The use of an effect pigment (a) comprising an aluminum-based substrate and an iron oxide coating having a red 1.sup.st order interference color in combination with a colored absorption pigment (b) for producing a coating having enhanced coloristic properties, in particular enhanced chroma, lightness and hiding power, is provided. The pigment combination of (a) and (b) is suitable for coloring plastics, a fiber, a film and a coating composition such as a paint, a printing ink, a varnish or a powder coating, preferably an automotive, an architectural or an industrial coating composition.

There is provided a spherical organic-inorganic composite particle having good biodegradability. The organic-inorganic composite particle according to the present invention includes 1 to 79% by weight of a silica component and 21 to 99% by weight of a biodegradable plastic. The organic-inorganic composite particle has an average particle diameter d.sub.1 of 0.5 to 25 m, a true density of 1.03 to 2.00 g/cm.sup.3, and a sphericity of 0.80 or more. A cosmetic product including the organic-inorganic composite particle having such properties has excellent texture properties.

Composite pigments are provided which comprise a mineral pigment (such as kaolin clay, titanium dioxide, talc, mica or a mixture of two or more of these mineral pigments) and calcium carbonate precipitated in-situ on the surfaces of the particles of the mineral pigment.

White pigment compositions are provided. In embodiments, a white pigment composition comprises water and core-shell particles, each core-shell particle comprising a core and a shell over the core, wherein one of the core and the shell comprises a polymer and the other of the core and shell comprises silica. The polymer comprises an aromatic group, a hydroxyl-reactive functional group, and a polar group; and the silica comprises a hydroxyl group. The core and the shell are attached via covalent bonds formed between hydroxyl-reactive functional groups of the polymer and hydroxyl groups of the silica. Methods of making and using the white pigment compositions are also provided.

A mica-containing pigment composition having spherical particles composed primarily of polyester and mica for use in electrostatic powder coating applications. The particles are produced by precipitation under shear stress from a solution containing mica and a polyester resin.

Provided are a black mixed oxide that contains chromium per se of any valency as a main component, and fails to contain cobalt as the main component material, and has a high safety, an excellent color tone and economical efficiency, and a method for producing the same, and various products using the black mixed oxide material. The mixed oxides comprise oxides containing La, Mn and Cu as main components but containing neither Cr nor Co as a main component, wherein the contents of La, Mn and Cu in the mixed oxides satisfy the following ratios, as oxide equivalent amount with respect to 100% by weight of the oxide equivalent amount: the La content as La.sub.2O.sub.3 being 35-70 wt %; the Mn content as MnO.sub.2 being 25-60 wt %; and the Cu content as CuO being 0.5-10 wt %.

The invention relates to composite pigment particles containing calcium phosphate, their manufacture and their use in coatings, plastics and laminates. The composite pigment particles contain titanium dioxide pigment particles and precipitated calcium phosphate. In one embodiment, the composite pigment particles additionally contain an inorganic and/or organic filler as an extender, preferably selected from the group comprising Ca, CaMg and Mg carbonates, natural and synthetic silicon dioxide and oxides. The composite pigment particles are manufactured in a combined process of dispersion and precipitation. Depending upon the combination selected, use of composite titanium dioxide pigment particles of the invention can provide improved optical properties such as tinting strength or permits pigment savings with little to no loss of optical properties. In particular, the composite pigment particles of the invention can be used to replace part or all of the titanium dioxide contained in the user's system.

A hexagonal BN powder containing an aggregate of primary particles of hexagonal BN nitride and having an average primary particle diameter, a 50% volume cumulative particle diameter D.sub.50, a BET specific surface area, and a bulk density within predetermined ranges. Further, for a peak A in the particle diameter range of 1.0 m or more and less than 20.0 m and a peak B in the particle diameter range of 20.0 m or more and less than 200.0 m in a particle size distribution curve, the ratios of the height of the peaks are within predetermined ranges when the hexagonal BN powder is treated under predetermined conditions. Also disclosed is a method for producing the hexagonal BN powder, a composition including the hexagonal BN powder and at least one of a resin and a rubber, and a heat dissipation material containing the composition.

An article includes at least one layer including a transparent portion and at least one metal portion; and a color-rendering layer; wherein the at least one metal portion is positioned in the article to provide reflection of incident light; and wherein the transparent portion is dimensioned to allow at least some incident light to pass through. A method of making an article is also disclosed.

A powder mixture including spherical barium titanate particles and spherical oxide particles and having an average particle diameter of 2 m or more and 30 m or less, wherein the spherical oxide particles have an average particle diameter of 0.05 m or more and 1.5 m or less, and the spherical oxide particles are contained in an amount of 0.02% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less based on the powder mixture. The spherical oxide particles are preferably amorphous silicon dioxide particles and/or aluminum oxide particles. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a spherical barium titanate-based powder which enables to prepare a high dielectric resin composition with which reduced wire sweep amount and burr are achieved.