A method of making a cement composition, comprising grinding a cement clinker and a strength-enhancing agent, thereby producing a hydraulic cementitious powder, wherein the strength-enhancing agent is present in the hydraulic cementitious powder in an amount of from 0.001% to 0.09% based on dry weight of the hydraulic cementitious powder. The strength-enhancing agent is a compound represented by the following structural formula (I). The definitions of variables R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 as well as R.sup.10, R.sup.20, and R.sup.30 are provided herein.

A method for grinding a solid in a vertical roller mill (VRM), comprising grinding at least one solid in the presence of a grinding stabilizing additive, wherein the grinding stabilizing additive comprises an alkanol amino acid compound or a disodium or dipotassium salt thereof having the structural formula (I): The definitions of variables R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are provided herein.

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A method of preparing core-shell zinc oxide particles, includes: mixing a calcium-containing material with a first zinc ammonia complex salt solution; heating the thus obtained first mixture to remove ammonia, thereby obtaining a first intermediate product; mixing the first intermediate product with a second zinc ammonia complex salt solution to obtain a second mixture; heating the second mixture to remove ammonia, followed by conducting a drying process to obtain a second intermediate product; and calcining the second intermediate product to obtain the core-shell zinc oxide particles. A core-shell zinc oxide particle is prepared by the aforementioned method, and a composition for shielding ultraviolet light includes the core-shell zinc oxide particles.

Method for grinding a solid in a vertical roller mill (VRM) and a cement composition prepared by the disclosed methods. A method comprises grinding a solid comprising a cement clinker under a water spray in the presence of a grinding stabilizing additive, wherein the grinding stabilizing additive comprises: (i) an alkanol amino acid compound or a disodium or dipotassium salt thereof having the structural formula:

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(ii) a glycol; or a mixture of (i) and (ii), wherein the water spray level is reduced by at least 5% compared to a control. Cement compositions prepared by the disclosed methods have the pre-hydration level (W.sub.k) equal to or less than 1.5%. The values and preferred values of R.sup.1-3 are disclosed herein.

A method of preparing core-shell zinc oxide particles, includes: mixing a calcium-containing material with a first zinc ammonia complex salt solution; heating the thus obtained first mixture to remove ammonia, thereby obtaining a first intermediate product; mixing the first intermediate product with a second zinc ammonia complex salt solution to obtain a second mixture; heating the second mixture to remove ammonia, followed by conducting a drying process to obtain a second intermediate product; and calcining the second intermediate product to obtain the core-shell zinc oxide particles. A core-shell zinc oxide particle is prepared by the aforementioned method, and a composition for shielding ultraviolet light includes the core-shell zinc oxide particles.

The present invention relates to an inorganic particulate material suitable for use in polymeric films, compositions such as polymeric films comprising the inorganic particulate materials, methods of making said compositions and the various uses of the inorganic particulate materials and compositions.

A method for oxidative brightening and whitening of a mined mineral is provided. The mined mineral to be brightened may be discolored kaolin clay, such as gray clay. The inventive method comprises adding to an aqueous slurry of a mined mineral to be brightened an oxidizing solution comprising a peroxyacid, such as performic acid and recovering bleached mineral of improved brightness, color and/or improved purity compared to the mineral to be brightened.

Microstructured composite particles obtainable by a process in which large particles are bonded to small particles. The composite particles are preferably used as an additive, especially as a polymer additive, as an additive or starting material for the production of components, for applications in medical technology and/or in microtechnology and/or for the production of foamed articles.

An anionic polymeric dispersant and a composition comprising inorganic particulate material and an anionic polymeric dispersant. A method of grinding a composition comprising inorganic particulate material and an anionic polymeric dispersant and a use of anionic polymeric dispersant to maintain the viscosity of a composition comprising inorganic particulate material.