The present invention relates a molded composite material and a method and process for creating the composite material from either recycled low grade mixed glass cullet or new glass. The composite material including; crushed glass; one or more aluminium compounds selected from oxide and hydrate at combined 0.40%-0.78% weight per weight of the glass; oxides of silicon, boron, sodium, calcium and potassium at combined 1.27%-1.90% weight per weight of the glass; zirconium silicate at 0.48%-1.3% weight per weight of the glass; and optionally tin oxide at 0%-0.45% weight per weight of the glass. The composite of the present invention can be used for making tiles, bench tops, work surfaces or other similar types of building products. The use of low grade mixed glass can also help reduce the amount of used glass being dumped in landfill or used in other low value enterprises such as providing highway aggregate or landfill cover.

The invention provides a method for producing composite nanoparticles, the method using a first compound capable of transitioning from a monoclinic to a tetragonal rutile crystal state upon heating, and having the steps of subjecting the first compound to a hydrothermal synthesis to create anisotropic crystals of the compound; encapsulating the first compound with a second compound to create a core-shell construct; and annealing the construct as needed. Also provided is a device for continuously synthesizing composite nanoparticles, the device having a first precursor supply and a second precursor supply; a mixer to homogeneously combine the first precursor and second precursor to create a liquor; a first microreactor to subject the liquor to hydrothermic conditions to create an\isotropic particles in a continuous operation mode; and a second microreactor for coating the particles with a third precursor to create a core-shell construct.

The invention provides a method for producing composite nanoparticles, the method using a first compound capable of transitioning from a monoclinic to a tetragonal rutile crystal state upon heating, and having the steps of subjecting the first compound to a hydrothermal synthesis to create anisotropic crystals of the compound; encapsulating the first compound with a second compound to create a core-shell construct; and annealing the construct as needed. Also provided is a device for continuously synthesizing composite nanoparticles, the device having a first precursor supply and a second precursor supply; a mixer to homogeneously combine the first precursor and second precursor to create a liquor; a first microreactor to subject the liquor to hydrothermic conditions to create an\isotropic particles in a continuous operation mode; and a second microreactor for coating the particles with a third precursor to create a core-shell construct.

An apparatus for the wet attrition of particulate material comprising an attrition scrubber; a dewatering screen comprising a deck and a sump beneath the deck, the dewatering screen being mounted upstream of the attrition scrubber whereby oversize material from a downstream end of the deck of the dewatering screen passes into the attrition scrubber; and a hydrocyclone wherein an underflow, containing a coarser fraction of the feed slurry, passes out of a lower outlet of the hydrocylone while an overflow, containing a finer fraction of the feed slurry and most of the water, passes out of an outlet at the upper end of the hydrocyclone, a pump being provided for pumping material from the sump of the dewatering screen to the inlet of the hydrocyclone, wherein the underflow from the hydrocyclone is passed into the attrition scrubber.

A method of separating heavy mineral particles, such as zircon, monazites, xenotime etc., from a sample of quartz crystal powder, comprises the steps of: a. conditioning the quartz powder suspected of containing heavy mineral particles as an aqueous pulp using a froth-flotation agent; b. subjecting the conditioned pulp to froth flotation to obtain a tailing; c. combining the tailing with an aqueous solution having a density greater than that of quartz and less than that of a heavy mineral which it is desired to separate; and d. centrifuging the combination. The separated heavy mineral crystals can then be characterized using a micro-analysis technique.

A copper dopant delivery powder comprising a fused silica powder and a Cu.sub.2S powder. A method of making the copper dopant delivery powder. A method of making a copper-doped glass comprising placing a target glass in a container, packing a composite SiO.CuS dopant powder around the target glass and heating the container and SiO.CuS dopant powder to a temperature of between 800° C. and 1150° C. A copper-doped glass comprising a glass comprising copper-doping wherein the copper-doped glass was formed by covering the glass with a fused silica powder and a Cu.sub.2S powder, wherein the fused silica powder and the Cu.sub.2S powder are mixed in varying ratios of Cu.sub.2S to silica represented by the formula (SiO.sub.2).sub.(1-x)(Cu.sub.2S).sub.x and heating to a temperature of between 800° C. and 1150° C.

A method for producing a solid electrolyte, including: stirring a slurry including lithium sulfide and phosphorus sulfide in a hydrocarbon solvent in a reaction vessel, and circulating the slurry through a connecting pipe by a pump. The method is carried out in an apparatus including the reaction vessel and the connecting pipe connected to the pump and the reaction vessel.

A method for producing a solid electrolyte, including: stirring a slurry including lithium sulfide and phosphorus sulfide in a hydrocarbon solvent in a reaction vessel, and circulating the slurry through a connecting pipe by a pump. The method is carried out in an apparatus including the reaction vessel and the connecting pipe connected to the pump and the reaction vessel.

One aspect relates to a process for the preparation of a quartz glass body. The process includes providing a silicon dioxide granulate from a pyrogenically produced silicon dioxide powder, making a glass melt out of silicon dioxide granulate, and making a quartz glass body out of at least part of the glass melt. The size of the quartz glass body is reduced to obtain a quartz glass grain. The quartz glass body is processed to make a preform and an opaque quartz glass body is made from the preform. One aspect further relates to an opaque quartz glass body which is obtainable by this process. One aspect further relates to a reactor and an arrangement, which are each obtainable by further processing of the opaque quartz glass body.

A method for manufacturing a large sized opaque quartz glass ingot having excellent heat ray shielding and light blocking properties without using a foaming agent. The obtained opaque quartz glass has small diameter spherical bubbles and a preferable mechanical strength. Silica powder is dispersed in water to form a slurry having a silica powder concentration of 45 to 75 wt % and the average particle size of the silica powder is adjusted to 8 μm or less and the standard deviation of the particle size is adjusted to 6 μm or more by wet pulverization. The slurry is sprayed for forming granules of the silica powder. An opaque quartz glass ingot with a small bubble diameter and high mechanical strength is obtained by melting the granulated silica powder.