The object of the present invention is to provide silicon doped metal oxide particles for UV absorption, which average molar absorption coefficient in the wavelength range of 200 nm to 380 nm, is enhanced. Provided is silicon doped metal oxide particles in which the metal oxide particles are doped with silicon, wherein an average molar absorption coefficient in the wavelength range of 200 nm to 380 nm, of a dispersion in which the silicon doped metal oxide particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium, is improved as compared with similar metal oxide particles not doped with silicon.

ATO infrared absorbing fine particles having high coloring property (high light absorption property) which has both excellent dispersibility and solar radiation shielding properties and can reduce a use amount of ATO infrared ray absorbing fine particles can be provided, wherein crystal lattice constant a is 4.736 or more and 4.743 or less, crystal lattice constant c is 3.187 or more and 3.192 or less, and a crystallite size is 5.5 nm or more and 10.0 nm or less, which are analyzed by an X-ray diffraction measurement result.

A composition of matter includes a liquid and nanoparticles suspended in the liquid. The nanoparticles each include silica, alumina, and an organosilicon functional group having a molecular weight of at least 200. A method includes functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group and dispersing the nanoparticles in a liquid to form a suspension. The functional group has a molecular weight of at least 200. The nanoparticles each include silica and alumina at a surface thereof.

The invention has for its object to use an evaporation-spray drying process thereby providing layered silicate powder granules, each one containing a flat particle having an opening or recess in its surface center. Each of the layered silicate powder granule contains a flat particle including a layered silicate formed by evaporation-spray drying and a rheology modifier for modifying the crystal edge face of the layered silicate and having an opening or recess in its surface center.

An effect pigment preparation comprises an effect pigment, a dispersive additive, and a passivating agent. The preparation is dry, the pigment comprises about 84% or more of the mass of the preparation, the dispersive additive comprises up to 15% of the mass of the preparation, and the number of theoretical layers of the passivating agent is from about 2 to about 12. The effect pigment preparation is non-dusting and can be easily stirred into aqueous, solvent, or UV curing-based liquid coatings formulations.

A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ?E color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

A nanoparticle-containing solution comprising nanoparticles of a metal oxide, and a solution obtained by dissolving, in an organic solvent, a phosphoric acid ester and a reactive group-containing carbonyl compound as hydrophobic treatment agents, the phosphoric acid ester having an alkylene oxide chain, and an alkyl group or allyl group at an end, and the reactive group-containing carbonyl compound having at least a vinyl group and a carboxyl group or cyclic ester group, and having a solubility parameter calculated by Fedors' method of 10.0 to 12.5.

Provided is a near infrared absorbing fine particle dispersion liquid, which can be applied to a base material such as an acrylic resin base material having a low solvent resistance, including: a solvent of one or more kinds selected from petroleum-based solvents; near infrared absorbing fine particles of one or more kinds selected from 10 mass % more and 25 mass % or less of a composite tungsten oxide expressed by M.sub.xW.sub.yO.sub.z, and/or a magneli phase expressed by the general formula W.sub.yO.sub.z; and a dispersant having a fatty acid in its structure and soluble in the solvent, wherein a viscosity is 180 mPa/S or less.

Provided is a kaolin having a finer particle size and a narrower particle size distribution, in combination with suitable morphology. Also provided are a method of preparing the kaolin product and methods of use.

A dispersion that inorganic oxide microparticles may be dispersed at a high concentration in a solvent, a composition for film formation having high transparency, high refractive index and adhesion to a base layer. Inorganic oxide microparticles wherein an amphiphilic organosilicon compound having one or more selected from a polyoxyethylene group, a polyoxypropylene group, or a polyoxybutylene group as a hydrophilic group, and one or more selected from a C.sub.1-18 alkylene group or a vinylene group as a hydrophobic group bonded to a surface of modified metal oxide colloidal particles (C) having a primary particle diameter of 2 to 100 nm, the modified metal oxide colloidal particles wherein a surface of metal oxide colloidal particles (A) having a primary particle diameter of 2 to 60 nm as a nucleus is coated with a coating material (B) including metal oxide colloidal particles having a primary particle diameter of 1 to 4 nm.