Thermal barrier mixtures and method of making the thermal barrier mixtures are described herein. The thermal barrier mixtures may be used to make thermal barrier coatings. Thermal barrier mixture may include halloysite and one or more silicon compounds.

An aqueous dispersion comprising a surface-modified hydrophilic mixed oxide powder comprising silicon and aluminum and water, characterized in that

a) the surface of the particles has Si and Al atoms and
b) the surface modification has an Si atom bonded to a hydrocarbon radical via a C atom, and
c) the carbon content of the surface-modified mixed oxide powder is 3-25% by weight.

Perlite microspheres having a modified visual appearance, methods of making the perlite microspheres, a composition, such as a personal care, cosmetic or cleaning composition, comprising the perlite microspheres, a visually enhanced exfoliating agent comprising the perlite microspheres, and to the use of the perlite microspheres in personal care, cosmetic or cleaning compositions.

Method for manufacturing a composite material combining a metal oxide or metalloid based matrix suited for allowing light to pass, and a mineral pigment dispersed in the matrix, the method comprising a step of mixing the mineral pigment in powder form with the matrix in powder form, and a step of sintering of the mixture under sufficient pressure such that the densification temperature of the matrix under said pressure is below the breakdown temperature of the mineral pigment, where the sintering temperature is greater than or equal to the densification temperature of the matrix and below the breakdown temperature of the mineral pigment.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and compositions for treating skin. In some embodiments, the method uses an exfoliation tool. In some embodiments, the method uses an exfoliation tool together with selected skin care agents or compositions.

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.

A process for producing structural colours from smectite or vermiculite clay mineral comprising: (i) intercalating cations in every second layer of said clay mineral; and (ii) dispersion of the intercalated clay mineral in water to form an aqueous suspension.

A method of making silica-layered double hydroxide microspheres having the formula I: (i) wherein, M.sup.z+ and M.sup.y+ are two different charged metal cations; z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4; 0<x<0.9; b is 0 to 10; c is 0 to 10; P>0, q>0, X.sup.n is an anion; with n>0 a=z(1x)+xy2; and the AMO-solvent is an 100% aqueous miscible organic solvent; comprises the steps: (a) contacting silica microspheres and a metal ion containing solution containing metal ions M.sup.z+ and M.sup.y+ in the presence of a base and an anion solution; (b) collecting the product; and (c) optionally treating the product with AMO-solvent and recovering the solvent treated material to obtain the silica-layered double hydroxide microspheres. Preferably, M in the formula I is Li, Mg, Ni or Ca. Preferably, M in formula I is Al. The invention further provides silica-layered double hydroxide microspheres having the formula I. The silica-layered double hydroxide microspheres may be used as catalysts and/or catalyst supports.

(SiO.sub.2).sub.p@{[M.sup.z+.sub.(1x)M.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n).sub.a/n.bH.sub.2O.c(AMO-solvent)}.sub.q(I)

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and compositions for treating skin. In some embodiments, the method uses an exfoliation tool. In some embodiments, the method uses an exfoliation tool together with selected skin care agents or compositions.

Aqueous dispersion containing a hydrophilic metal oxide powder comprising a metal oxide and a surface modification of the metal oxide, wherein a) the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3O.sub.4, Sb.sub.2O.sub.3, WO.sub.3, CeO.sub.2 and mixed oxides thereof and b) the surface modification b1) comprises silicon atoms and aluminum atoms and b2) the silicon atoms are at least partly bonded to a hydrocarbon radical via a C atom and b3) the Al/Si molar ratio of the surface modification is 1:2-1:20.