A magnesium oxide powder containing magnesium oxide particles, wherein an average sphericity of a magnesium oxide particle having a projected area equivalent circle diameter of a particle cross section by microscopy of 10 μm or more among the magnesium oxide particles is 0.73 or more and 0.95 or less, a proportion of a magnesium oxide particle having a sphericity of 0.65 or less among the magnesium oxide particles is 20% or less on a number basis, and a proportion of a magnesium oxide particle having a sphericity of 0.55 or less among the magnesium oxide particles is 15% or less on a number basis.

A magnesium oxide powder containing magnesium oxide particles, wherein an average sphericity of a magnesium oxide particle having a projected area equivalent circle diameter of a particle cross section by microscopy of 10 μm or more among the magnesium oxide particles is 0.73 or more and 0.95 or less, a proportion of a magnesium oxide particle having a sphericity of 0.65 or less among the magnesium oxide particles is 20% or less on a number basis, and a proportion of a magnesium oxide particle having a sphericity of 0.55 or less among the magnesium oxide particles is 15% or less on a number basis.

A process for producing a process for producing a LnM.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.x high-temperature superconductive powder, the process comprising: i) providing an aqueous solution of Ln, M and Cu and at least one mineral acid; ii) adding at least one sequestrating agent and, optionally, at least one dispersant to the solution to form a precipitate; iii) recovering the precipitate from the solution; and iv) heating the precipitate in a flow of oxygen to form the LnM.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.x powder, wherein Ln is a rare earth element, preferably Y, Ce, Dy, Er, Gd, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, Sc, Yb, or a mixture of two or more thereof, and wherein M is selected from Ca, Sr, and Ba.

The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of a composite material comprising steps of: (a) reacting gaseous magnesium (Mg) and silica (SiO.sub.2) in an inert atmosphere; (b) washing the product obtained in step (a) in an acidic medium; and (c) reacting further gaseous magnesium (Mg) with the silica (SiO.sub.2) and silicon (Si) product obtained in step (b). The process of the invention allows Mg.sub.2Si/MgO nanocomposites to be prepared without too many separate steps, and wherein the MgO phase is homogeneously dispersed within the Mg.sub.2Si matrix. The nanocomposites obtained may for example find practical application as thermoelectric materials in thermoelectric generators.

The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of a composite material comprising steps of: (a) reacting gaseous magnesium (Mg) and silica (SiO.sub.2) in an inert atmosphere; (b) washing the product obtained in step (a) in an acidic medium; and (c) reacting further gaseous magnesium (Mg) with the silica (SiO.sub.2) and silicon (Si) product obtained in step (b). The process of the invention allows Mg.sub.2Si/MgO nanocomposites to be prepared without too many separate steps, and wherein the MgO phase is homogeneously dispersed within the Mg.sub.2Si matrix. The nanocomposites obtained may for example find practical application as thermoelectric materials in thermoelectric generators.

The present invention is directed to a solid and substantially amorphous active pharmaceutical ingredient, to an oral pharmaceutical formulation comprising said substantially amorphous active pharmaceutical ingredient, as well as to a method for the manufacture of the same. The invention is also directed to a particulate anhydrous and substantially amorphous mesoporous magnesium carbonate (MMC), to a method for the manufacture thereof, and the use of said particulate anhydrous and substantially amorphous mesoporous magnesium carbonate (MMC) to stabilize an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

The present invention is directed to a solid and substantially amorphous active pharmaceutical ingredient, to an oral pharmaceutical formulation comprising said substantially amorphous active pharmaceutical ingredient, as well as to a method for the manufacture of the same. The invention is also directed to a particulate anhydrous and substantially amorphous mesoporous magnesium carbonate (MMC), to a method for the manufacture thereof, and the use of said particulate anhydrous and substantially amorphous mesoporous magnesium carbonate (MMC) to stabilize an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

The present disclosure broadly relates to a process for recovering magnesium as magnesium oxide and fibrous amorphous silica from serpentinite feedstocks. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to metallurgical and chemical processes for recovering magnesium oxide and fibrous amorphous silica from serpentinite feedstocks. The process broadly comprises applying a sufficient amount of shear deformation force to the serpentine feedstocks to produce a particulate material of reduced size; subjecting the particulate material to magnetic separation to produce a primary magnetic separation product and iron-reduced tailings; and digesting the iron-reduced tailings into nitric acid, producing a magnesium-rich pregnant solution and insoluble solids. The process further comprises adjusting the pH of the pregnant solution to values ranging from about 5.0 to about 7.0.

A sputtering target configured from a magnesium oxide sintered body, wherein a ratio of crystal grains of the magnesium oxide sintered body in which a number of pinholes in a single crystal grain is 20 or more is 50% or less. The present invention is a sputtering target configured from a magnesium oxide sintered body in which the generation of particles during sputtering is less.

A sputtering target configured from a magnesium oxide sintered body, wherein a ratio of crystal grains of the magnesium oxide sintered body in which a number of pinholes in a single crystal grain is 20 or more is 50% or less. The present invention is a sputtering target configured from a magnesium oxide sintered body in which the generation of particles during sputtering is less.