Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

A calcium carbonate-containing material and a process for preparing the inventive calcium carbonate-containing material, wherein a paint includes the inventive calcium carbonate-containing material, and to the use of the inventive calcium carbonate-containing material. The calcium carbonate-containing material is prepared from an avian eggshell, wherein the calcium carbonate-containing material has a weight-median particle size d50 of from 0.5 to 10 μm, and/or a weight top cut particle size d98 of from 2.0 to 40 μm, and wherein the calcium carbonate-containing material includes organic matter in an amount of below 1.5 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the calcium carbonate-containing material, and wherein the calcium carbonate-containing material has i) a brightness from 90 to 100%, according to R457, and/or ii) L* from 95 to 100, according to DIN 6174.

A method including precipitating a precipitate including one or more divalent cation carbonates from a solution including the divalent cation of each of the one or more divalent cation carbonates, and storing at least a portion of the precipitate downhole by placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via a well. Precipitating can include contacting the solution with a gas, such as atmospheric air, including carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The method can further include separating the precipitate from the solution, and forming a slurry including the at least a portion of the precipitate. Placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via the well can include pumping the slurry downhole via the well. A system is also provided. Via the system and method, CO.sub.2 can be sequestered downhole.

A method including precipitating a precipitate including one or more divalent cation carbonates from a solution including the divalent cation of each of the one or more divalent cation carbonates, and storing at least a portion of the precipitate downhole by placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via a well. Precipitating can include contacting the solution with a gas, such as atmospheric air, including carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The method can further include separating the precipitate from the solution, and forming a slurry including the at least a portion of the precipitate. Placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via the well can include pumping the slurry downhole via the well. A system is also provided. Via the system and method, CO.sub.2 can be sequestered downhole.

An oil-based drilling fluid composition, includes a base fluid and a treating agent. The base fluid comprises a base oil and an inhibitor; the treating agent comprises an organic soil, a main emulsifier, an auxiliary emulsifier, a plugging agent, a weighting agent, a humectant, an alkaline regulator and a filtrate reducer. 5-25 parts by weight of the inhibitor, 5-12 parts by weight of the organic soil, 1-6 parts by weight of the main emulsifier, 2-8 parts by weight of the auxiliary emulsifier, 3-18 parts by weight of the plugging agent, 5-30 parts by weight of the weighting agent, 2-6 parts by weight of the humectant, 2-7 parts by weight of the alkaline regulator and 2-10 parts by weight of the filtrate reducer are used, based on 100 parts by weight of base oil.

The present invention is directed to a process for producing an aqueous suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate, wherein a milk of lime is prepared by mixing water, a calcium oxide containing material, and a precipitation enhancer, and subsequently, the milk of lime is carbonated to form an aqueous suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate.

The present invention is directed to a process for producing an aqueous suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate, wherein a milk of lime is prepared by mixing water, a calcium oxide containing material, and a precipitation enhancer, and subsequently, the milk of lime is carbonated to form an aqueous suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate.

A vacuum heat insulating material including a core material and a sheath for covering the core material, the interior thereof being sealed to maintain a reduced pressure therein, wherein the sheath includes a gas-barrier laminate that has at least a heat-melt-adhesion layer, a vapor-deposited layer and a gas-barrier material, and the gas-barrier material has a gas-barrier layer that includes a polycarboxylic acid type polymer and contains a monovalent metal element in an amount of not more than 1.4% by weight, a polyvalent metal element in an amount of at least not less than 5.0% by weight, and a nitrogen element in an amount of 0.01 to 3.0% by weight per the total weight of nitrogen and carbon. The vacuum heat insulating material has excellent heat insulating capability and gas-barrier property, and sustains excellent heat insulating capability over extended periods of time as well as excellent flexibility and waterproof property.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for covering according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a non-crosslinked rubber component having a maximum peak of the molecular weight distribution in the range of 50,000 to 3,000,000, an oil component having a maximum peak of the molecular weight distribution in the range of 1,000 to 20,000, and carbon black. The content of the non-crosslinked rubber component is 25% to 65% by mass, the content of the oil component is 35% to 75% by mass, and the content of the carbon black relative to 100 parts by mass of the total of the non-crosslinked rubber component and the oil component is 1 to 40 parts by mass.