Ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, curable ink compositions containing the ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, and methods of forming films from the ink compositions are provided. Also provided are cured films formed by curing the ink compositions and photonic devices incorporating the films. The ligands bound to the inorganic scattering nanoparticles include a head group and a tail group. The head group includes a polyamine chain and binds the ligands to the nanoparticle surface. The tail group includes a polyalkylene oxide chain.

An alumina powder containing alumina particles, wherein among the alumina particles, an average sphericity of an alumina particle having a projected area equivalent circle diameter of 50 nm or more as determined by microscopy is 0.80 or more, a content ratio of an alumina particle having a particle diameter of 75 μm or more is 0.05% by mass or less, an average particle diameter of the alumina powder is 0.2 μm or more and 15 μm or less, the average particle diameter is a particle diameter measured using a laser light diffraction scattering particle size distribution analyzer, and an amount of water included in the alumina powder measured by a specific measurement method is 30 ppm or more and 500 ppm or less.

A composition suitable for chemical mechanical polishing a substrate can comprise abrasive particles, a multi-valent metal borate, at least one oxidizer and a solvent. The composition can polish a substrate with a high material removal rate and a very smooth surface finish.

A composition suitable for chemical mechanical polishing a substrate can comprise abrasive particles, a multi-valent metal borate, at least one oxidizer and a solvent. The composition can polish a substrate with a high material removal rate and a very smooth surface finish.

Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM) system configured with the use of a composite material employing a non-metallic matrix and at least one of diamond particles, fused silica particles, boron carbide particles, silicon carbide particles, aluminum oxide particles, carbon fiber elements, carbon nanotube elements, and doped diamond particles to increase the structural integrity and/or strength of the SPM system, and a fraction of reinforcement ranging from at least 25% to at least 75% with advantageous modification of the Young's modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, and thermal conductivity.

A carbon-containing alumina powder containing a carbon-containing alumina particle having a projected area equivalent circle diameter of 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less as determined by microscopy, wherein an average sphericity of the carbon-containing alumina particle is 0.85 or more, and a specific surface area is 0.05 m.sup.2/g or more and 1.0 m.sup.2/g or less, and a ratio B/A of a carbon content ratio B to a carbon content ratio A in the carbon-containing alumina powder calculated by using a specific measurement method is 0.20 or more and 0.90 or less.

A carbon-containing alumina powder containing a carbon-containing alumina particle having a projected area equivalent circle diameter of 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less as determined by microscopy, wherein an average sphericity of the carbon-containing alumina particle is 0.85 or more, and a specific surface area is 0.05 m.sup.2/g or more and 1.0 m.sup.2/g or less, and a ratio B/A of a carbon content ratio B to a carbon content ratio A in the carbon-containing alumina powder calculated by using a specific measurement method is 0.20 or more and 0.90 or less.

Disclosed is a cordierite sintered body comprising from 90 to 98% by volume of a cordierite crystal phase as measured using x ray diffraction, SEM and image processing methods wherein the cordierite sintered body has at least one surface comprising pores having a diameter of from 0.1 to 5 um as measured using SEM and image processing methods. The cordierite sintered body has a Young's modulus of about 125 GPa or greater, and volumetric porosity of less than about 4%. Methods of making the cordierite sintered body are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a cordierite sintered body comprising from 90 to 98% by volume of a cordierite crystal phase as measured using x ray diffraction, SEM and image processing methods wherein the cordierite sintered body has at least one surface comprising pores having a diameter of from 0.1 to 5 um as measured using SEM and image processing methods. The cordierite sintered body has a Young's modulus of about 125 GPa or greater, and volumetric porosity of less than about 4%. Methods of making the cordierite sintered body are also disclosed.

An alumina powder containing: a first alumina particle having average particle diameter from 0.1 μm to 1 μm; a second alumina particle having average particle diameter from 1 μm to 10 μm; and a third alumina particle having average particle diameter from 10 μm to 100 μm, wherein the particle diameters are measured using laser light diffraction scattering particle size distribution analyzer, average sphericity of first alumina particle having projected area equivalent circle diameter from 0.1 μm to 1 μm as determined by microscopy is from 0.80 to 0.98, and a ratio of D90/D10 of first alumina particle is from 2.0 to 8.0 wherein the ratio of D90/D10 is a ratio when particle diameter at cumulative value of 10% from fine particle side of cumulative particle size distribution on volume basis is D10 and particle diameter at cumulative value of 90% from fine particle side is D90.