Coated inorganic expanding agent particles comprise a core of an inorganic expanding agent and a sol/gel-formed coating comprising a mixed oxide of two or more metals and/or metalloids, in particular a mixed oxide of silicon and at least one metal and/or metalloid selected from aluminum, boron, titanium, zirconium and zinc. The coated inorganic expanding agent particles are added to cementitious systems to avoid shrinkage during hardening. The coating is effective to delay the expanding effect.

A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

A heat insulating material is a sheet including a fiber and an aerogel. The fiber is aligned in a certain direction in the sheet. A heat insulating structure is used that includes: a high-temperature unit; a low-temperature; and the heat insulating material joining the high-temperature unit and the low-temperature to each other. The certain direction of the heat insulating material is a direction in which the high-temperature unit and the low-temperature unit are joined to each other. A heat insulating structure is used that includes: a first battery cell; a second battery cell; the heat insulating material disposed between the first battery cell and the second battery cell; and a cooling plate that is in contact with the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the heat insulating material.

A heat insulating material is a sheet including a fiber and an aerogel. The fiber is aligned in a certain direction in the sheet. A heat insulating structure is used that includes: a high-temperature unit; a low-temperature; and the heat insulating material joining the high-temperature unit and the low-temperature to each other. The certain direction of the heat insulating material is a direction in which the high-temperature unit and the low-temperature unit are joined to each other. A heat insulating structure is used that includes: a first battery cell; a second battery cell; the heat insulating material disposed between the first battery cell and the second battery cell; and a cooling plate that is in contact with the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the heat insulating material.

Methods to prepare a well cementing slurry include coating particles comprising an expanding agent with a component selected from the group consisting of a phenolic resin, a silica, a calcination product of a polysiloxane oil, and a combination thereof; and combining the coated particles with mix water and hydraulic cement to form a cement slurry for cementing a well.