A composition for forming a transparent coating film including hollow silica microparticles and a binder is provided. The hollow silica microparticles have an average particle diameter of 5 to 300 nm when measured by the dynamic light scattering method, a specific surface area of 50 to 1500 m.sup.2/g, and an outer shell in which cavities are formed. The microparticles lose weight by 1.0 W % or more at a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 500° C. when measured by the thermogravimetry (TG). A surface charge (QA) of the hollow silica microparticles contained in the compositions for forming a transparent coating film is in the range from 5 to 20 μeq/g.

Zinc oxide particles are prepared as a dry powder through a vapor phase formed by a plasma process, or by introducing defects into stoichiometric zinc oxide particles in a liquid carrier through mechanical stress. The zinc oxide has an O:Zn ratio of at least 0.99, an average particle size of 10 to 300 nm, and a sufficient concentration of oxygen vacancies and zinc vacancies to give a dispersion of the particles in C12-C15 alkyl benzoate an orange to tan color corresponding to a ΔE value of at least 15 in a Dispersion Color Test. The particles contain no aggregates and have no detectable particles 500 nm or larger, on a number-weighted basis.

The present invention relates to a composition for producing a zinc oxide thin film containing a group 2 element, said composition being a solution in which a partial hydrolysate of an organic zinc compound represented by formula (1) and a group 2 element are dissolved in an organic solvent. The solution can additionally include a group 13 element. Formula (1): R1-Zn-R1 (in the formula, R1 is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1-7 carbon atoms). Provided are: a composition for producing a zinc oxide thin film containing a group 2 element, said composition making it possible to form a zinc oxide thin film containing a group 2 element by performing coating and film formation with one solution; and a production method for the composition.

Heat ray shielding particles are provided that are composite tungsten oxide particles having a hexagonal crystal structure represented by a general formula Li.sub.xM.sub.yWO.sub.z, wherein the element M in the general formula is one or more kinds of elements selected from alkaline earth metals and alkali metals other than lithium, 0.25≦x≦0.80, 0.10≦y≦0.50, and 2.20≦z≦3.00.

The invention discloses a method of producing a filler composition to be used in paper or board production, said method comprising providing a suspension comprising calcium hydroxide and performing carbonation of the calcium hydroxide to form precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). The invention is characterized in that starch and/or carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) is added to the suspension during said carbonation of calcium hydroxide. The method of the invention enables an increased filler content in paper or paperboard without substantially increasing the dusting tendency or decreasing the strength of the paper or board.

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.

There is provided a thermoelectric conversion material containing Cu and Se as main components, an element M including one or two or more elements selected from Group 10 elements and Group 11 elements excluding Cu, and optional element of Te. The thermoelectric conversion material is represented by the following chemical formula. Chemical Formula: Cu.sub.xSe.sub.(1−y)Te.sub.yM.sub.z,

1.95≤x<2.05,0≤y≤0.1,0.002≤z≤0.03.

A single-crystal diamond material has a transmittance of light with a wavelength of greater than or equal to 410 nm and less than or equal to 750 nm of less than or equal to 15% for any wavelength, and is at least either of an electrical insulator according to optical evaluation and an electrical insulator according to electrical evaluation. A criterion of the optical evaluation can be a transmittance of light with a wavelength of 10.6 μm of greater than or equal to 1%. A criterion of the electrical evaluation can be an average resistivity of greater than or equal to 1×10.sup.6 Ωcm. Accordingly, a single-crystal diamond material having a low transmittance of light in the entire region of the visible light region and exhibiting a black color is provided.

Nontoxic Near infra-red Reflecting (NIR) inorganic pigments, characteristically blue and well suited for the coloration of a wide variety of substrates, for example, plastics and concrete building roofing material, etc., comprise mixed metal silicate having the general formula: La.sub.xSr.sub.1-xCu.sub.1-yLi.sub.ySi.sub.4O.sub.10, where x is equal to 0 to 0.5 and y is equal to 0 to 0.5. These silicates with tetragonal crystal structure are prepared by calcination method in air atmosphere.