GB2323362A - Power-saving coating material containing nephrite jade powder - Google Patents

Abstract

Nephrite jade powder is mixed with a conventional liquid epoxy resin paint which comprises an epoxy resin which contains epoxy groups at both terminals of the molecule of a linear polyalcohol wherein 1 - 5 moles of bisphenol and 2 - 6 moles of epichlorohydrin have been linked by an ether bond, and/or a phenol resin, and/or an amino resin, to prepare a coating material, or just before an article is coated with a conventional epoxy resin paint or other paint as described above, and nephrite jade powder and mixed in order to spray-coat the mixture on the article, in order to improve the power-saving effect, and also ability in improving quality of water or for removing heavy metals.

Description

POWER-SAVING COATING MATERIAL AND ARTICLES COATED THEREWITH The present invention relates to a power-saving coating material containing fine powder of nephrite jade as a component.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a power-saving coating material containing fine powder of nephrite jade of very fine combination weave fibrous microstructure of cryptocrystalline tremolite type, the coating material being an amino acid resin paint, a phenol resin paint, or, in particular, an epoxy resin paint. When the coating material containing nephrite jade is spray coated on the outside or inside of utensil goods such as an electric refrigerator, electric washing machine, or vacuum cleaner, excellent properties such as that of impurity (heavy metal) removal [especially, in the case of a refrigerator], and improvement in the quality of water became apparent.

As is generally known, jade is broadly divided into jadeite and nephrite jade.

Jadeite belongs to the pyroxene family and has a monoclinic system comprising silicic acid, aluminum oxide and soda. It is an intimate mass, and the hardness is comparable to that of crystal. It is transparent or translucent of black, blue green or green color.

People usually speak of jadeite as jade.

Nephrite jade is an inorganic material having a monoclinic system of inosilicates. The quality of nephrite jade is determined by its fine structure, and the finer the fiber, the better is the quality.

[Mining Promotion, 1993, the Korea Mining Promotion Corporation].

According to a German literature reference tMauda Palmer Die Verborgene, "KRAFF der KRISTALLE und der EDELSTEINE"], the two different ores, jadeite and nephrite jade, both comprise silicon and oxygen, as do most other jewels. However, Jadeite is formed of granular crystals while nephrite jade consists of many crystals and aggregates of microparticles having a fibrous, hair-like structure. In particular, nephrite jade comprises three elements, Ca, Fe and Mg, which are good for the human body, while jadeite comprises sodium and aluminum components. Thus, it has been recently reported that nephrite jade, when attached to the body, provides a considerable effect on the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, circulatory system disorder, heart disease and kidney disorder.

A classic written work of traditional oriental medicine, "Treasures in oriental medicine" describes that jade is added to black rice liquor to alter the liquor to water, and intake of jade powder in a size like sesame seed is good for the discharge of the waste material. Also it describes that when jade powder (1 part by volume), rice (1 part by volume) and white dew (1 part by volume) are cooked to rice in a copper vessel, the jade powder becomes water (so called jade-liquid, the "divine jade water").

"Plants of Divine Agriculture", "Plants of Tang Age' and "List of Basic Plants" describe that intake of jade powder in a size like sesame seed enriches five viscera and six entrails and completely discharges the waste materials. In addition, it is effective in the digestive system by removal of heat from the stomach, and is good for the treatment of bronchial asthma, body fever and heavy feeling in the chest as well as thirst. When jade powder is taken for a long time, the body becomes easy and light, the function of lungs is enhanced, and making voice by the vocal cords becomes easier. Also, it is good for the throat, nutrition of hair, functions of five viscera and six entrails and treatment of nervous diseases such as stress. Besides, the components of nephrite jade reveal excellent functions to the body without side effect. For example, intake of white jade powder is good for tension or cramps in the muscles and rubbing with nephrite jade on damaged skin for several days removes the scar.

However, as nephrite jade does not exist in a large amount in nature, the use thereof is restricted to personal jewellery ornaments such as necklaces, rings, and bracelets, in spite of the well known excellent medical functions. In addition, the processing of nephrite jade requires the delicate handling of experts having much experience, and nephrite jade is economically disadvantageous having a very high price, so that development of general practical goods using nephrite jade is strongly needed.

The inventors of the present application have noted the excellent medical effects of nephrite jade and studied intensively for many years, and as a result, have found that if a coating material containing nephrite jade powder of cryptocrystalline tremolite of a180 is coated on electric goods, especially household electric appliances, or other articles, or if nephrite jade powder is mixed with the raw materials and the mixture molded to articles in a conventional method, the articles have excellent power-saving effect, and in the case of kitchen utensils, they also have the ability of improving the quality of water and removing heavy metals. On the basis of these facts the invention has been completed.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a coating material having an excellent power-saving effect due to the inherent properties of nephrite jade (powder) when applied to household electric appliances such as kitchen utensils, the outside or inside parts of an automobile, or electric goods.

Another object of the present invention is to maximize the utilization of nephrite jade powder which is a remainder or waste from the mining or fine processing of nephrite jade ornaments.

Other objects or advantages of the present invention can be learned from the following description and Examples.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows the crystalline structure of nephrite jade powder used in the coating material according to the present invention, by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

Fig. 2 shows the results of far IR emission of nephrite jade powder used in the present invention by FT-IR Spectrometer.

Fig. 3(a) shows the effect of nephrite jade on drip loss(%) when pork was stored in a glass container containing nephrite jade powder used in the present invention.

Fig. 3(b) shows the effect of nephrite jade on pH when pork was stored in a glass container containing nephrite jade powder used in the present invention.

Fig. 3(c) shows the effect of nephrite jade on VBN content when pork was stored in a glass container containing nephrite jade powder used in the present invention.

Fig. 3(d) shows the effect of nephrite jade on TBA value when pork was stored in a glass container containing nephrite jade powder used in the present invention.

Fig. 3(e) shows the effect of nephrite jade on meat color (hE) when pork was stored in a glass container containing nephrite jade powder used in the present invention.

Fig. 4(a) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on the glucose content in serum of diabetes-induced animals (rats).

Fig. 4(b) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on hydroxybutyrate content in serum of diabetes-induced animals (rats).

Fig. 4(c) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on free fatty acid content in serum of diabetes-induced animals (rats).

Fig. 4(d) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on cholesterol content in serum of diabetes-induced animals (rats).

Fig. 4(e) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on the triglyceride content in serum of diabetes-induced animals (rats).

Fig. 4(f) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on the HDL-cholesterol content in serum of diabetes-induced animals (rats).

Fig. 5(a) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on the body weight of rats (SHR) having spontaneous hypertension.

Fig. 5(b) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on the systolic blood pressure of rats (SHR) having spontaneous hypertension.

Fig. 5(c) shows the effect of nephrite jade tile used in the present invention on the hypotensive activity to the rats (SHR) having spontaneous hypertension.

According to the present invention, nephrite jade powder is mixed with a conventional liquid epoxy resin paint which comprises an epoxy resin which contains epoxy groups at both terminals of the molecule of a linear polyalcohol wherein 1 - 5 moles of bisphenol and 2 - 6 moles of epichlorohydrin have been linked by an ether bond, and/or a phenol resin or an amino resin to prepare a coating material; or just before an article is coated with a conventional epoxy resin paint, nephrite jade powder is mixed to spray-coat the mixture on the article, in order to improve the power-saving effect, and ability for improving water quality or for removing heavy metals.

The "coating material" according to the present invention has a non-restrictive meaning. As an epoxy resin paint is a kind of thermo-curable acryl resin paint using epoxy resin as a cross-linking agent, the coating material of the present invention may be any kind of thermo-curable acryl resin coating material using an amino resin or a phenol resin or mixtures thereof - other than epoxy resin - as a cross-linking agent.

The liquid epoxy resin mentioned above is preferably a polymeric epoxy resin essentially based on formula (1) and (2) shown below: formula (1) formula (2)

o cH 2 CI-Cn:-CX''CH: + HOtC,tH cx.. epichlorohydrin bisphenol A CH,-C-C1O-CHI-Ct4 Cr CH, CH, OH H2C - CH- CH2- ffico-cH,-cH CH, CcHs 0 CH+ 4C t0 0 CH,-CH Ot, [n = 1] In the specification, and though explanation is made by referring to household electric appliances which are coated by the coating material of the present invention, it should be understood that the coating material of the present invention is not restricted to be coated on household electric appliances.

Articles to be applied with the coating material of the present invention include household electric appliances such as electric refrigerators, electric washers, electric cleaners, electric drying machines, electric irons, electric stoves, electric heaters, electric quilts, electric blankets, electric cooking braziers, electric ranges, electric toasters, electric percolators, hair driers, electric fans, room coolers, electric kettles, electric mixers, electric massaging machines, electric razors, electric hair clippers, electric bells, small electric irons, electric can openers, electric tooth brushes, TV game sets, electric pads, electric coffee pots, electric leg warmer, humidifier, electric cold display cases, electric slot machines, electric frying pans, electric cookers, electric vacuum cleaners, electric mosquito-picking machines, electric coal gas exhausters and electric dish washers; electric goods for supplying or regulating electricity such as direct current generators, alternating current generators, direct current motors, alternative current motors, rotary converters, rectifiers, transformers, induced voltage regulators, electric power suppliers, relays, electric switches, circuit breakers, current regulators, current restrictors, resistors and condensers; and material goods in the electric field such as electric insulators, electric insulating tubes, electric insulating sheets, electric insulating papers, rubbery goods for electric insulating, mixtures for electric insulation, mica products for electric insulation, carbons for electric goods and insulating tapes. When the coating material is applied to the inside or outside of a TV set, clearness of the screen can be improved.

In addition, the coating material of the present invention may be applied in the field of vehicles, ships and airplanes, for example, automobiles, trucks, buses, trailers, tractors, ambulances, fire engines, water sprinklers, dump cars, forklift trucks, racing cars, funeral cars, amphibious cars, armored cars, tanks, automatic tricycles, wheels, automatic bicycles, cleaning cars, ladder trucks, cold-storage cars, tank rolly cars, snow plough cars, armored vehicles, driverless conveyance cars, ready mixed concrete trucks, bulk cars, payloaders, bulldozers, graders, passenger boats, cargo boats, fishing boats, tugboats, icebreakers, motor boats, yachts, cable repairing ships, dredgers, boats, canoes, sailing ships, lifeboats, warships, propellers, laid-up devices, signal lamps for ships, oil drilling ships, oilers, container ships, amphibious ships, balloons, airships, gliders, helicopters, airplanes, rockets, space ships, artificial satellites, steam locomotives, electric locomotives, internal combustion electric locomotives, diesel locomotives, storage batteries, locomotives, electric cars, internal combustion cars, passenger trains, freight trains, and cable cars.

The particle size of the nephrite jade powder used in the coating material according to the present invention may be selected taking account of the shape and use of the object to be coated. Generally, nephrite jade powder having a particle size of 100 350 mesh is preferably used. If the shape of the object to be coated is complicated, or increased ductility is required, for example, in the case that the article has a small thickness, more fine particles (about 250 - 350 mesh) are preferable used, while 100 - 500 mesh powder may be used in order to coat a general article. If the particle size is higher than the above range, it is disadvantageous because the surface roughness of the article increases while if the particle size is lower than that range, difficulties occur in pulverization.

The amount of nephrite jade added to a paint or spray-coating material is desirably 5 - 15 %. If the amount is less than 5%, the effect due to the addition of nephrite jade cannot be expected. The larger the amount, the better the effect of nephrite jade which occurs. However, if the amount is beyond the above range, the properties of the coating material (in particular, adhesive property) are reduced so as to cause deterioration of the state of the coated article, and increase the cost of the product owing to the high price of nephrite jade.

The nephrite jade powder used in the present invention may be derived from the stones of nephrite jade remaining after making personal ornaments, vessels or sculptures, in order to reduce the production cost to enhance the economics. Besides, articles coated with the coating material according to the present invention have excellent power-saving effect, so that the invention is appreciated from the economic point of view.

The nephrite jade powder used in the present invention is cryptocrystalline tremolite of 180, having a composition shown in the following Table 1.

Table 1: Results of Semi-quantitative Analysis of the Nephrite Jade Powder used in the Present Invention (%)

Silicon 34 Tin 0.024 Magnesium 10 Beryllium 0.00072 Calcium 4.9 Silver 0.0013 Iron 023 Titanium 0.0038 Aluminum 0.16 Nickel 0.0028 Copper 0.17 Chromium 0.0030 Cobalt 0.046 Other element ~ 0 Manganese 0.14 The preparation of the coating material which contains nephrite jade powder according to the present invention, and effects demonstrated by coating the coating material on articles are described in more detail with reference to the following Examples.

Example To an epoxy resin paint (75 - 85 parts by weight) which has been made by mixing 80 - 90 parts by weight of an epoxy resin (which contains epoxy groups at both terminals of the molecule of a linear polyalcohol wherein 1 mole of bisphenol and 2 moles of epichlorohydrin have been linked by an ether bond) with 10 - 20 parts by weight of phenol resin, nephrite jade powder (15 - 25 parts by weight) was added and mixed with stirring to obtain a liquid coating material according to the present invention.

The coating material was spray-coated on the inside of electric refrigerators (freezing room and cold-storage room), and the amount of power consumption was measured. As a result, about 25% of power-saving effect was revealed as shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2

temperature of Laboratory 30 + 1 (eft) Exp.

Condition - temperature of cold-storage room 3 i 0.5 (t) temperature of freezing room -18 + 0.5 (C) Results Designated coated item value untreated (the present invention) power 76.86 73A1 power 58 Itn consumption per 220 V 126.6% 13z5% t month 1325% 126.6% freezing room 153 1 181 I effective inner cold-storage 365 1 365 I volume roorn total 518 1 1 518.03 1 (+0.0%) Experimental standard: Proclamation to The Industrial Advancement No. 95-370 Experimental Example 1 This is to examine whether lead, heavy metals or other toxic materials exist in the nephrite powder used in the preparation of the coating material of the present invention (FDA registration No.: 2022038, Bio-Science Research Institute, Inc.).

Table 3 (Test for Lead Content)

Sample Nephrite jade Powder Experimental method Atomic Absorption Analysis Results Not detected Table 4 (Test for Heavy Metals)

Sample Nephrite jade Powder Experimental method USP 23 Results Not detected Table 5 (Test for Dissociation of Inorganic materials)

Sample Dishes containing nephrite jade powder The sample (about 100g) was extracted with Experimental method 1 liter of water in an autoclave, and the extract was analYsed.

Results Listed below

Analysed Material Result (ppm) Detection limit (ppm) As ND 0.05 Ba ND 0.20 Cd 0.006 0.005 Cl ND 1 Cr ND 0.01 Cu ND 0.05 Fe ND 0.10 Pb ND 0.05 Mn ND 0.02 Hg ND 0.0005 ND ND 0.1 Se ND 0.05 Ag ND 0.01 S04 1.85 1 Zn ND 0.01 ND - Not detected, or the concentration lower than the detection limit As shown in the above experimental results, the nephrite jade powder used in the preparation of the coating material of the present invention does not contain any material having toxicity to the human body, such as lead, heavy metals or other materials.

Thus, the coating material prepared in the present invention is proved to be safe if it is used as a coating material for the inner part of a refrigerator.

Experimental Example 2 The test cup (containing nephrite jade powder used in the present invention) and control cup (made of polyethylene) were filled with homogenized Grade A milk, and allowed to stand for 48 hours at ambient temperature. Then, the milk was subjected to analysis.

The results are shown in Table 6 below.

Table 6

Tests Control Cup | Test Cup Coliform Bacteria Absent / ml Absent I ml Lactobacillus 45000 cfu/ml 37000 cfu/ml Yeast & Mold Count 310 cfu/ml 280 cfu/ml Standard Plate Count over 3 x 10 cfulml over 3 x 106 cfutml Conclusion: The number of microorganisms which are harmful to human body was reduced.

Experimental Example 3 This is a test for anion content of silk wool containing nephrite jade powder (fillings of bedclothes), which had been carried out by Korea Raw silk & Fabric Experimental Research Center. As a result, it is found that anions beneficial to the human body are generated therefrom.

Items Results (1) Anion content (lonchromatography) : (ppm) Cl 54.8 not not detected SOi2 not detected note > Condition of extraction : extracted with distilled water at room temperature for 2 hours (2) Antibiotic rate (KS K 0693) :[Reduction rate of microorganism (%)] 99.9 note > microorganism used : Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) (3) Antibiosis (KS K 0692): (Microorganism-inhibiting band: mm) 4 note > microorganism used : Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) Experimental Example 4 The experiment was performed to investigate the effect of a jade container (bowl) made of the nephrite jade powder used in the present invention on the freshness of pork when pork had been stored in the bowl. The experiment was performed by Korea Food Research Institute. Details are described below (Evaluation of freshness of pork stored in a nephrite jade container: Korea Food Research Institute): Pork was stored either in a jade bowl or in a plain bowl (control) for 0, 4, 7, 14 or 21 days at 0 C or 40C. One hundred gram (100 g) of pork cut from ham part was kept in each container, while the drip loss, meat color, pH, volatile basic nitrogen(VBN: proteindenaturation) and lipid oxidation (TBA) were measured.

The results are shown in Table 7.

Temp( C) 0 4 Container Control Jade Control Jade Color(#E) 53.70#4.34 pH 5.83#0.04 Day 0 VBN 3.50#0.43 TBA 0.063#0.013 Color(#E) 55.80#0.01 49.30#0.11 54.90#0.08 56.50#0.07 pH 5.46#0.04 5.42#0.00 5.59#0.01 5.69#0.01 Day 4 VBN 5.56#0.20 4.29#0.20 5.65#0.39 5.42#1.41 TBA 0.153#0.00 0.104#0.032 0.122#0.006 0.099#0.025 Drip loss(%) 0.14 0.57 0.54 0.01 Color(#E) 55.50#0.47 52.60#0.75 52.80#0.06 52.90#0.05 pH 5.77#0.03 5.84#0.01 5.56#0.01 5.65#0.01 Day 7 VBN 2.36#0.00 2.323#0.00 3.48#0.45 2.59#0.22 TBA 0.234#0.013 0.203#0.006 0.239#0.006 0.203#0.019 Drip loss(%) 1.02 0.17 1.90 0.43 Color(#E) 51.70#0.10 53.80#0.13 62.80#0.00 56.70#0.04 pH 5.50#0.01 5.67#0.03 6.71#0.00 5.91#0.02 Day 14 VBN 3.00#0.39 3.98#0.18 6.17#0.87 3.85#0.53 TBA 0.162#0.013 0.176#0.019 2.406#0.191 0.811#0.089 Drip loss(%) 0.92 0.27 2.70 0.19 Color(#E) 52.40#0.06 59.20#0.13 58.20#0.13 66.30#0.33 pH 6.41#0.01 6.07#0.00 7.24#0.00 6.69#0.01 Day 21 VBN 5.32#0.36 7.35#0.42 30.67#3.31 15.08#0.98 TBA 10.220#0.230 6.852#0.274 10.15#0.198 2.298#0.102 Drip loss(%) 1.11 0.35 0.85 0.25 VBN : mg% TBA: mg Mal/kg of meat Fig. 3(a) shows the effect of a nephrite jade container on drip loss(%) when pork was stored at OOC or 40C for 21 days.

Fig. 3(b) shows the effect of a nephrite jade container on pH of the meat when pork was stored at OOC or 40C for 21 days.

Fig. 3(c) shows the effect of a nephrite jade container on VBN content when pork was stored at OOC or 40C for 21 days.

Fig. 3(d) shows the effect of a nephrite jade container on TBA content when pork was stored at OOC or 40C for 21 days.

Fig. 3(e) shows the effect of a nephrite jade container on meat color when pork was stored at OOC or 40C for 21 days.

As can be seen from the results, drip loss was much less in pork stored in a jade bowl and tended to be considerably reduced as time passed by, regardless of the storage temperature. As an important indicator of postmortem change of muscles, pH normally decreases immediately after slaughter and then remains as high as 6.5 - 6.8. In the present experiment, the type of the container did not seem to affect pH change (though pH at 40C was higher than that at OOC ) or the VBN value (which indicates the degree of protein denaturation) of pork directly. However, the TBA value (which indicates the degree of lipid oxidation) was kept lower in pork stored in a jade bowl regardless of the storage temperature. Meat color was measured by a color difference meter due to absorption and reflection of meat color pigment.

The AE value was lower in the control (plain bowl group) than in the jade bowl group at OOC and no consistent tendency was observed in pork stored at 40C although the bE value at 0 C was lower than that at 40C. This might have resulted from higher metmyoglobin formation due to more dehydration caused by high temperature.

From the experiment, if containers made of jade or packing materials (such as polyvinyl film) coated with jade powder are used in storing food, hygiene and quality might be maintained in the distribution of corruptible food, thereby lengthening the shelf life and enhancing safety.

Experimental Example 5 The IR study of nephrite jade powder used in the preparation of the coating material according to the present invention was performed. (Fig. 2)

Sample Jade Powder Appearance White <S

Experimental Example 6 The COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) of the jade powder used in the coating material of the present invention were tested. (performed by Research Center, officially recognized by F.D.A. of United States).

Table 9

Sample Jade Powder Appearance White powder Experimental method Standard methods Results Described below water (control) jade-treated BOD for 5 days 224 mg/l 223 mi COD 115 mg/l 110 mgil Experimental Example 7 This experiment is to examine the effects of a jade mug which might change the taste attributes of a beverage (commercial instant coffee) when the beverage is served in a jade container. The experiment was performed by Department of Food & Nutrition of Chung-Ang University and Korea Food Research Institute. The details are described below: 1 > Object of the experiment To examine the change in taste, aroma, aftertaste and/or color of coffee when it is served in a jade mug or a plain mug (control).

2 > Test method: Paired Preference Test - to test preference of one sample over the other sample - test attributes: taste, aroma, aftertaste, color.

3 > Sensory Panels - 20 - 25 students majored in food & nutrition at Chung-Ang University in Korea (who are experienced in the panel test and have knowledge of the test method) 4 > Test Period - March to June, 1996 - once a week - In total 10 test sessions were performed.

5 > Test container and type of beverage A jade mug vs. a plain mug: both having the same Appearance - Beverage: instant coffee (Taster's Choice) 6 > Sample preparation - 1 teaspoon of coffee was mixed to 1/2 cup of boiled water (1000C ).

7 > Statistics: T-test (pus0.05) Results 1. Taste: Coffee contained in the jade mug imparted much less bitter taste (p < 0.05).

2. Color & Aftertaste: The jade mug tended to give better color and aftertaste, but the results were not statistically significant.

3. Aroma: The plain mug gave a better coffee aroma than the jade mug, but the results were not statistically significant.

* The figure below shows the effect of a jade mug on the sensory attributes of coffee.

Taste Aroma Aftertaste Color Conclusion A jade mug seems to make the taste of coffee mild (which was proved to be statistically significant).

Aftertaste and color of the coffee contained in a jade mug was similar to or better than that contained in a plain mug (not statistically significant). Aroma of coffee contained in a plain mug was better than that in a jade mug (not statistically significant).

Experimental Example 8 The experiment is to investigate the effect of jade containing tiles and supernatant jade water after precipitation of jade powder on reproduction and growth in rats when jade tiles were placed on the cage and jade water was fed instead of tap water. It was performed by Korea Food Research Institute. The details are described below.

Thirty male and female Sprague Dawley rats (9 weeks old) were assigned to each treatment. Rats of group A were housed in cages placed with jade tile and provided with tap water. Rats of group B were fed with supernatant jade water after precipitation of jade powder (2 mg/ml tap water), but no jade tile was placed on the cage. The rats of group C formed a control group (no jade tiles and no jade water). Rats were mated for nine days and then male rats separated and sacrificed for sperm concentration and motility tests. The results are shown in Table 10.

Table 10 Effects of Jade Products on the Reproduction and Growth of Rats

Group A B C Parturition (No. of 9 9 8 rats) Litter size (#/#) 96 (57/39) 94(57/37) 102 (54/48) Litter size (head/# 11.8#1.9 10.9#1.4 12.8#2.1 rat) Body weight at 4.73#1.10 5.79#0.95 5.35#0.35 birth (g) Morality (No. of head) Days from mating 23.8#1.4 (n=10) 25.1#1.7 (n=9) 25.5#3.7(n=8) to parturiton Body weight at 43.45#8.04 42.73#8.76 42.07#10.71 weaning (g) Body weight at 294.0110.9 274.418.6 288.4#26.7 294.0#10.9 274.4#@.@ 2@@.4#20.7 slaughter (g) Testis weight (g) 3.90#0.21 3.57#0.30 3.99#0.15 Sperm concentration 6.32#2.4 4.80#1.3 4.50#1.9 (108/ml) Sperm motility (%) 91.0#4.2 92.0#2.7 88.0#7.6 From the findings, jade tile (group A) and jade water (group B) treatments had shown better parturition records than the control group (C). Parturition rates of groups A and B (90%) were higher than those of C (80%), and the number of male animal in group A or B was larger by 3 than that of the control, although rats of group C gave birth to several more young. Also the length of time from mating to parturition was shorter in group A rats than the other two rat groups (statistically significant). Besides these findings, sperm concentration and motility in rats of group A (jade tile treated) were superior to C. However, the effects of both jade tile and jade water treatments at the same time were not investigated in this study.

In conclusion, the results suggest that jade tile and jade water seem to affect the reproduction and growth of rats: both jade tile or jade water treatment groups had shown better indices of reproduction and growth. It would be very valuable to investigate these effects further for future application. These findings may be applied as basic data for the improvement of reproductive efficiency and strengthening of sperm concentration and motility rate.

Experimental Example 9 The experiment is to investigate the relieving effect of jade on the symptoms of diabetes mellitus when various jade products were applied to streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus rats. It was performed by Korea Food Research Institute. The details are described below. [Fig. 4(a) to 4(f)].

To thirty-two(32) Sprague Dawley rats weighing 252 - 294 g were given streptozotocin (35 - 40 mg dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer of pH 4.0) peritoneally. Seven days after administration of streptozotocin, rats showing blood glucose levels higher than 250 mg/dl were selected based on uropaper (Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd., Japan). Four experimental groups of 5 rats each were employed for a 50 days experimental period. Group A rats were injected with 1.0 ml of distilled jade water peritoneally (pH6.4) each day. Rats of group B were housed in cages with jade tiles placed on the bottom throughout the experiment. Rats of group C were fed with supernatant jade water after precipitation out of jade powder as a drinking water everyday. Group D rats as a control did not have any treatment. Diets fed were commercial rat chow, and the rats were cared for according to the general practices. Rats were sacrificed on day 50 and blood was collected from abdominal aorta. Plasma were prepared from centrifuging blood containing heparin at 5,000 rpm for 15 min after leaving the blood at room temperature for 30 min. Organs (liver, kidney) taken out were weighed and recorded. Tests measurements on the blood plasma were HBA (plasma ss -hydroxybutyrate), FFA (free fatty acids), cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride. The content of HBA is quantitatively analyzed by measuring the increase of Absorbance (OD) of NADH, which is produced by oxidation by ss-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, at 340 nm. Lipids in the blood were measured by using a clinical kit (Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd., Japan).

Table 11 Effects of Jade Products on the Body and Oraan Weight Chanaes in StreDtozotocin-lnduced Diabetic Rats

Body weight (g) Organ weight (g/100g body wt.) Group Beginning Ending Liver Kidney A 270.4#11.3 271.7#49.4 4.31#0.33 1.02#0.12 B 284.8#6.1 279.6#20.4 4.30#0.64 1.01#0.18 C 280.4#13.2 315.7#41.1 3.96#0.75 0.87#0.14 D 257.2#4.2 194.8#26.3 4.37#0.19 0.78#0.04 Table 12 Effects of Jade Products on the Chanaes of Biochemical Indices in Sterptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Glucose HBAa FFAb TCc TGd HDLo Group (mg/100ml) ( mol/ml) ( eg/ml) (mg/100ml) (mg/100ml) (mg/100ml) A 639.2#99.0a 0.782#0.481a 507.6#226.6a 166.2#69.4 410.7#50.1 32.35#5.94 B 495.1#228.1ab 0.527#0.296ab 349.5#79.2ab 161.3#45.3 122.5#43.5 29.49#1.71 C 354.1#154.2bc 0.425#0.172ab 287.3#71.7b 145.4#29.1 87.9#29.2 30.55#8.28 D 196.8#16.3d 0.276#0.036b 291.0#131.2b 158.2#12.2 86.8#3.4 31.37#3.84 p < 0.05 'ss-hydroxybutyrate (ketone form) bFree fatty acid 'Total-cholesterol CTriglyceride (neutral lipid) Sigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol In terms of body weight, group C rats fed with jade water had shown higher body weight than other groups, of which the body weight was reduced (B, D) or maintained (A) at the end of the experiment. Kidney weights are generally increased in DM patients, and this tendency also was observed in this experiment.

Kidney weight of group C was the lowest among the treatments besides the control. Liver weight was increased too, but liver weight was the lowest in rats fed with jade water. Concentrations of blood glucose, ketone body and FFA were higher in the order of groups A, B, C and D. Blood plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentration had followed the same tendency (A > B > C > D) to the above mentioned parameters. From the results, rats fed with jade water (group C) showed comparatively lower values of all the parameters measured compared with the other two experimental groups, and blood cholesterol and FFA concentrations were lower in rats of group C than the control without any jade treatment.

TC and TG concentration was in the order of A > B > C > D. The result of glycemic index by blood sugar reaction after meal alters dependent upon the researchers. However, in the experiment, though commercial blended feed was fed without considering the glycemic index of cereals, C group fed with jade water showed an effect for alleviating hyperlipidemia, one of the diabetic symptoms. There occurred no difference of HDL-cholesterol concentration between the test groups.

The administration of jade water to Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats showed effects of preventing the reduction of body weight, preventing enlargement of kidney or liver as well as alleviating hyperlipidemia, one of the diabetic symptoms.

Experimental Example 10 The study was performed to investigate the effects of nephrite jade on lowering blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats when jade beddings were placed in rat cages instead of plain straw. The experiment was performed by Korea Food Research Institute.

The details are described hereinbelow.

Twelve eight week old male SHR rats were assigned to either group A (jade beddings) consisting of 6 animals or B (control) of 6 animals. Group A were given jade bedding products placed in the bottom of the cage, while Group B, general straw. Rats were fed by commercial extrusion feed formula (Samyang Co.), and general guidelines of breeding were followed. The experiment was continued for 5 weeks including a 1 week period of adapting the rats to the holder for measuring blood pressure. Body weight and blood pressure were measured every week. After placing the animal in the holder, and stabilizing the animal in the incubator having temperature of 29 +1 C, blood pressure was measured by the tail pulse pick up method using a noninvasive blood pressure analyzer (IITC Inc., Woodland Hills, California). The general standard for evaluating blood pressure in clinical tests was used.

Body weight of jade treated group A increased during the experiment, but it was not statistically significant between rats of group A (1.43 + 1.04 9) and B (1.50 t 0.27 g) (Fig. 5(a)]. In general, the growth rate of spontaneously hypertensive SHR is known to be lower than that of normal SHR.

The weekly change of systolic blood pressure (mmHg) of SHR treated with jade products for 4 weeks is shown in Table 13 below.

Table 13

Treatment Week A (Jade) B (Control) 0 202.6 + 9.19 199.8 i 11.68 1 193.1 + 7.72 205.9 + 8.50 2 191.7 + 6.97 213.0 + 11.75 3 187.3 + 8.65 212.7 t 16.69 4 187.1 # 8.89 208.5 # 17.61 Hypotensive effect (week) 0 - 2 - 10.5 # 3.21 + 13.4 # 3.75 o - 2 - 10.5 + 3.21 + 13.4 + 3.75 2 - 4 - 4.6 + 5.36 - 4.5 + 5.45 The systolic blood pressure of jade treated rats (group A) tended to be reduced (by about 10 mmHg from 202.6 mmHg at the starting point after a week of experiment) as shown in Table 13 and Fig. 5(b). From the third week, systolic blood pressure had been maintained almost consistently near at 187 mmHg.

Throughout the study, a total of 16 mmHg (more than 10 mmHg, evaluation standard of blood pressure change in clinical test) had been reduced in rats of group A. On the other hand, rats of group B showed increased systolic blood pressure up to 213 mmHg from 200 mmHg of day 0 during the half of the study and then somewhat reduced to about 209 mmHg at week 4.

Rats of group A showed considerable reductions of systolic blood pressure (-10.5 mmHg) throughout the experiment and those of group B significant increase (+13.4 mmHg) during the first half of the study period. In addition, systolic blood pressure (-4.6, -4.5 mmHg) of the rats of both two groups showed a tendency to decrease during the second half of the period.

The nephrite jade powder used in the coating material according to the present invention, as shown in the Experimental Examples described above, is characterized in that: 1 > In the test for freshness of pork, drip loss was much less in pork stored in a jade bowl and tended to be considerably reduced as time passed by, regardless of the storage temperature. The VBN (protein denaturation) and the TBA value (which indicates the degree of lipid oxidation) were kept lower, too, in pork stored in a jade bowl; 2 > In the sensory test concerning taste, the jade mug seems to make the taste of coffee mild (which was proved to be statistically significant, p < 0.05); 3 > In the experiment to investigate the effect of jade products on the reproduction of rats (SD), the jade treated rats showed superior ability of parturition, reduced time from mating to parturition and superior sperm concentration and motility to the control group.

4 > In the experiment to investigate the relieving effect of jade on the symptoms of diabetes mellitus when various jade products were applied to streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus rats, rats fed with jade water showed lower lipid concentration in blood, so that jade product may be used to alleviate hyperlipidemia, one of diabetic symptoms.

5 > In the study to investigate the effects of nephrite jade on lowering blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats when jade beddings were used, significant hypotensive effect has been shown as compared to the control group. It was confirmed that systolic blood pressure was lowered by about 16 mmHg.

In particular, as shown in Table 2 of the Example, it was confirmed that the coating material according to the present invention imparted the coated article with an excellent power-saving effect.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A power-saving coating material which is prepared by mixing 15 - 25 parts by weight of nephrite jade powder of particle size 150 - 300 mesh, with 75 85 parts by weight of a conventional liquid epoxy resin paint which comprises epoxy resin, which contains epoxy groups at both terminals of the molecule of linear polyalcohol wherein 1 - 5 moles of bisphenol and 2 - 6 moles of epichlorohydrin has been linked by ether bond, and/or a phenol resin, and/or an amino resin, or a mixture thereof.

2. The power-saving coating material according to claim 1, wherein 15 - 25 parts by weight of nephrite jade powder of particle size 150 - 300 mesh is mixed with 75 - 85 parts by weight of the epoxy resin paint or other resin paint as defined in claim 1 just before applying the coating material on an article and the coating material is spray-coated.

3. An article coated by the power-saving coating material according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The article according to claim 3, wherein the article is selected from household electric appliances, electric goods and transport equipment.

5. A power-saving coating material as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. An article as claimed in claim 3 substantially as hereinbefore described.