U, V, and W each comprises input and output cabled conductors summing to at least 6 cables; and a bridge between two of the at least six cables connecting two or more of the at least 6 cable inputs and outputs. The bridge is partially conductive such that its electrical resistance markedly reduces above a threshold value. The partial conductivity results from filler particles in an embedding matrix determining a reduction of the resistance in the bridge above the threshold value.

An icephobic substrate includes a base substrate and an icephobic coating on a first surface of the base substrate, the icephobic coating comprising nanoparticles on the first surface of the substrate, carbon nanotubes bound to the nanoparticles, and fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) compounds impregnated into and/or onto the carbon nanotubes, wherein the icephobic substrate has a plurality of flowpaths for the movement of solids and/or liquids relative to the icephobic coating.