A method of infusing salt can include heating salt to a temperature above the boiling point of water. The method can also apply a liquid additive solution to the heated salt to create an infused salt. The temperature of the heated salt can be sufficiently high that the salt remains above the boiling point of water for a first period of time after the liquid additive solution is applied thereto.

An icephobic coating composition forms a coating layer that melts ice and snow upon contract and remains durable after several exposures to winter storms. The icephobic coating composition includes about 2.5% to about 12.5% by weight of latex polymer solids; about 30% to about 70% by weight of an inorganic halide salt; about 15% to about 50% by weight water; and about 1% to about 15% by weight of an organic co-solvent selected from glycerin, glycols, and glycol ethers. An alternative icephobic coating composition includes about 1% to about 20% by weight of a solution polymer instead of a latex polymer, and about 10% to about 40% by weight of a VOC-exempt organic solvent instead of the foregoing water and co-solvent.

There are provided: a composition for forming a water repellent film that can form a water repellent film not only excellent in water repellency but also excellent in abrasion resistance, particularly in abrasion resistance evaluated under close-to-actual-use conditions where a light resistance test is combined; a water repellent film formed by using the composition for forming a water repellent film; a substrate with a water repellent film including the water repellent film provided on at least part of a substrate; and an article including the substrate with a water repellent film. The composition for forming a water repellent film contains, at a predetermined quantitative ratio of a hydrolyzable silane compound (1) having a perfluoroalkyl group and having no ether bond; and a compound (21) that has a poly(oxyfluoroalkylene) group and a plurality of hydrolyzable silyl groups with a specific structure and that has a number average molecular weight of 3000 or more.

There are provided: a composition for forming a water repellent film that can form a water repellent film not only excellent in water repellency but also excellent in abrasion resistance, particularly in abrasion resistance evaluated under close-to-actual-use conditions where a light resistance test is combined; a water repellent film formed by using the composition for forming a water repellent film; a substrate with a water repellent film including the water repellent film provided on at least part of a substrate; and an article including the substrate with a water repellent film. The composition for forming a water repellent film contains, at a predetermined quantitative ratio of a hydrolyzable silane compound (1) having a perfluoroalkyl group and having no ether bond; and a compound (21) that has a poly(oxyfluoroalkylene) group and a plurality of hydrolyzable silyl groups with a specific structure and that has a number average molecular weight of 3000 or more.

The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.

The present invention provides an antifogging coating composition containing elongated colloidal silica and spheroidal colloidal silica. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an antifogging coating composition that can form an antifogging coating film that blushing does not occur even when water vapor is adhered thereto, and to provide an antifogging coating film that can exhibit an antifogging effect over a long period of time with almost no occurrence of changes in external appearance such as water drip marks.

The present invention provides an antifogging coating composition containing elongated colloidal silica and spheroidal colloidal silica. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an antifogging coating composition that can form an antifogging coating film that blushing does not occur even when water vapor is adhered thereto, and to provide an antifogging coating film that can exhibit an antifogging effect over a long period of time with almost no occurrence of changes in external appearance such as water drip marks.

Provided is an antifouling composition including a tetrafunctional silane-based compound (A) having a specified structure, a trifunctional silane-based compound having a specified structure, and at least one metal catalyst (C) selected from the group consisting of a titanium-based catalyst, an aluminum-based catalyst, a tin-based catalyst, and a zinc-based catalyst, the antifouling composition satisfying the following relational expression (1).

1.5≦y≦2x+1  Expression (1):

In the expression, x indicates the carbon number of an alkyl group that is selected for R.sup.2 in the formula (b) representing the silane-based compound (B) and indicates a number of 4 to 22; and y indicates a blending amount ratio (A)/(B) in a molar ratio of the silane-based compound (A) to the silane-based compound (B).

Provided is an antifouling composition including a tetrafunctional silane-based compound (A) having a specified structure, a trifunctional silane-based compound having a specified structure, and at least one metal catalyst (C) selected from the group consisting of a titanium-based catalyst, an aluminum-based catalyst, a tin-based catalyst, and a zinc-based catalyst, the antifouling composition satisfying the following relational expression (1).

1.5≦y≦2x+1  Expression (1):

In the expression, x indicates the carbon number of an alkyl group that is selected for R.sup.2 in the formula (b) representing the silane-based compound (B) and indicates a number of 4 to 22; and y indicates a blending amount ratio (A)/(B) in a molar ratio of the silane-based compound (A) to the silane-based compound (B).

A curable composition including a silicone copolymer, a fluoropolyether group-containing compound, and a matrix-forming composition, wherein the silicone copolymer has two or more crosslinkable groups; and the crosslinkable group is a group containing a carbon-carbon double bond, a carbon-carbon triple bond, a cyclic ether group, a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, an amino group, an azide group, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, an isocyanate group, a halogen atom, a phosphoric acid-containing group, or a silane coupling group, or a precursor group thereof. Also disclosed is a film formed from the curable composition, and an article including a substrate and a layer on a surface of the substrate formed from the curable composition.