A porous ceramic structure has a porosity of 20% to 99%, and includes one principal surface and another principal surface opposite to the one principal surface. At least one cut is formed from the one principal surface toward the other principal surface. An aspect ratio of a divided portion divided by the cut is greater than or equal to 3.

Disclosed are methods for forming boron nitride-containing aggregates that exhibit improved wear by attrition, and resulting filled polymers that exhibit significantly improved thermal conductivity. The boron nitride-containing aggregates are prepared according to a method that includes wet granulating boron nitride powder with a granulation solution to form wet boron nitride-containing granules; and drying the wet boron nitride-containing granules to cause evaporation of solvent in the granulation solution, thereby forming boron nitride-containing granules. Sintering achieves the desired boron nitride-containing aggregates.

Disclosed are methods for forming boron nitride-containing aggregates that exhibit improved wear by attrition, and resulting filled polymers that exhibit significantly improved thermal conductivity. The boron nitride-containing aggregates are prepared according to a method that includes wet granulating boron nitride powder with a granulation solution to form wet boron nitride-containing granules; and drying the wet boron nitride-containing granules to cause evaporation of solvent in the granulation solution, thereby forming boron nitride-containing granules. Sintering achieves the desired boron nitride-containing aggregates.

Disclosed is a gas sensing material for methylbenzene detection. Specifically, the gas sensing material includes a nanocomposite of Cr.sub.2O.sub.3 and ZnCr.sub.2O.sub.4. The content of Cr in the nanocomposite is from 67.0 at. % to 90.0 at. %, based on the sum of the contents of Cr and Zn atoms. The gas sensing material is highly selective to methylbenzenes over other gases and is highly sensitive to methylbenzenes. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the gas sensing material. The methods facilitate control over the composition of the gas sensing material and enable rapid synthesis of the gas sensing material at low temperature. Also disclosed is a gas sensor including the gas sensing material.

Disclosed is a gas sensing material for methylbenzene detection. Specifically, the gas sensing material includes a nanocomposite of Cr.sub.2O.sub.3 and ZnCr.sub.2O.sub.4. The content of Cr in the nanocomposite is from 67.0 at. % to 90.0 at. %, based on the sum of the contents of Cr and Zn atoms. The gas sensing material is highly selective to methylbenzenes over other gases and is highly sensitive to methylbenzenes. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the gas sensing material. The methods facilitate control over the composition of the gas sensing material and enable rapid synthesis of the gas sensing material at low temperature. Also disclosed is a gas sensor including the gas sensing material.

The invention provides a bright white refractory roofing granule, comprising a ceramic material formed from a substantially homogenous mixture of a ceramic-forming clay, sintering material, and optionally comprising silica particles, and other potential additives, said bright white refractory roofing granule having a total solar reflectance of at least 0.80 and a Hunter Color Lvalue of at least 85.0, together with processes for making and using the same.

The invention provides a bright white refractory roofing granule, comprising a ceramic material formed from a substantially homogenous mixture of a ceramic-forming clay, sintering material, and optionally comprising silica particles, and other potential additives, said bright white refractory roofing granule having a total solar reflectance of at least 0.80 and a Hunter Color Lvalue of at least 85.0, together with processes for making and using the same.

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%.

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%.

Hollow structure particles which contain titanium oxide and silica, in which the crystal type of the titanium oxide is rutile type; a method for producing the hollow structure particles; a white ink which contains these hollow structure particles as a coloring agent; use of the white ink in inkjet recording; and an inkjet recording method which uses the white ink.