A method of making an antimicrobial composite article, including the steps: providing a matrix comprising a polymeric material; providing a plurality of second phase particles comprising an antimicrobial agent; melting the matrix to form a matrix melt; distributing the plurality of second phase particles in the matrix melt at a second phase volume fraction to form a composite melt; forming a composite article from the composite melt; and treating the composite article to form an antimicrobial composite article having an exterior surface comprising an exposed portion of the matrix and the plurality of second phase particles. The distributing step can employ an extrusion process. The forming a composite article step can employ an injection molding process. The treating step can employ abrading and plasma-treating the article to define the exterior surface.

ZrO.sub.2-toughened glass ceramics having high molar fractions of tetragonal ZrO.sub.2 and fracture toughness value of greater than 1.8 MPa.Math.m.sup.1/2. The glass ceramic may also include also contain other secondary phases, including lithium silicates, that may be beneficial for toughening or for strengthening through an ion exchange process. Additional second phases may also decrease the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass ceramic. A method of making such glass ceramics is also provided.

An abrasive article can include a body including abrasive particles contained in the body and ceramic particles contained within a bond material. The ceramic particles can have an average particle size D50c of at least 2 microns and at most 75 microns. The abrasive particles can include an average particle size D50a greater than the average particle size D50c.

A method of diffusing one or more of gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, gold ions, and silver ions, into a solid transparent material, causing it to absorb at least some wavelengths of visible light, UV light, or both, the method comprising: (a) providing a first volume of organic solvent with one or more of gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, gold ions and silver ions, blocked with one or more ligands, suspended in the organic solvent; (b) adding a quantity of the volume of organic solvent to a volume of water; (c) immersing the transparent material in the volume of water; and (d) heating the volume of water with the added organic solvent and the transparent material for a period of time, causing the one or more of gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, gold ions and silver ions to diffuse into the transparent material.

A technical object of the present invention is to devise a top plate for a cooking appliance that can suppress proliferation of bacteria or mold. In order to achieve the technical object, the top plate for a cooking appliance of the present invention includes: a crystallized glass substrate having a cooking surface on which a cooking device is placed; and a decorative layer formed on the cooking surface, in which the decorative layer includes 30 vol % to 100 vol % of ZnOB.sub.2O.sub.3-based glass and 0 vol % to 70 vol % of refractory filler powder.

A method of forming a macrocomposite including dispersing or immersing a first material in a second material. The first material includes a stone and the second material a glass; or the first material may be glass and the second material stone. The macrcocomposite may further include metal. Preferably, the macrocomposite does not include an organic resin, an adhesive, or a polymer.

A method of making an antimicrobial composite article, including the steps: providing a matrix comprising a polymeric material; providing a plurality of second phase particles comprising an antimicrobial agent; melting the matrix to form a matrix melt; distributing the plurality of second phase particles in the matrix melt at a second phase volume fraction to form a composite melt; forming a composite article from the composite melt; and treating the composite article to form an antimicrobial composite article having an exterior surface comprising an exposed portion of the matrix and the plurality of second phase particles. The distributing step can employ an extrusion process. The forming a composite article step can employ an injection molding process. The treating step can employ abrading and plasma-treating the article to define the exterior surface.

The present invention relates to a laminate for preparing a wavelength converting member and a process for preparing a wavelength converting member. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laminate for preparing a wavelength converting member, which can be calcined at a temperature of 800 C. or lower, preferably 700 C. or lower and has a high light transmittance, a high refractive index, and a good shape upon the calcination, whereby it can be advantageously used for LEDs, and a process for efficiently preparing the wavelength converting member using a confining layer comprised of specific components.

A composite plate is mainly made from the following raw materials in percentage by weight: 35% to 45% of calcium carbonate, 45% to 55% of cullet, 5% to 15% of unsaturated polyester resin, 0.1% to 1% of a curing agent, 0.1% to 1% of an auxiliary agent, wherein a ratio of an amount of the calcium carbonate to an amount of the cullet is 0.75%. The invention employs cullet, calcium carbonate, and resin as the main raw materials to prepare an artificial stone plate; no natural quartz is used, and hence the raw material cost is low. A reasonable ratio of cullet to calcium carbonate reduces the use of resin, which further reduces the raw material cost. Through a reasonable combination of different raw materials, the composite plate of the invention has physical and chemical properties and decorative abilities that are similar to those of traditional artificial quartz stone.

A feedthrough assembly includes: a ferrule; an insulating structure; and a seal fixedly securing the insulating structure within the ferrule, the seal comprising a glass and single-phase particulate dispersed therein; wherein the glass includes: 25% to 40% B.sub.2O.sub.3; 0 to 25% CaO; 0 to 25% MgO; 0 to 25% SrO; 0 to 10% La.sub.2O.sub.3; 5% to 15% SiO.sub.2; and 10% to 20% Al.sub.2O.sub.3; wherein all percentages are mole percentages of the glass.