A process for preparing roofing granules includes forming kaolin clay into green granules and sintering the green granules at a temperature of at least 900 degrees Celsius to cure the green granules until the crystalline content of the sintered granules is at least ten percent as determined by x-ray diffraction.

Disclosed are methods of preparing drilling fluid compositions containing treated calcium bentonite. One such method includes mixing calcium bentonite with an aqueous mixture containing soda ash, followed by adding starch to form the treated bentonite mixture that is used to prepare a drilling fluid composition. Another method includes mixing the calcium bentonite with an aqueous mixture containing soda ash and magnesium oxide, followed by adding starch to form the treated bentonite mixture that is used to prepare a drilling fluid composition.

Disclosed are methods of preparing drilling fluid compositions containing treated calcium bentonite. One such method includes mixing calcium bentonite with an aqueous mixture containing soda ash, followed by adding starch to form the treated bentonite mixture that is used to prepare a drilling fluid composition. Another method includes mixing the calcium bentonite with an aqueous mixture containing soda ash and magnesium oxide, followed by adding starch to form the treated bentonite mixture that is used to prepare a drilling fluid composition.

Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.

Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.

Provided is halloysite powder having a small b value. The halloysite powder is powder including a granule in which halloysite including halloysite nanotubes is aggregated, the granule has a first pore deriving from a tube hole of the halloysite nanotubes and a second pore different from the first pore, and the Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 content is not more than 2.00 mass %.

The present invention relates to a suspension comprising 50-95% by weight of the total suspension (w/w) of at least one metallic material and/or ceramic material and/or polymeric material and/or solid carbon containing material; and at least 5% by weight of the total suspension of one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof. In addition, the invention relates to uses of such suspension in 3D printing processes.

The present invention relates to a suspension comprising 50-95% by weight of the total suspension (w/w) of at least one metallic material and/or ceramic material and/or polymeric material and/or solid carbon containing material; and at least 5% by weight of the total suspension of one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof. In addition, the invention relates to uses of such suspension in 3D printing processes.

A method for producing an electrically-conductive pellet includes reducing a size of a first material. The method also includes wetting the first material to produce a first slurry. The method also includes introducing the first slurry into a fluidizer to produce a first pellet. The method also includes reducing a size of a second material. The second material is an electrically-conductive material. The method also includes wetting the second material to produce a second slurry. The method also includes applying the second slurry to the first pellet.

A method for forming a refractory material is described comprising the steps of placing a core material 12 into a granulator device 16, operating the granulator device 16 to form the core material into granules 16, adding a coating material 18 to the granulator device 16, operating the granulator device 16 to result in the formation of a layer 20 of the coating material 18 encapsulating the granules 16, and then heating the coated granules 22. Materials manufactured using the method are also described.