Artificial turf for use with an artificial turf system, which may also include a base layer and a support layer. The artificial turf comprising a backing supporting pile tufts of between ¼″ to 4″ in length, in position on its upper surface. The backing may comprise a porous synthetic foam or backing sheet. A filler of particles shaped to have no sharp edges and of substantially equal size are interspersed over the backing and about the tufts up to at least half thick length. The artificial turf substantially retains its resiliency, porosity and equal density throughout.

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.

Solar-reflective roofing granules having deep-tone colors are formed by coating base mineral particles with a coating composition including an infrared-reflective pigment. Color is provided by a colored infrared pigment, a light-interference platelet pigment, or a metal oxide.

A composite particle includes a discrete, hollow, ceramic spheroid and a fluoropolymer layer disposed thereon. The fluoropolymer is a homopolymer or copolymer of a perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether; a perfluoroalkoxy vinyl ether; at least one fluoroolefin independently represented by formula C(R).sub.2═CF—Rf, wherein Rf is fluorine or a perfluoroalkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and R is hydrogen, fluorine, or chlorine; or a combination thereof. Methods of making the composite particles, composite materials, and articles including them are also disclosed.

A lightweight composite having an activated surface contains a lightweight hollow core particle having cement grains which may be adhered to the hollow core or embedded in the surface of the hollow core. The hollow core particle may be prepared from calcium carbonate and a mixture of clay, such as bentonite, and a glassy inorganic material, such as glass spheres, glass beads, glass bubbles, borosilicate glass and fiberglass.

Roofing granules having a color coating layer are covered with a clear, transparent or translucent outer coating composition including a functional material, such nanoparticles of anatase titanium dioxide.

An insulating core material for a refrigerating appliance includes a plurality of insulating glass spheres, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between at least a portion of the insulating glass spheres of the plurality of glass spheres. A coating material is applied at least to the outer surface of the insulating glass spheres, wherein the coating material modifies the outer surface to define a retaining outer surface of each insulating glass sphere of the plurality of glass spheres. A secondary insulating material is combined with the plurality of insulating glass spheres, wherein the secondary insulating material is at least partially retained by the retaining outer surfaces of the insulating glass spheres to occupy the plurality of interstitial spaces.

Solar-reflective roofing granules having deep-tone colors are formed by coating base mineral particles with a coating composition including an infrared-reflective pigment. Color is provided by a colored infrared pigment, a light-interference platelet pigment, or a metal oxide.

Roofing granules having a color coating layer are covered with a clear, transparent or translucent outer coating composition including a functional material, such nanoparticles of anatase titanium dioxide.

Roofing granules having a color coating layer are covered with a clear, transparent or translucent outer coating composition including a functional material, such nanoparticles of anatase titanium dioxide.