Provided herein is a multifunctional particle and methods of forming the same. The multifunctional particle includes a surface of the particle; a first moiety coupled to the surface and having at least one substantially hydrophobic appendage; and a second moiety coupled to the surface and having at least one appendage comprising a reactive functional group and a substantially hydrophilic repeating unit, whereby the particle is substantially superhydrophobic as a result of the substantially hydrophobic appendage, chemically reactive as a result of the reactive functional group, and migratory to a surface of a substantially hydrophobic matrix in which the particle may be included as a result of the substantially hydrophilic repeating unit. Additionally, antimicrobial functional groups may be coupled to the surface.

Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

The invention relates to polymer compositions containing inorganic or organic particles which either have been surface-treated before the production of the compositions or are dispersed by special polyether-modified siloxanes through the production of the compositions.

A product including ultrafine natural glass, methods of producing the ultrafine natural glass, and methods of use thereof are provided. The product may have, for example, a small top cut (d.sub.99) particle size of, for example, less than 12 microns. The product may also have high blue light brightness higher than, for example, 69, and/or low oil absorption, for example, less than 100 percent in volume. The product may be used in a variety of applications, such as, for example, anti-block filler in plastic films and/or reinforcement filler in polymers.

The invention concerns a continuous flow process for manufacturing surface modified metal oxide nanoparticles by supercritical solvothermal synthesis in an reaction medium flowing within a continuous flow chamber, said continuous flow chamber containing a hydrolysis area and a supercritical area, said process comprising the introduction of a flow of metal oxide precursor into the continuous flow chamber at a point P located in the hydrolysis area or in the supercritical area, and the introduction of a flow of is located downstream of P1 with respect to the flow direction, as well as the device for carrying out this process.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a composite pigment which can be dispersed and made into paint in a manner that saves labor compared with conventional flat emulsion paints, and which can achieve concealing properties and low glossiness (a luster reduction effect) without separately adding a matting agent. This composite pigment contains an inorganic compound and/or an organic compound, and a fixed extender pigment.

A composition for forming a transparent coating film including hollow silica microparticles and a binder is provided. The hollow silica microparticles have an average particle diameter of 5 to 300 nm when measured by the dynamic light scattering method, a specific surface area of 50 to 1500 m.sup.2/g, and an outer shell in which cavities are formed. The microparticles lose weight by 1.0 W % or more at a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 500° C. when measured by the thermogravimetry (TG). A surface charge (QA) of the hollow silica microparticles contained in the compositions for forming a transparent coating film is in the range from 5 to 20 μeq/g.

A composition for forming a transparent coating film including hollow silica microparticles and a binder is provided. The hollow silica microparticles have an average particle diameter of 5 to 300 nm when measured by the dynamic light scattering method, a specific surface area of 50 to 1500 m.sup.2/g, and an outer shell in which cavities are formed. The microparticles lose weight by 1.0 W % or more at a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 500° C. when measured by the thermogravimetry (TG). A surface charge (QA) of the hollow silica microparticles contained in the compositions for forming a transparent coating film is in the range from 5 to 20 μeq/g.

Natural amorphous silica filler products featuring high brightness, low oil absorption, fine particle size, and low crystalline silica content are described. Methods for making, using, and measuring the properties of the natural amorphous silica filler products are also described. The natural amorphous silica filler products described herein may be useful in a variety of products including, but not limited to, polymers, sealants, paints, caulks, latex, architectural coatings, industrial coatings, pozzolan, glass catalysts, ceramic glazes, and anti-blocking applications.

Natural amorphous silica filler products featuring high brightness, low oil absorption, fine particle size, and low crystalline silica content are described. Methods for making, using, and measuring the properties of the natural amorphous silica filler products are also described. The natural amorphous silica filler products described herein may be useful in a variety of products including, but not limited to, polymers, sealants, paints, caulks, latex, architectural coatings, industrial coatings, pozzolan, glass catalysts, ceramic glazes, and anti-blocking applications.