Use of porous metal oxide microspheres as light stabilizers for shaped artificial polymer articles, wherein the porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid dispersion of polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets of the dispersion; drying the droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres.

Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising remediated coal ash, hydraulic cement, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Other embodiments comprise a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising remediated coal ash, calcium hydroxide (lime), and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Other embodiments comprise a settable composition comprising: remediated coal ash, hydraulic cement, calcium hydroxide, natural pozzolan and water; and allowing the composition to set. Other embodiments comprise a settable composition comprising remediated coal ash and any combination of hydraulic cement, calcium hydroxide, slag, fly ash, and natural or other pozzolan.

Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising remediated coal ash, hydraulic cement, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Other embodiments comprise a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising remediated coal ash, calcium hydroxide (lime), and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Other embodiments comprise a settable composition comprising: remediated coal ash, hydraulic cement, calcium hydroxide, natural pozzolan and water; and allowing the composition to set. Other embodiments comprise a settable composition comprising remediated coal ash and any combination of hydraulic cement, calcium hydroxide, slag, fly ash, and natural or other pozzolan.

A method of cementing may include: providing a first solid particulate material; measuring at least one physicochemical property of the first solid particulate material; correlating the at least one physicochemical property of the first solid particulate material to at least one physicochemical property of a second solid particulate material and at least one physicochemical of a third solid particulate material; determining if a result of the step of correlating meets an operational parameter; and preparing a cement slurry which meets the operational parameter.

A method of cementing may include: providing a first solid particulate material; measuring at least one physicochemical property of the first solid particulate material; correlating the at least one physicochemical property of the first solid particulate material to at least one physicochemical property of a second solid particulate material and at least one physicochemical of a third solid particulate material; determining if a result of the step of correlating meets an operational parameter; and preparing a cement slurry which meets the operational parameter.

A snap-setting joint compound with reduced calcium sulfate hemihydrate and improved sandability, as well as methods for building wall assemblies and repairing walls with the joint compound.

A snap-setting joint compound with reduced calcium sulfate hemihydrate and improved sandability, as well as methods for building wall assemblies and repairing walls with the joint compound.

An additive capable of suppressing generation of free water from a cement slurry even under a high temperature environment of 150° C. or more and a silica-based additive that suppresses, in a cement slurry for cementing in oil fields and gas oil fields, free water under high temperature and high pressure environments of 100° C. or more, the silica-based additive containing an aqueous silica sol containing nanosilica particles with a true density of 2.15 g/cm.sup.3 or more and less than 2.30 g/cm.sup.3, and a cement slurry for cementing that contains the silica-based additive.

An additive capable of suppressing generation of free water from a cement slurry even under a high temperature environment of 150° C. or more and a silica-based additive that suppresses, in a cement slurry for cementing in oil fields and gas oil fields, free water under high temperature and high pressure environments of 100° C. or more, the silica-based additive containing an aqueous silica sol containing nanosilica particles with a true density of 2.15 g/cm.sup.3 or more and less than 2.30 g/cm.sup.3, and a cement slurry for cementing that contains the silica-based additive.

An insulation medium invention includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere comprises a porous core comprising a porous core material and having an exterior surface, a gas within the porous core, and a coating layer coating all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer comprises a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the coating material is permeable to the gas. In the second state the material is impermeable to the gas. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain partial vacuum of the gas inside the porous core. In one embodiment, in the second state the coating is impermeable to air. Insulated structures, a method of making an insulation medium, a fluid storage media, and a method of delivering a fluid are also disclosed.