A method of producing an exothermic mold powder in a form of sprayed granules of the present invention includes spray-drying into granules, an aqueous slurry containing: a raw material blend; and a metal silicon powder and/or a silicon alloy powder, the method comprising adjusting the pH of the aqueous slurry to 13 or less.

A method of producing an exothermic mold powder in a form of sprayed granules of the present invention includes spray-drying into granules, an aqueous slurry containing: a raw material blend; and a metal silicon powder and/or a silicon alloy powder, the method comprising adjusting the pH of the aqueous slurry to 13 or less.

A cooling tape and cooling pad. In a most general embodiment, the inventive tape includes a first layer of thermally conductive material; a second layer of thermal insulation; and a third layer of endothermic material, sandwiched between the first and second layers. The third layer is constructed with reactants effective to cause an endothermic chemical reaction. In a first embodiment, the invention provides a beverage cooling device. In a second embodiment, the invention provides a pipe cooling/freezing device. The cooling pad is implemented with a first layer of thermally conductive material; a second layer of material; and a third layer of endothermic material, sandwiched between the first and second layers. In the illustrative embodiment, the third layer has a contour effective to create suction whereby the pad adheres to a surface to be cooled.

A cooling tape and cooling pad. In a most general embodiment, the inventive tape includes a first layer of thermally conductive material; a second layer of thermal insulation; and a third layer of endothermic material, sandwiched between the first and second layers. The third layer is constructed with reactants effective to cause an endothermic chemical reaction. In a first embodiment, the invention provides a beverage cooling device. In a second embodiment, the invention provides a pipe cooling/freezing device. The cooling pad is implemented with a first layer of thermally conductive material; a second layer of material; and a third layer of endothermic material, sandwiched between the first and second layers. In the illustrative embodiment, the third layer has a contour effective to create suction whereby the pad adheres to a surface to be cooled.

An iron powder for an exothermic composition according to the present invention has a bulk density of 0.3 to 1.5 g/cm.sup.3. Furthermore, an exothermic composition according to the present invention contains the iron powder, a carbon material, a halide salt, and water. Furthermore, an exothermic body production method according to the present invention includes: forming a coated member by coating a base material sheet with a flowable exothermic composition containing the iron powder, a carbon material, and water; and adjusting an amount of moisture in the coated member by removing water from the coated member. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a production method for the iron powder (an iron powder for an exothermic composition) including: a reducing step of reducing iron oxide to obtain reduced iron; and a step of milling the reduced iron. In the reducing step, the iron oxide is reduced by introducing iron oxide and a solid reductant with a volatile matter content of 10% by mass or more into a heating furnace whose internal portion contains no sulfur gas or is set to an air or inert gas atmosphere, and setting the internal portion to a reducing gas atmosphere through heating under a condition that an ambient temperature of the internal portion is from 900 to 1000 C.

An iron powder for an exothermic composition according to the present invention has a bulk density of 0.3 to 1.5 g/cm.sup.3. Furthermore, an exothermic composition according to the present invention contains the iron powder, a carbon material, a halide salt, and water. Furthermore, an exothermic body production method according to the present invention includes: forming a coated member by coating a base material sheet with a flowable exothermic composition containing the iron powder, a carbon material, and water; and adjusting an amount of moisture in the coated member by removing water from the coated member. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a production method for the iron powder (an iron powder for an exothermic composition) including: a reducing step of reducing iron oxide to obtain reduced iron; and a step of milling the reduced iron. In the reducing step, the iron oxide is reduced by introducing iron oxide and a solid reductant with a volatile matter content of 10% by mass or more into a heating furnace whose internal portion contains no sulfur gas or is set to an air or inert gas atmosphere, and setting the internal portion to a reducing gas atmosphere through heating under a condition that an ambient temperature of the internal portion is from 900 to 1000 C.

A portable, heated scent, odor, and/or molecule dispense system is provided, as well as devices and methods for doing the same. The portable systems and methods to dispense molecules may contain a liquid, gel, solid, foam, or other material-based formulation so as to attract, repel, kill, mask, or otherwise use the molecules. The portable system and methods may include a housing; a molecule holding pad in the housing; a first chemical reaction heat source in the housing; and a second chemical reaction heat source in the housing, wherein the molecule holding pad is arranged between the first chemical reaction heat source and the second chemical reaction heat source, and wherein the first chemical reaction heat source and the second chemical reaction heat source are each reactive to oxygen.

A portable, heated scent, odor, and/or molecule dispense system is provided, as well as devices and methods for doing the same. The portable systems and methods to dispense molecules may contain a liquid, gel, solid, foam, or other material-based formulation so as to attract, repel, kill, mask, or otherwise use the molecules. The portable system and methods may include a housing; a molecule holding pad in the housing; a first chemical reaction heat source in the housing; and a second chemical reaction heat source in the housing, wherein the molecule holding pad is arranged between the first chemical reaction heat source and the second chemical reaction heat source, and wherein the first chemical reaction heat source and the second chemical reaction heat source are each reactive to oxygen.

Lithium ion batteries are provided that include materials that provide advantageous endothermic functionalities contributing to the safety and stability of the batteries. The endothermic materials may include a ceramic matrix incorporating an inorganic gas-generating endothermic material. If the temperature of the lithium ion battery rises above a predetermined level, the endothermic materials serve to provide one or more functions to prevent and/or minimize the potential for thermal runaway, e.g., thermal insulation (particularly at high temperatures); (ii) energy absorption; (iii) venting of gases produced, in whole or in part, from endothermic reaction(s) associated with the endothermic materials, (iv) raising total pressure within the battery structure; (v) removal of absorbed heat from the battery system via venting of gases produced during the endothermic reaction(s) associated with the endothermic materials, and/or (vi) dilution of toxic gases (if present) and their safe expulsion from the battery system.

Lithium ion batteries are provided that include materials that provide advantageous endothermic functionalities contributing to the safety and stability of the batteries. The endothermic materials may include a ceramic matrix incorporating an inorganic gas-generating endothermic material. If the temperature of the lithium ion battery rises above a predetermined level, the endothermic materials serve to provide one or more functions to prevent and/or minimize the potential for thermal runaway, e.g., thermal insulation (particularly at high temperatures); (ii) energy absorption; (iii) venting of gases produced, in whole or in part, from endothermic reaction(s) associated with the endothermic materials, (iv) raising total pressure within the battery structure; (v) removal of absorbed heat from the battery system via venting of gases produced during the endothermic reaction(s) associated with the endothermic materials, and/or (vi) dilution of toxic gases (if present) and their safe expulsion from the battery system.