Abstract: A method for pressureless sintering of B4C without sintering agents which reduces sintering time without sacrificing relative density, and avoids decomposition of B4C and loss of relative density.

Abstract: Porous ceramic and hybrid ceramic films are useful as low dielectric constant interlayers in semiconductor interconnects. (Hybrid ceramic films are defined as films that contain organic and ceramic molecular components in the structure, as, for example, organosilicates). This invention describes the usefulness of humidity treatments (using specific temperature/humidity treatments as illustrative examples) in increasing mechanical integrity of porous dielectric films with minimal detrimental effect on film porosity or dielectric constant and with no adverse impact on film quality. The efficacy of such treatments is illustrated using surfactant-templated mesoporous silicate films as an example. This invention also describes a specific family of additives to be used with highly pure alkali-metal-free ceramic and hybrid precursors for such dielectric films that will enable better control of the film porosity and quality and lower dielectric constants with the required mechanical integrity.

Abstract: Pressureless sintering of silicon carbide with fracture toughness in excess of about 4 MPa-m1/2 as measured by the single-edge precracked beam (SEPB) technique while maintaining a density greater than 3.1 g/cc for compositions with SiC greater than about 94 wt. % is made possible through the use of metallic Al to promote sintering and grain growth. Boron and carbon may be used as traditional sintering aids, with nitrogen to suppress grain growth, and additions of yttrium and/or lanthanide elements to promote intergranular fracture.

Abstract: A ceramic forming batch mixture including inorganic batch materials, such as sources of alumina, titania, and silica, a pore former combination including first and second pore formers with different compositions; an organic binder; and a solvent. Also disclosed is a method for producing a ceramic article involving mixing the inorganic batch materials with the pore former combination having first and second pore formers of different composition, adding an organic binder and a solvent, forming a green body; and firing the green body. A green body having a combination of first and second pore formers with different compositions is disclosed, as are several methods for firing to produce ceramic articles such as aluminum titanate.

Abstract: This process is a fused glass powder process for making ceramic billets for semiconductor dopants. The powder process uses a unique combination of steps for packing, compacting and heat treating the powders. The resulting billets may be tailored in composition to provide a variety of densities, rigidities and B2O3 evolution rates. Further, the resulting wafers have a large diameter to meet the needs of semiconductor production.

Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.

Abstract: A low ignition propensity cigarette according to the invention includes a high-density region formed in the center of the paper tube and containing normal shred tobacco filled to be a filling density of 0.15 to 0.35 g/cm3, for example 0.25 g/cm3, and a low density region formed between the paper tube and the high-density region and containing expanded shred tobacco filled to a filling density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm3, for example 0.14 g/cm3. The thickness of the low-density region defined between the paper tube and the high-density region is in the range of 1 to 3 mm.

Abstract: A solvent and TAC particles are continuously supplied to a disperser. When the shearing of the solvent and the particles are made in a shearing section, the particles are dispersed in the solvent. The dispersion is fed to a mixer in one minute. The shearing of the dispersion is made in the mixer, the particles are swollen in the solvent in one minute. Since the shearing and the continuous feed of the swelling solution is made, the aggregation does not occur. There are no undissolved aggregates in a dope, which is obtained from the swelling solution. A film produced from the dope has no defects of luminescent spot but excellent optical properties.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a honeycomb structured body of the present invention is a method for inspecting a honeycomb structured body comprising a pillar-shaped honeycomb fired body having a multitude of cells placed in parallel with one another in the longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween, the method comprising: measuring the shape of the honeycomb structured body in the longitudinal direction through preparing a contact measurement apparatus including a reference surface, a rail disposed perpendicularly to the reference surface, and a measurement probe including a contacting probe configured to move along the rail; contacting one end face of the honeycomb structured body with the reference surface; and moving the measurement probe in a direction nearing the reference surface to contact the contacting probe with the other end face of the honeycomb structured body.

Abstract: In a method of preparing a boron carbide material, boron carbide powder is washed with essentially pure water at an elevated temperature to generate washed boron carbide powder. The washed boron carbide powder is combined with a sintering aid. The mixture of the boron carbide powder and the sintering aid is pressed to form a shaped material, and the shaped material is sintered. A sintered boron carbide material comprises a boron carbide component that includes boron carbide, elemental carbon, and not more than about 0.6 wt % of oxygen on the basis of the total weight of the boron carbide component. The sintered boron carbide material has a density of at least about 99% of the theoretical density. Another sintered boron carbide material comprises a boron carbide component that includes boron carbide, silicon carbide, elemental carbon, and not more than about 0.3 wt % oxygen on the basis of the total weight of the boron carbide component, and has a density of at least about 97% of the theoretical density.

Abstract: The present invention uses a post-sinter-HIP anneal to increase the total transmittance of ceramic discharge vessels comprised of a submicron-grained alumina doped with MgO. After the anneal, the submicron-grained alumina discharge vessels have high values of both total and in-line transmittance, and are thus suitable for use in focused-beam, short-arc lamps. In particular, the total transmittance of the discharge vessel is increased to greater than 92% in the wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus relate to handling and processing glass, such as glass for use in liquid crystal displays, involving a measurement device, such as a distortion gauge, residing in an environmentally controlled measurement room, and a cassette loading device for storage and conveyance of glass between the measurement device and other components of a glass handling and processing system residing with the cassette loading device in a preparation room. A mail-slot opening may be present in a wall separating the measurement room from the preparation room. A gauge conveyor may convey glass between the cassette loading device and the measurement device. A distortion gauge may measure a reference value of the product glass with respect to reference marks on a glass reference plate of the distortion gauge. Other examples of a measurement device include a warp gauge, a stress gauge, a thickness gauge, and a compaction gauge.

Abstract: Ceramic nanopowder was sealed inside a metal container under a vacuum. The sealed evacuated container was forced through a severe deformation channel at an elevated temperature below the melting point of the ceramic nanopowder. The result was a dense nanocrystalline ceramic structure inside the metal container.

Abstract: A method of hot forming of at least a part of an article is provided. The article includes a material selected from the group consisting of transparent and semitransparent materials. The method includes semi-homogeneously heating at least a part of the article by radiation and forming the heated part of the article.

Abstract: A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a reaction sintered YSZ. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrolyte that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrolyte, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a reaction sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia and metal oxide electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the formation of ceramic bodies. Methods of the invention involve processing ceramic-forming compositions to form an integrally self-supporting or stabilized structure, which may then be sintered to give the full-density ceramic product. Methods of the invention may also involve densification of the ceramic body. In one set of embodiments, the volume of the integrally self-supporting structure is reduced by at least 20%. The present invention may produce ceramic bodies having greater strength and durability, since the ceramic-forming compositions may be low in viscosity and may be homogeneously blended, decreasing the possibility for defects.

Abstract: A method for coating an inorganic substrate with an inorganic coating from low viscosity suspensions, and the articles produced thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for coloring ceramic materials by using aqueous solutions of chromophore ions. In particular, certain types of silica are added to the ceramic mixes which are to be colored, after which aqueous or organic solutions comprising inorganic salts of Fe (II) and/or Fe (III), or organic derivatives of Fe (II) and/or Fe (III) are applied to the surface of the said additive-containing ceramic mixes.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a method of manufacture of transparent ceramics such as yttrium aluminum garnet by tape casting. The method entails forming a mixture of ceramic oxide, dispersant and organic solvent, milling the mixture to produce a first slurry, mixing the first slurry with an organic binder and a plasticizer to form a treated slurry, milling the treated slurry to produce milled slurry, tape casting the milled slurry to produce cast tape, drying the cast tape to produce dried tape, stacking portions of dried tape to form an assembly, compressing the assembly to produce a preform, heating the preform to produce a green preform, and sintering the green preform to produce transparent yttrium aluminum garnet. The method may be used to produce a unitary ceramic product having differing transparent sections as well as transparent ceramic product having a dopant gradient across a portion of the thickness of the product.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device is produced by providing a material having a hydroxyapatite (HA) component. The HA component is textured by, for example uniaxial pressing, to impart one of the limiting symmetries ?, ? mm, or ?2. The textured material may then be poled to enhance the piezoelectric properties.