Hollow glass microspheres (HGMS) with a controlled nanotopographical surface structure (NSHGMS) demonstrate improved isolation and recovery of cells and other biological particles such as bacteria from biological fluid. Such functionalized HGMS are formed by exposing a plurality of hollow glass microspheres to a layer by layer deposition cycle of charged polymeric nanofilms to form a plurality of coated hollow glass microspheres and functionally binding a plurality of biotinylated antibodies to the plurality of coated hollow glass microspheres. Application of these HGMS in related biological particle isolation methods does not require specialized lab equipment or an external power source, and thus, can be used for separation of targeted cells from blood or other fluid in a resource-limited environment.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of expanded microspheres, comprises mixing a plurality of solid particles, at least one binding material capable of binding the plurality of solid particles, and a plurality of reactive expansion components into a batch, forming a plurality of agglomerated particles from the batch, heating the plurality of agglomerated particles in an expansion equipment to above a softening temperature of at least a portion of the plurality of agglomerated particles and activating the plurality of reactive expansion components, and forming a gas and expanding the plurality of agglomerated particles into the plurality of expanded microspheres, the step of activating the plurality of reactive expansion components occurring independently from a chemical composition of an atmosphere surrounding the plurality of agglomerated particles inside the expansion equipment.

Functionalized microspheres for being dispersed in matrix materials to reduce the density and weight of the materials may be configured to include a covalently bound surface component which is configured to covalently bond with the matrix material so that when combined with the matrix material a strong, light-weight matrix material may be produced.

Apparatus for transporting used, damaged or defective electrochemical cells while preventing and controlling safety-critical states of the electrochemical cells, such as lithium ion-based cells and/or lithium ion polymer cells, having an outer surrounding wall, a base and a cover which can be closed, which surrounding wall, base and cover define a chamber between them. An intermediate chamber is filled with a fire-retardant material which is composed of only inert, non-conductive and non-combustible and absorbent hollow glass granules as bulk material, and a basket which is permeable to the fire-retardant material is arranged in the chamber for receiving an electrochemical cell.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of expanded microspheres, comprises mixing a plurality of solid particles, at least one binding material capable of binding the plurality of solid particles, and a plurality of reactive expansion components into a batch, forming a plurality of agglomerated particles from the batch, heating the plurality of agglomerated particles in an expansion equipment to above a softening temperature of at least a portion of the plurality of agglomerated particles and activating the plurality of reactive expansion components, and forming a gas and expanding the plurality of agglomerated particles into the plurality of expanded microspheres, the step of activating the plurality of reactive expansion components occurring independently from a chemical composition of an atmosphere surrounding the plurality of agglomerated particles inside the expansion equipment.

Functionalized microspheres for being dispersed in matrix materials to reduce the density and weight of the materials may be configured to include a covalently bound surface component which is configured to covalently bond with the matrix material so that when combined with the matrix material a strong, light-weight matrix material may be produced.

Glass particles comprise glass microbubbles. The glass particles have a size distribution with a d.sub.50 in the range of from 15 to 100 microns, and have a true density of less than 0.7 g/cm.sup.3. The glass particles comprise, on an equivalent weight basis: from 50 to 70 weight percent silica; from 2 to 7 weight percent of boria; from 0.5 to 4 weight percent of weight zinc oxide; from 8 to 17 weight percent of calcia; from 0.8 to 7 weight percent of phosphorus pentoxide; and from 2 to 9 weight percent of sodium oxide.

A refractory material for forming a refractory product includes a refractory component and a taggant having an amorphous or a crystalline solid dispersed within the refractory material. The taggant is configured to be distinguishable from the refractory component after heating of the refractory product between 300 degrees F. and 3500 degrees F. A method of reclaiming refractory material of a refractory lining constructed from different types of refractory products, the refractory lining having been subjected to temperatures in excess of 300 degrees F., includes demolishing the refractory lining to produce a mixture of refractory pieces of different types of refractory products. The mixture of refractory pieces is analyzed to detect the presence of one or more taggants, and the refractory pieces are sorted into groups based on the detected one or more taggants.

A porous structure includes a plurality of glass bubbles that are sintered to one another such that adjoining glass bubbles are physically bonded directly to one another. The glass bubbles have surfaces that define interstices throughout the porous structure. The interstices include closed interstices that do not open to surfaces of the porous structure. At least 50% of the glass bubbles are closed glass bubbles with each closed glass bubble defining a sealed void therein. The porous structure has at least 10% closed porosity and at least 40% open porosity. The closed porosity includes the sealed voids and the closed interstices. A method for making the porous structure includes heating the glass bubbles. Prior to the heating, substantially all of the glass bubbles are closed glass bubbles. At least 50% of the glass bubbles remain closed after the heating such that the sintered, closed glass bubbles form the porous structure.

A method of making a porous structure configured for use in a particulate filter includes bonding a plurality of glass bubbles to one another, and breaching the plurality of glass bubbles. Voids within individual breached glass bubbles open into one another to form cavities that extend through the porous structure.