The disclosure features methods of forming composite materials, and the composite materials formed by such methods. The methods include forming a mixture that includes a binder material and a filler material, and applying a pressure of at least 10 MPa to the mixture to form the composite material, where the composite material thus formed includes less than 9% by weight of the binder material, less than 18% by volume of the binder material, or both, and has a flexural strength of at least 3 MPa.

The disclosure features methods of forming composite materials, and the composite materials formed by such methods. The methods include forming a mixture that includes a binder material and a filler material, and applying a pressure of at least 10 MPa to the mixture to form the composite material, where the composite material thus formed includes less than 9% by weight of the binder material, less than 18% by volume of the binder material, or both, and has a flexural strength of at least 3 MPa.

In a method of making a gaseous emissions treatment component, a green ceramic mix is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having cells extending along the extrusion, the cells being bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. In concert with the extruding, metal is fed through the die with the extruded mix. A length of the extrusion and associated metal is then cut off and fired to form the component.

In a method of making a gaseous emissions treatment component, a green ceramic mix is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having cells extending along the extrusion, the cells being bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. In concert with the extruding, metal is fed through the die with the extruded mix. A length of the extrusion and associated metal is then cut off and fired to form the component.

A premixed photoluminescent composition and related hardened form and method of forming joints for pavers or stones. The premixed photoluminescent composition comprises solid aggregates; a photoluminescent particulate component adapted to emit light when photoexcited; and a binder. When in contact with an activator, oxygen or water, the binder is adapted to harden into a water-resistant binder matrix that bonds the solid aggregates and embeds the photoluminescent particulate component. In use, the water-resistant binder matrix has a transparency allowing transmission of at least a portion of the light emitted by the photoluminescent particulate component.

A method of valuation of raw fines materials, comprising selectively screening, biotreatment or composting of raw fines materials or selection as fillers in composites. The method comprises screening the raw fines materials to Grade 1 comprising fines materials of a size of at most about 5 mm and Grade 2 comprising fines materials of a size larger than about 5 mm; and at least one of: A) bio-oxydating organic contaminants of the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions and monitoring a content of organic contaminants until the content of organic contaminants stops decreasing; and B) composting the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions, and monitoring pathogens content and respiration rate; and stopping the addition of organic amendment upon detection of absence of pathogens at a predetermined respiration rate.

A method of valuation of raw fines materials, comprising selectively screening, biotreatment or composting of raw fines materials or selection as fillers in composites. The method comprises screening the raw fines materials to Grade 1 comprising fines materials of a size of at most about 5 mm and Grade 2 comprising fines materials of a size larger than about 5 mm; and at least one of: A) bio-oxydating organic contaminants of the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions and monitoring a content of organic contaminants until the content of organic contaminants stops decreasing; and B) composting the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions, and monitoring pathogens content and respiration rate; and stopping the addition of organic amendment upon detection of absence of pathogens at a predetermined respiration rate.

Structures of a particle containing a core and at least one shell, a metal oxide material of which is necessarily doped to ensure protection of a material of the core from photodegradation. The core can include any of a thermochromic material, a phase-change material, and a judiciously defined auxiliary material that in turn contains organic and/or polymeric material. Derivative products utilizing a plurality of such particles. Methodologies for producing such particles and derivative products.

Structures of a particle containing a core and at least one shell, a metal oxide material of which is necessarily doped to ensure protection of a material of the core from photodegradation. The core can include any of a thermochromic material, a phase-change material, and a judiciously defined auxiliary material that in turn contains organic and/or polymeric material. Derivative products utilizing a plurality of such particles. Methodologies for producing such particles and derivative products.

An infrared ray radiated from a region of a surface of an object to which a coating film (20) of a coating material is provided is detected by an infrared sensor (42). The coating film (20) includes a porous ceramic particle (22) and a binder (24), and the ceramic particle (22) includes a compound represented by a compositional formula of any of A.sub.aR.sub.bAl.sub.cO.sub.4, A.sub.aR.sub.bGa.sub.cO.sub.4, R.sub.x, Al.sub.yO.sub.12, and R.sub.xGa.sub.yO.sub.12. Here, A is one or more elements selected from a group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, and R is one or more elements selected from a group consisting of rare earth elements. Also, a is equal to or greater than 0.9 and equal to or less than 1.1, b is equal to or greater than 0.9 and equal to or less than 1.1, c is equal to or greater than 0.9 and equal to or less than 1.1, x is equal to or greater than 2.9 and equal to or less than 3.1, and y is equal to or greater than 4.9 and equal to or less than 5.1. A porosity of the ceramic particle (22) is equal to or greater than 20% and equal to or less than 40%.