The present invention is related to the development of a new formulation of electrical grade porcelain having improved mechanical and dielectric characteristics, and whose primary application is in electrical components, such as electric insulators.

This invention has as its main object to provide a new alternative to increase the final properties of an electrical grade porcelain, which is related to the incorporation of suitable concentrations of nanosized ceramic oxides, as part of the initial composition of porcelain paste.

This new nanotechnology alternative favors an increase in the final properties of electrical grade porcelain, such as flexural strength or cold rupture modulus, as well as dielectric strength, which is due to the incorporation of ceramic oxides such as alumina (α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3) and zirconia (ZrO.sub.2), in micrometer scale (i.e., less than 100 nanometers), favorably modify the microstructure of the base porcelain.

Mechanical strength, specifically the flexural strength at three points, of the porcelain compositions of the present invention is up to 38% greater than a silica based conventional porcelain composition. Furthermore, the insulating ability of the composition of this invention is up to 30% above the value of the reference siliceous porcelain.

Another important aspect of this invention is based on the concept that the ceramic nano-oxides of (α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3) and zirconia (ZrO.sub.2) strengthen the microstructure of siliceous porcelain, since the amount of crystalline phase increases and therefore the amorphous phase is reduced. Furthermore, the ceramic nano-oxides favor the increase in the concentration of the crystalline mullite phase (3Al.sub.2O.sub.3.2Si0.sub.2) in the microstructure, which is known to benefit the mechanical performance of triaxial porcelains.

A composition comprises at least one form of attapulgite present in a solid weight fraction amount ranging from 0.25% to 5%; kaolin present in a solid weight fraction amount ranging from 17% to 50%; and optionally Ball Clay in a solid weight fraction amount ranging from 0% to 25%. Although makeable by other processes, in some embodiments, the composition is makeable by mixing component ingredients. Although usable for other purposes, in some embodiments, the composition is used to make ceramic pieces, e.g., via casting, pressing, jiggering or jollying, especially when the slip has solids, chemistry and viscosity suitable for shaping before drying, sintering, and optionally finishing.

A composition comprises at least one form of attapulgite present in a solid weight fraction amount ranging from 0.25% to 5%; kaolin present in a solid weight fraction amount ranging from 17% to 50%; and optionally Ball Clay in a solid weight fraction amount ranging from 0% to 25%. Although makeable by other processes, in some embodiments, the composition is makeable by mixing component ingredients. Although usable for other purposes, in some embodiments, the composition is used to make ceramic pieces, e.g., via casting, pressing, jiggering or jollying, especially when the slip has solids, chemistry and viscosity suitable for shaping before drying, sintering, and optionally finishing.

The present disclosure discloses a method for finely processing a nonmetallic material, including: crushing a nonmetallic mineral to obtain a nonmetallic block, drying at ambient temperature, coarsely grinding the dried nonmetallic block to obtain coarsely ground particles, subjecting the coarsely ground particles to a second grinding, and then ball milling in a ball mill, drying and sieving to obtain a powder with various particle sizes; classifying and marking the powder to determine the grade and corresponding use of the powder; modifying the nonmetallic mineral powder in a modification device, grinding by a drum ultra-fine vibration mill to obtain a modified powder; calcining the modified powder, then cooling at ambient temperature, mixing with a strong alkali solution to react in a water bath; adding an excessive hydrochloric acid solution, and filtering, washing and drying the resulting filter cake to obtain a product.

A filter material composing a ceramic clay having an interconnected network of pores formed from cellulose fiber combustion is useful for removing chemical and biological contaminants from a water supply. Coating the ceramic clay with lanthanum enhances the removal of anionic species of As(V), As(III), Cr(VI), microbes and virus.

A filter material composing a ceramic clay having an interconnected network of pores formed from cellulose fiber combustion is useful for removing chemical and biological contaminants from a water supply. Coating the ceramic clay with lanthanum enhances the removal of anionic species of As(V), As(III), Cr(VI), microbes and virus.

An insulating product for the refractory industry or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and a corresponding insulating material/insulating product are provided. Likewise the use of a matrix encapsulation process in the production of an insulating product for the refractory industry and a corresponding insulating product and/or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product are provided.

An insulating product for the refractory industry or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and a corresponding insulating material/insulating product are provided. Likewise the use of a matrix encapsulation process in the production of an insulating product for the refractory industry and a corresponding insulating product and/or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product are provided.

A reflective granular composition including a reflective pigment material including a majority of kaolin clay and a hardening additive including a sodium salt or another salt. A method for making a reflective granular composition includes the steps of mixing together a reflective pigment material including a majority of kaolin clay and a hardening additive including a sodium salt or another salt to form a particulate mixture, forming a slurry from the particulate mixture by adding to the particulate mixture water and a binder material, granulating the slurry, drying the granulated slurry, and kilning the dried, granulated slurry to form the reflective granular composition. Methods of analyzing the strength of a reflective granular composition are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for preparing synthetic mineral particles with formula (Al.sub.yM.sub.1-y).sub.2(Si.sub.xGe.sub.1-x).sub.2O.sub.5(OH).sub.4, wherein M designates at least one trivalent metal selected from the group made up of gallium and the rare earths, which comprises the following steps: preparing a gel which is a precursor of said synthetic mineral particles by a co-precipitation reaction of at least one salt of metal selected among aluminium and M with at least one silicon source selected from the group made up of potassium metasilicate, sodium metasilicate, potassium metagermanate and sodium metagermanate, the molar ratio of (Al.sub.yM.sub.1-y) to (Si.sub.xGe.sub.1-x) during the preparation of said precursor gel being equal to 1, at least one base being added during said co-precipitation reaction; and performing a solvothermal treatment of said precursor gel at a temperature of 250° C. to 600° C.