A dielectric ceramic composition for multi-layer ceramic capacitor for use in extreme environments is formed by mixing a main compos it ion and a composite oxide for low-temperature sintering, where the main composition includes 96.0 to 99.0 wt. % of BaTiO.sub.3 and 1.0 to 4.0 wt. % of Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 and Co.sub.3O.sub.4 as an additive. The main composition is formed by per forming a heat treatment for synthesis to form a core-shell structure having the BaTiO.sub.3 as a core and the Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 and Co.sub.3O.sub.4 covering the sur face of the BaTiO.sub.3. The composite oxide for low-temperature sintering is at least one selected from BaV.sub.2O.sub.6, Ba.sub.3V.sub.4O.sub.13 and Ba.sub.4V.sub.2O.sub.9.

Interference pigments based on SiO.sub.2 flakes coated with crystallites of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. Also, a process for the preparation of interference pigments that comprise SiO.sub.2 flakes coated with a crystallite of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, by a wet-chemical process in a fluidised bed, by a CVD process, by a PVD process, or by any combination of said processes. Also, the use of interference pigments based on SiO.sub.2 flakes coated with crystallites of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, in particular in paints, coatings, industrial and automobile paints, ceramic materials, plastics and cosmetic formulations.

Provided is halloysite powder having a small b value. The halloysite powder is powder including a granule in which halloysite including halloysite nanotubes is aggregated, the granule has a first pore deriving from a tube hole of the halloysite nanotubes and a second pore different from the first pore, and the Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 content is not more than 2.00 mass %.