Disclosed are compositions and methods for bleaching and optionally coloring a shaded zirconia, particularly mono-chromatic pre-shaded dental zirconia. The compositions and methods are useful in generating a shade gradient in milled dental restorations. The compositions comprise metal salts or complex dissolved in a solvent.

The invention relates to a process for selectively treating parts of the surface of a porous dental zirconia article, the process comprising the steps of providing a liquid composition and a porous 3-dimensional dental zirconia article having an outer and inner surface, applying the liquid composition to only a part the outer surface and/or inner surface of the porous dental zirconia article, the liquid composition comprising a whitening agent comprising a phosphorous containing component, the phosphorous containing component comprising a phosphate, phosphone or phosphine moiety, with the proviso that at least one P-O unit of the phosphate, phosphone or phosphine moiety is dissociable or able to otherwise interact with zirconia.

The invention also relates to a dental zirconia article obtainable or obtained by such a process and a kit of parts comprising a container containing a certain liquid composition and a dental zirconia mill blank useful for producing a porous dental zirconia article.

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.

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.

The invention relates to a process for selectively treating parts of the surface of a porous dental zirconia article, the process comprising the steps of providing a liquid composition and a porous 3-dimensional dental zirconia article having an outer and inner surface, applying the liquid composition to only a part the outer surface and/or inner surface of the porous dental zirconia article, the liquid composition comprising a whitening agent comprising a phosphorous containing component, the phosphorous containing component comprising a phosphate, phosphone or phosphine moiety, with the proviso that at least one PO unit of the phosphate, phosphone or phosphine moiety is dissociable or able to otherwise interact with zirconia. The invention also relates to a dental zirconia article obtainable or obtained by such a process and a kit of parts comprising a container containing a certain liquid composition.

Coating formulations for improving hide and holdout without sacrificing adhesion on cementitious substrates are provided. The coating formulations can achieve high hide and holdout with a low pigment volume concentration by utilizing particles with pre-selected oil absorption and particle size range. The coating formulations can be used as a functional for fiber cement substrates. When applied in combination with a top coat, the functional provides provide high hide and hold and enhanced adhesion while reducing pigment loading.

Solar reflective roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with solar reflective particles dispersed in the binder. An agglomeration process preferentially disposes the solar reflective particles at a desired depth within or beneath the surface of the granules.

A coated building article comprising a fiber cement cladding element may be coated with a system designed to achieve a desired appearance. The coating system may comprise a first coating layer and a second coating layer wherein the second coating layer comprises at least one layer of a low gloss coating composition which has a light reflectance of 5% or less when light is shone onto the surface of the coated article at an angle of 60? or 85? to the surface is positioned on at least a portion of the front face of the fiber cement cladding element. Also provided is a method of coating the building article with a low gloss coating composition.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for bleaching and optionally coloring a shaded zirconia, particularly mono-chromatic pre-shaded dental zirconia. The compositions and methods are useful in generating a shade gradient in milled dental restorations. The compositions comprise metal salts or complex dissolved in a solvent.

The present invention relates to methods for forming a layered composite material, the finished product comprising at least one geopolymeric layer and at least one cement-based layer. The method of the invention allows the provision of products with more varied appearances, shapes, colours, gloss, or surface structures such as decorations, reliefs, roughness, or the like. Products obtained according to the method of the invention also form part of the invention.