A method for enhancing optical properties of sintered, zirconia ceramic bodies and zirconia ceramic dental restorations is provided. The porous or pre-sintered stage of a ceramic body is treated with two different yttrium-containing compositions and sintered, resulting in sintered ceramic bodies having enhanced optical properties. The enhanced optical properties may be substantially permanent, remaining for the useful life of the sintered ceramic body.

A method for enhancing optical properties of sintered, zirconia ceramic bodies and zirconia ceramic dental restorations is provided. The porous or pre-sintered stage of a ceramic body is treated with an yttrium-containing composition and sintered, resulting in sintered ceramic bodies having enhanced optical properties. The enhanced optical properties may be substantially permanent, remaining for the useful life of the sintered ceramic body.

A method of monitoring conditions in a wellbore by disposing capsules with a signaling agent downhole, and monitoring the presence of the signaling agent released from the capsules that escape the wellbore. The capsules are formed by combining immiscible liquids, where one of the liquids contains the signaling substance, and each of the liquids contains a reagent. When combined, the liquids segregate into a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, with the dispersed phase having the signaling agent. The reagents react at the interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases and form polymer layers encapsulating the signaling agent to form the capsules. When disposed downhole, such as in casing cement, the capsule membranes can burst under pressure or temperature to release the signaling agent. Adjusting relative concentrations of the reagents varies membrane strength and permeability.

The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as solar-reflective roofing granules having one or more of low crystalline silica content, high stain resistance and algae resistance. The present disclosure provides a mineral roofing granule having a mineral outer surface having a surface porosity of no more than about 10%. The present disclosure also provides a mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay, the first fired material having no more than 2 wt % crystalline silica. The present disclosure also provides a mineral roofing granule having a mineral body and a mineral outer surface, the mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired material, the first fired material being a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay; one or more of a feldspar, a sodium silicate and a nepheline syenite; and, optionally, a zinc source.

Solar-reflective roofing granules having improved solar heat-resistance are formed by coating colored mineral particles with a coating composition including titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

A system and method measures subterranean stress. The system and method includes a cement mixture that is mixed with water to set as a solid and a stress measuring-medium having piezospectroscopic properties that directly reveals stress in situ within the cement mixture in response to a photo stimulation. The stress measuring-medium combines with the cement mixture as a dry blend before being combined with water.

An optical network comprises a fiber distribution cable and a terminal assembly. The terminal assembly receives a plurality of optical fibers from the fiber distribution cable and distributes one or more individual fibers to one or more single fiber bare-fiber holders that hold and protect each single fiber prepared and configured for splicing via an individual splicing element. The splicing element includes an alignment mechanism having a base plate and a clamp plate. At least one of the base plate and clamp plate is formed from a silica material and at least one of the base plate and clamp plate includes an alignment groove or channel configured to receive the first and second optical fibers in an end-to-end manner. The splice element also comprises an optical adhesive disposed in at least a portion of the alignment groove, wherein the optical adhesive is curable via actinic radiation.

A splice element for splicing a first and a second optical fiber comprises an alignment mechanism having a base plate and a clamp plate. At least one of the base plate and clamp plate is formed from a silica material and at least one of the base plate and clamp plate includes an alignment groove configured to receive the first and second optical fibers in an end-to-end manner. The splice element also comprises an optical adhesive disposed in at least a portion of the alignment groove, wherein the optical adhesive is curable via actinic radiation.

The invention relates to a dark, flat element, preferably a plastic, lacquer coating or fiber material, having reduced density, low heat conductivity and low solar absorption. The flat element has a relatively high reflection infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum reduce heating by sunlight in the near infrared dark tinting in the visible range. Low density conductivity are obtained inter alia by inserting in the near in order to area despite and low heat light filling materials into the flat element. Said flat element can be used in places where surfaces are dark tinted for aesthetic or technical reasons but should not heat up in sunlight and should give off little heat when touched by hand or by other parts of the body. Other areas of application include surfaces which should have a heat insulating effect in addition to the above-mentioned characteristics.

The invention relates to a roof coating comprising a bitumen layer with embedded particles.