The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as colored solar-reflective roofing granules, and to methods for making and their use in roofing products. One aspect of the disclosure provides a collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules, wherein substantially each roofing granule includes an inner layer of a porous ceramic material, the pore size and material of the inner layer being selected such that the inner layer is substantially reflective of infrared radiation; and disposed about and substantially surrounding the inner layer, an outer layer of a substantially colored ceramic material, the outer layer of substantially colored ceramic material being substantially transmissive to infrared radiation, the collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules having a L* of no more than 60 and a solar reflectivity of at least 30%.

Provided are compositions and methods of using a liquid suspension of hollow particles comprising a plurality of hollow particles, water, a suspending aid, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant, a latex, an oleaginous fluid, porous silica, and combinations thereof. The liquid suspension is homogenous. An example method includes statically storing the liquid suspension in a container for at least one week; wherein the liquid suspension maintains a difference in density from the top of the container to the bottom of the container of less than one pound per gallon while stored. The method further includes adding the liquid suspension to a treatment fluid; wherein the liquid suspension reduces the density of the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

Provided are compositions and methods of using a liquid suspension of hollow particles comprising a plurality of hollow particles, water, a suspending aid, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant, a latex, an oleaginous fluid, porous silica, and combinations thereof. The liquid suspension is homogenous. An example method includes statically storing the liquid suspension in a container for at least one week; wherein the liquid suspension maintains a difference in density from the top of the container to the bottom of the container of less than one pound per gallon while stored. The method further includes adding the liquid suspension to a treatment fluid; wherein the liquid suspension reduces the density of the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

A method for making a low cost, lightweight carbon aggregate from coal at, above, or below atmospheric pressure, and a lightweight concrete composition utilizing the lightweight carbon aggregate is described.

A method for making a low cost, lightweight carbon aggregate from coal at, above, or below atmospheric pressure, and a lightweight concrete composition utilizing the lightweight carbon aggregate is described.

A particulate filter and method of manufacture. The particulate filter includes intersecting walls that define longitudinally extending channels The intersecting walls comprise a porous ceramic material having a bare microstructure that comprises an interconnected network of porous spheroidal ceramic beads that has an open intrabead porosity within the beads and an interbead porosity defined by interstices between the beads. Catalyst particles are deposited at least partially within the intrabead porosity within the interbead porosity. The bare microstructure has a bimodal pore size distribution in which an intrabead median pore size of the intrabead porosity is less than an interbead median pore size of the interbead porosity. The filter has a trimodal pore size distribution comprising a first peak corresponding to the interbead porosity, a second peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity, and a third peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity as blocked by the catalyst particles.

A particulate filter and method of manufacture. The particulate filter includes intersecting walls that define longitudinally extending channels The intersecting walls comprise a porous ceramic material having a bare microstructure that comprises an interconnected network of porous spheroidal ceramic beads that has an open intrabead porosity within the beads and an interbead porosity defined by interstices between the beads. Catalyst particles are deposited at least partially within the intrabead porosity within the interbead porosity. The bare microstructure has a bimodal pore size distribution in which an intrabead median pore size of the intrabead porosity is less than an interbead median pore size of the interbead porosity. The filter has a trimodal pore size distribution comprising a first peak corresponding to the interbead porosity, a second peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity, and a third peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity as blocked by the catalyst particles.

A method for making a low cost, lightweight carbon aggregate from coal at, above, or below atmospheric pressure, and a lightweight concrete composition utilizing the lightweight carbon aggregate is described.

A method for making a low cost, lightweight carbon aggregate from coal at, above, or below atmospheric pressure, and a lightweight concrete composition utilizing the lightweight carbon aggregate is described.

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.