Abstract: A disclosure is provided for methods to prepare high-strength and high-toughness partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) materials by incorporating a starting ceramic powder in which the stabilizing oxide agent is pre-alloyed with the zirconia material powder. The ceramic powder is pre-stabilized so there is little or no remaining free stabilizing oxide, thereby resulting in an improved material that is more convenient to process using conventional ceramic processing techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods to produce Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) products using materials recycled from TBC waste. These methods include ways to produce zirconium and rare earth chemicals and raw materials appropriate for producing TBC materials.

Abstract: Prosthetic knee implant or implant component is made with a magnesium oxide stabilized transformationally toughened zirconia.

Abstract: Fired magnesium oxide stabilized transformation toughened zirconia ceramic can be for or of an implant or implant component of a one-piece unicompartmental knee spacer device; a multi-piece unicompartmental joint aligning device; a temporal mandibular joint cap implant; a vertebra cap; an ankle joint ensemble or component; a bridge, a tooth or teeth; a patellofemoral joint implant; a tibial tray for a knee joint replacement implant; an intermediary articulation plate for a tibial tray and liner for a knee joint replacement implant; or the intermediary articulation plate assembled in combination with the tibial tray.

Abstract: Implant body has a groove into which an outer ring is fitted. The body and ring are distinct solid parts both during and after assembly. A “flat” wall may be provided for the groove. The outer ring is annularly continuous and may be under tension, with the body under correspondent compression from the ring. An arthroplasty device can be provided.

Abstract: Ceramic bodies can be made by providing an initial green body of ceramic; and machining the initial green body to provide a machined green ceramic body. Embedding the initial green body in an embedding mass can be avoided. The initial green body can be bisqued, infiltrated an adjuvant such as machining wax, removing the infiltrated body, and machining it. Highly detailed ceramic products can be generated. The machined green ceramic body may be fired and/or further processed to provide a more finished ceramic body. Examples include a femoral component for a posterior stabilized knee implant, a component body for an artificial rotation device containing knee implant prosthesis a dental implant or bridge, an ice skating blade, and so forth. Zirconia ceramics are advantageously employed, for an example, Mg-TTZ.

Abstract: Prosthetic implant or component therefor of a magnesium oxide stabilized transformation toughened zirconia (Mg-TTZ) ceramic can be made by providing a bisqued initial green body by compressing powder through a cold isostatic press and heating to a bisque stage. Then, without embedding it in an embedding mass, the bisque is machined to have a shape of the same proportions as the shape of, but larger than, the ceramic portion of a fired prosthetic implant or component product. Firing can provide the fired Mg-TTZ ceramic body product.

Abstract: Hard substance wear couple has materials of differing hardness forming surfaces for articulation in a joint implant prosthesis. For instance, a first articulating body can have a convex articulating surface, and a second articulating body can have a corresponding concave articulating surface that can articulate with the convex articulating surface of the first articulating body, in which the convex articulating surface of the first articulating body is harder than the corresponding concave articulating surface of the second articulating body. Ceramic materials are preferred.

Abstract: A method is presented for recovery, in reusable form, of rare earth minerals and zirconia from waste materials containing them. The method includes: mixing an ammonium sulfate powder and a powder containing the oxide waste material; heating the mixture to decompose the waste into a residue; dissolving the residue in water; separating rare earth constituents from the solution; and subsequently using the separated rare earth constituent (salt or solution) as a raw material. Moreover, the reactants used in the recovery may be recovered by appropriate precipitation and concentration operations.

Abstract: A method is presented for recovery, in reusable form, of rare earth minerals and zirconia from waste materials containing them. The method includes: mixing an ammonium sulfate powder and a powder containing the oxide waste material; heating the mixture to decompose the waste into a residue; dissolving the residue in water; separating rare earth constituents from the solution; and subsequently using the separated rare earth constituent (salt or solution) as a raw material. Moreover, the reactants used in the recovery may be recovered by appropriate precipitation and concentration operations.

Abstract: Prosthetic implant or component therefor of a magnesium oxide stabilized transformation toughened zirconia (Mg-TTZ) ceramic can be made by providing a bisqued initial green body by compressing powder through a cold isostatic press and heating to a bisque stage. Then, without embedding it in an embedding mass, the bisque is machined to have a shape of the same proportions as the shape of, but larger than, the ceramic portion of a fired prosthetic implant or component product. Firing can provide the fired Mg-TTZ ceramic body product.

Abstract: Prosthetic knee implant or implant component is made with a magnesium oxide stabilized transformationally toughened zirconia.

Abstract: Fired magnesium oxide stabilized transformation toughened zirconia ceramic can be for or of an implant or implant component of a one-piece unicompartmental knee spacer device; a multi-piece unicompartmental joint aligning device; a temporal mandibular joint cap implant; a vertebra cap; an ankle joint ensemble or component; a bridge, a tooth or teeth; a patellofemoral joint implant; a tibial tray for a knee joint replacement implant; an intermediary articulation plate for a tibial tray and liner for a knee joint replacement implant; or the intermediary articulation plate assembled in combination with the tibial tray.

Abstract: Implant bore insert has an outer surface that is, at least in part, substantially cylindrically aligned. The insert may be blind, thus forming a cup, or it may be open ended. The insert can be provided with a predetermined outer circumferential surface that provides for a suitable interference fit with a corresponding bore hole of an implant component part. When inserted into the bore hole, the insert preferably seats itself on a blind end of the bore hole. Examples of implants employed with the insert can include ceramic ball joint heads and teeth.

Abstract: Ceramic surface can be coated with a metal or metal alloy and have extraordinary holding power between the surface and coating. For example, MgTTZ can be coated with CPT and may have a static shear strength for the coated surface of at least about 2,000 or 3,000 or 5,000 or 7,000 pounds or greater. The coated ceramic may be a prosthetic surgical load bearing implant.

Abstract: Electro-static dissipative or ESD materials must possess sufficient conductivity to allow for the dissipation of static charges while maintaining enough insulating characteristics to prevent shorts. Described here in are ceramic ESD materials comprised of stabilized zirconia and lanthanum chromate.

Abstract: A surface combustion radiant heat burner having an inlet plenum for receiving fuel and oxidant gas mixtures and a burner body in communication with the inlet plenum. The burner body has an inlet side facing the plenum and an outlet side defining a radiating surface. The burner body consists of a first layer of porous ceramic material adjacent the inlet side of the plenum and a second layer of porous ceramic material defining a radiating surface. At least the outer surfaces of the first porous layer and substantially all surfaces of the second porous layer are provided with a fully dense ceramic coating applied by chemical vapor deposition.