Abstract: The purpose of the invention is a process for making a solid part designed to form all or part of an anode for the production of aluminium by fused bath electrolysis, containing a cermet formed from at least one metallic oxide such as a mixed oxide with spinel structure, and at least one metallic phase, in which a mixed oxide is used containing a metal R in the form of a cation in its chemical structure, the said metal R being fully or partly reducible by a reduction operation during the manufacturing process, so as to form all or part of the said metallic phase. This process can provide a cermet with a uniform distribution of fine metallic particles.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium has a recording layer and a reflective layer on a substrate. The recording layer has a layered structure in which at least one spinel ferrite (or rutile-type oxide or hematite) layer and at least one garnet ferrite layer are piled together. It is preferable that the layered structure is formed on tracks where data are recorded. A manufacturing method comprises the steps of heat treatment in the range of 500-700° C., preferably 600-630° C., after the formation of the recording layer. In the magneto-optical recording and playback device to record and play back data, the wavelength of light for recording data is different from that for reading data, which is preferable for a magneto-optical recording medium comprising a garnet ferrite layer.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is a process for making a solid part designed to form all or part of an anode for the production of aluminium by fused bath electrolysis, containing a cermet formed from at least one metallic oxide such as a mixed oxide with spinel structure, and at least one metallic phase, in which a mixed oxide is used containing a metal R in the form of a cation in its chemical structure, the said metal R being fully or partly reducible by a reduction operation during the manufacturing process, so as to form all or part of the said metallic phase. This process can provide a cermet with a uniform distribution of fine metallic particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to magneto-optical recording media such as magneto-optical disks and cards, manufacturing methods of the medium and a magneto-optical recording and playback device to record and play back data using the magneto-optical recording media. The magneto-optical recording medium of the present invention has a recording layer and a reflective layer on a substrate, and the recording layer has a layered structure in which at least one spinel ferrite (or rutile-type oxide or hematite) layer and at least one garnet ferrite layer are piled together. It is preferable that the layered structure is formed on tracks where data are recorded. The manufacturing method of the present invention comprises the steps of heat treatment in the range of 500-700° C., preferably 600-630° C., after the formation of the recording layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to magneto-optical recording media such as magneto-optical disks and cards, manufacturing methods of the medium and a magneto-optical recording and playback device to record and play back data using the magnetic-optical recording media. The magneto-optical recording medium has a recording layer and a reflective layer on a substrate, and the recording layer has a layered structure in which at least on spinel ferrite (or rutile-type oxide or hematite) layer and at least one garnet ferrite layer are piled together. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of heat treatment after the formation of the recording layer. In the magneto-optical recording and playback device to record and playback data, the wavelength of light for recording data is different from that for reading data, which is preferable for a magneto-optical recording medium comprising a garnet ferrite layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to magneto-optical recording media such as magneto-optical disks and cards, manufacturing methods of the medium and a magneto-optical recording and playback device to record and play back data using the magneto-optical recording media. The magneto-optical recording medium of the present invention has a recording layer and a reflective layer on a substrate, and the recording layer has a layered structure in which at least one spinel ferrite (or rutile-type oxide or hematite) layer and at least one garnet ferrite layer are piled together. It is preferable that the layered structure is formed on tracks where data are recorded. The manufacturing method of the present invention comprises the steps of heat treatment in the range of 500-700° C., preferably 600-630° C., after the formation of the recording layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing metal powder comprising: preparing a simple or mixed oxalate of one or more metals formed of particles with needle-like morphology having a mean acicularity ratio (length/diameter) of from 4 to 20, and a length of from 5 to 10 microns and converting said oxalate to metal or metal alloy powder by reducing treatment with gaseous hydrogen. The conversion of said oxalate can be carried out by decomposing said oxalate, in air, to an oxide and then reducing said oxide to metal or metal alloy. The metal is chosen from among the rare earth metals and the transition metals, preferably from among iron, cobalt, and nickel. The method is particularly suitable for making iron powder metal having a spongy and filament-like microstructure which makes it suitable for use in heating composition for thermo-piles. In addition, the invention relates to metal compacts unstoved or annealed which are obtained by applying compaction pressure to the powders according to the invention.

Abstract: Composite material for magnetooptic recording, comprising a thin layer deposited on a non-magnetic solid substrate. The said thin layer is a polycrystalline layer consisting of microcrystals having a structure of a vacant-site spinel ferrite, based on iron, cobalt and transition metals. By virtue of a particular process for producing the thin layers, enabling especially the size of the crystallites to be increased, it is possible to optimize the magnetic and magnetooptic properties and to obtain thin layers having, for example, a remanent Faraday rotation and a coercive field which are greater, respectively, than 1 degree per micron for the Faraday rotation and 1000 Oe for the coercive field.

Abstract: Composite material for magnetooptic recording, comprising a thin layer deposited on a non-magnetic solid substrate. The said thin layer is a polycrystalline layer consisting of microcrystals having a structure of a vacant-site spinel ferrite, based on iron, cobalt and transition metals. By virtue of a particular process for producing the thin layers, enabling especially the size of the crystallites to be increased, it is possible to optimize the magnetic and magnetooptic properties and to obtain thin layers having, for example, a remanent Faraday rotation and a coercive field which are greater, respectively, than 1 degree per micron for the Faraday rotation and 1000 Oe for the coercive field.

Abstract: The invention relates to nano-composite powders of alumina and metal constituted of grains of micronic size. Each grain comprises a compact matrix of alumina of a specific surface area less than 5 m.sup.2 /g, in which are dispersed crystallites of transition metals of alloys of these metals, of sizes less than 50 nm. The powder according to the invention may be produced starting with a precursor comprised of a mixed carboxylic salt of aluminum and one or more transition metals. The powders according to the invention permit producing by sintering cermets of alumina/metal benefitting from greatly improved mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to nano-composite powders of alumina and metal constituted of grains of micronic size. Each grain comprises a compact matrix of alumina of a specific surface area less than 5 m.sup.2 /g, in which are dispersed crystallites of transition metals of alloys of these metals, of sizes less than 50 nm. The powder according to the invention may be produced starting with a precursor comprised of a mixed carboxylic salt of aluminum and one or more transition metals. The powders according to the invention permit producing by sintering cermets of alumina/metal benefitting from greatly improved mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties.

Abstract: A process for preparing hexaferrite particles of the type M'Fe.sub.12 O.sub.19 wherein M' represents principally an alkaline earth metal involves preparing a particulate mixture of a ferrous salt of an organic acid and a salt of an organic acid with at least one metal M', optionally with at least one dopant agent, the particles of the mixture having a size not greater than about 0.5 .mu.m and the said mixture containing a stoichiometric excess of the salt of metal M'. This mixture is heated up to the decomposition of the organic salts and the resulting product is submitted to a thermal treatment at a temperature at least equal to 700.degree. C. but not greater than 1000.degree. C. and is maintained at this temperature for a period of time sufficient to form hexaferrite. After cooling the resulting particles are washed with an aqueous solution of an acid capable of dissolving formed monoferrites of the type M'Fe.sub.2 O.sub.4 to remove them.

Abstract: Oxides having the spinel structure of .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 /Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 type, substituted by trivalent and monovalent metals, or doped with non-spinel derivatives thereof, more particularly iron/aluminum/potassium oxides well suited as dehydrogenation catalysts, e.g., for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene into styrene, are prepared by thermally decomposing mixed iron, aluminum and potassium salts, notably the oxalates thereof, in the presence of air, then reducing the product of thermal decomposition at a temperature of less than 400.degree. C., advantageously in the presence of steam and hydrogen, and optionally oxidizing the product of reduction; oxides of .beta.-alumina structure are also produced.

Abstract: Particulate magnetic oxide compositions based on iron oxide (III) and oxide of at least one bivalent metal selected among cobalt, iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, nickel, manganese and cadmium, characterized in that said compositions contain additionally in the form of an oxide from 0.2 to 5% by weight calculated on the total weight at least one additive or substituent selected among alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, boron, the elements of columns 3, 4 and 5 of the periodical classification of elements having a molecular mass higher than 26, the transition metals 3d and 4d other than those already mentioned, and the rare earths, with the proviso that when an alkali metal or tin is present, at least another additive or substituent is also present, and in that said compositions have a structure of the lanucar spinel type; the preparation and application thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed particulate composition of simple or mixed oxalate of ferromagnetic metals is characterized in that it is provided in the form of needle-shaped particles having a length comprised between 0.05 and 0.5 micrometer, with a proportion higher than 60% of particles having a length equal to the average length .+-.0.1 .mu.m. and an acicular ratio higher than 3, said average length being comprised between 0.15 and 0.35 .mu.m; its preparation and its application are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing continuous, closed and hollow bodies which comprises (a) using cores (25) which are soluble in a solvent, (b) depositing on each core a coating (3) with a suitable mechanical strength to be self-supporting and having open pores to pass a solvent, and (c) placing the cores so coated into a solvent for dissolving the cores; the method of the invention may be implemented in bulk parts, in an economical manner, and allows making hollow bodies, in particular hollow balls, each comprising a continuous skin devoid of any macroscopic perforation and of a kind and with a thickness which are easily adjusted in relation to the desired properties.

Abstract: The invention concerns solid solutions of oxides of iron and of a divalent metal other than cobalt Co.sup.2+ or, alternatively, of iron and of more than one divalent metal, including cobalt. Besides Co, the divalent metals may be Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn, Mg and Cd. Such solutions are prepared by precipitating a mixed oxalate containing iron and the other divalent metal or metals desired. This mixed oxalate is decomposed by heating it in open air at a progressively increasing temperature until carbon is eliminated but without forming rhomboedric oxide .alpha.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3. The pyrolyzed product is treated by hydrogen and steam at an elevated temperature to obtain a substituted magnetite, and this magnetite is oxidized in air at such a temperature as to avoid formation of .alpha.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: The invention concerns the preparation of acicular particles of mixed oxalates of iron and of one or more metals of the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, zinc, magnesium and cadmium. The method consists in preparing a first solution containing cations of iron and of the divalent metal or metals, and a second solution containing oxalic acid, one of the said solutions further containing Cl.sup.- and SO.sub.4.sup.2.sup.- anions and at least the second solution containing alcohol with preferably a light hydrocarbon. The first solution is poured very slowly (1 drop every 10 seconds) into the second one, conveniently at temperature below 0.degree. C, while the latter is strongly stirred. The concentration in alcohol is preferably maintained at at least 50% in the second solution during the whole pouring process which should be effected with at least a slight excess of oxalic acid.