Abstract: Process for manufacturing sintered products, includes: mixing a sinterable powder material, a liquid carrier and a gelling agent to form a mix, the gelling agent having a gelling temperature below which the mix is substantially rigid and a sol temperature above which the mix is substantially fluid; introducing the mix into a forming mould having a filter suitable for passing at least the liquid carrier and trapping at least the sinterable powder material; applying a pressure in the mould with the mix having a temperature substantially higher than the gelling temperature and is substantially fluid, the pressure being suitable for allowing the liquid carrier to come out at least partially from the mould through the filter; lowering the temperature of the mix in the mould below the gelling temperature to obtain a substantially rigid semi-finished product; sintering the semi-finished product to obtain the sintered product.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuel cell flow field plate or bipolar plate having flow channels on faces of the plate, comprising an electrically conductive polymer composite. The composite is composed of (A) at least 50% by weight of a conductive filler, comprising at least 5% by weight reinforcement fibers, expanded graphite platelets, graphitic nano-fibers, and/or carbon nano-tubes; (B) polymer matrix material at 1 to 49.9% by weight; and (C) a polymer binder at 0.1 to 10% by weight; wherein the sum of the conductive filler weight %, polymer matrix weight % and polymer binder weight % equals 100% and the bulk electrical conductivity of the flow field or bipolar plate is at least 100 S/cm. The invention also provides a continuous process for cost-effective mass production of the conductive composite-based flow field or bipolar plate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a porous structure from a first material. The method comprises the acts of mixing the first material with a second material to form a mixture, the first material having a melting point which is lower than the second material, heating the mixture under pressure to a temperature between a melting point of the first material and a melting point of the second material, cooling the molten mixture until it hardens and removing the second material from the first material. The method may also include a subsequent annealing step. There is also described a material suitable for implant, illustratively vertebral or spinal implants, comprising a rigid biocompatible polymer such as PEEK comprising a plurality of interconnected pores. The polymer illustratively has a porosity of between 50% and 85% by volume and in a particular embodiment is able to withstand pressures of up to 20 MPa. The porous PEEK material may also have a minimum thickness in any dimension of one (1) inch.

Abstract: A method for the production of components made of ceramic-matrix composite material, in the fields of aerospace engines and turbines and turbine systems and plants; according to the method, a preform of ceramic fibers is shaped and set in a draining mold, for example made of plaster; the fibers of the preform are impregnated with a suspension of ceramic powders, the liquid of which is drained by capillarity from the draining mold; simultaneously to draining, a suspension of ceramic powders is infiltrated between the fibers of the preform so as to fill the empty space left by the drained liquid; at the end of the steps of draining/infiltration a body is obtained with a solidified or compacted porous matrix, which is removed from the draining mold and is sintered.

Abstract: A method for making a porous material, includes melt-blending two or more non-miscible polymers to obtain a co-continuous melt, solidifying the melt to obtain a solid mass consisting of two co-continuous polymer phases, and selectively extracting one of the co-continuous phases thereby creating within the solid mass an essentially continuous pore network having an internal surface. The method further includes replicating the internal surface of the pore network within the solid mass by coating the internal surface with successive layers of materials, and selectively extracting the solid mass without extracting the layers of materials, to thereby yield the product porous material, formed of the layers of materials. The material has a void fraction higher than about 75%, and mainly having essentially fully interconnected sheath-like non-spherical pores and essentially non-fibrous walls.

Abstract: Method of glazing ceramic articles, consisting of preparing a glaze compound in liquid suspension, preferably aqueous; feeding the glaze compound in liquid suspension, preferably aqueous, into the forming cavity of a porous mould, for the time required to create a glaze film of desired thickness on the surface of the cavity by absorption of the liquid phase; feeding the slip into the same cavity for the time required to create the wall of the article by absorption of the liquid phase.

Abstract: For simple and rapid production of a shaped body comprising fused silica and a shaped body which leads to virtually no contamination of a melt in contact with the shaped body even at high temperatures, the invention provides a process comprising the steps: a) provision of fused silica in the form of essentially amorphous SiO2 grains of which not more than 5% have a diameter greater than 15 mm, b) addition of water to the fused silica grains to produce a slip, c) casting of the slip into a mould which comprises a hollow body having the inverse shape of the shaped body to be produced, d) drying of the slip to give an intermediate body, e) sintering of the intermediate body at a sintering temperature at which at least part of the fused silica is transformed from the amorphous modification into a crystalline modification, f) cooling of the sintered shaped body to a temperature below 300° C., so that a microstructure containing crystalline SiO2 is formed, and also a shaped body which comprises at least 99.

Abstract: Method of glazing ceramic articles, consisting of preparing a glaze compound in liquid suspension, preferably aqueous; feeding the glaze compound in liquid suspension, preferably aqueous, into the forming cavity of a porous mould, for the time required to create a glaze film of desired thickness on the surface of the cavity by absorption of the liquid phase; feeding the slip into the same cavity for the time required to create the wall of the article by absorption of the liquid phase.

Abstract: The present invention forms screw-like projection at the entrance of ceramic bottle and enables air-tightening with plastic cork, formed with screw-like projection in its body. It guarantees air tightening of ceramic bottle, and does not use imported cork, which decreases the need to import. Moreover, increases productivity by automating the air-tightening process of plastic cork. The present invention can reduce cost of production, at the same time, increasing productivity, and it can be re-used multiple times after the air-tightening.

Abstract: A slip-cast article former containing ternary ceramics, particularly of carbide and nitride materials, having the formula Mn+1AXn(MAX), where M is a transition metal, A is an element from Groups IA and IVA of the periodic table, X is nitrogen or carbon and n is 1, 2, or 3. The ternary ceramic article may be a glove or condom former. A process for making a ternary ceramic article employing a slip cast method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming an optical blank. The method includes providing a green body that has a non-porous exterior portion and a porous interior portion. The interior portion is evacuated to create a vacuum in the interior portion. The green body is then pressed using a hot isostatic pressing technique to densify the green body into a solid glass optical blank. This method produces homogeneous optical blanks having substantially no striae. The method also produces dense, inclusion free glass. As a result, scattering is substantially reduced when EUV light is reflected from a component produced from optical blank employing the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of sialon ceramic (and a sialon ceramic produced by such a process) comprising or including the steps of: (I) preparing a sialon reactant mixture including or comprising: a) silicon metal; b) clay; and c) a secondary aluminium source; (II) heating the reactant mixture in an atmosphere containing nitrogen gas to a temperature sufficient to substantially react the silicon metal, the secondary aluminium source and the nitrogen with the clay to form or to contribute to the forming of the sialon product; wherein the clay participates in the reaction as a source of aluminium and silicon. Further, the invention provides a method for preparing a sialon ceramic in a predetermined shape.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a discharge lamp provided with a discharge vessel enclosing a discharge space. The discharge vessel is provided with a ceramic wall which is formed through sintering of a body shaped by sludge molding. The sludge molding process comprises the steps of: injecting an outer porous mold with sludge, precipitating the sludge against the outer mold, and removing the excess sludge, removing the outer mold, and pre-firing of the molded body. According to the invention, the sludge is injected into the outer mold by means of a hollow needle which extends to inside the hollow mold.

Abstract: A method for making a thermal insulating material includes the steps of: providing a chamber, placing hollow geometric shapes in the chamber, closing the chamber, evacuating air from the chamber, feeding a slurry into an adjacent slurry chamber, pressurizing the slurry chamber and forcing the slurry in to the sphere chamber around the spheres against a fibrous material adjacent a side wall of the sphere chamber. The fibrous material allows capillary wicking of the liquid from the slurry around the spheres. Due to this pressure the spheres and slurry are semi dried into a green state. The material in its green state green is subsequently dried and fired to form the insulating material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a solid molded article, in particular a ceramic and/or metallic article made of pulverized particles. The invention also relates to stable dispersions of pulverized particles in an aqueous fluid medium, solid molded articles made of pulverized particles, and sintered ceramic and/or metallic molded articles.

Abstract: A process for centrifugal slip casting a textured hollow tube. A slip made up of a carrier fluid and a suspended powder is introduced into a porous mold which is rotated at a speed sufficient to create a centrifugal force that forces the slip radially outward toward the inner surface of the mold. The suspended powder, which is formed of particles having large dimensional aspect ratios such as particles of superconductive BSCCO, settles in a textured fashion radially outward toward the mold surface. The carrier fluid of the slip passes by capillary action radially outward around the settled particles and into the absorbent mold. A layer of mold release material is preferably centrifugally slip cast to cover the mold inner surface prior to the introduction of the BSCCO slip, and the mold release layer facilitates removal of the BSCCO greenbody from the mold without fracturing.

Abstract: A process for centrifugal slip casting a textured hollow tube. A slip made up of a carrier fluid and a suspended powder is introduced into a porous mold which is rotated at a speed sufficient to create a centrifugal force that forces the slip radially outward toward the inner surface of the mold. The suspended powder, which is formed of particles having large dimensional aspect ratios such as particles of superconductive BSCCO, settles in a textured fashion radially outward toward the mold surface. The carrier fluid of the slip passes by capillary action radially outward around the settled particles and into the absorbent mold. A layer of mold release material is preferably centrifugally slip cast to cover the mold inner surface prior to the introduction of the BSCCO slip, and the mold release layer facilitates removal of the BSCCO greenbody from the mold without fracturing.

Abstract: A ceramic monofilament or multifilament fiber having a tensile strength of at least 100 mPa including PbMO.sub.31, where M is a metallic element or a proportionate combination of various metallic elements which can occupy the "B" position in a perovskite lattice. Processes for producing the fiber are also provided. The fibers are useful as ferroelectric or piezoelectric fibers.

Abstract: A method of making a perforated silicon carbide product in a shorter time and with less labor work to achieve a lower cost and high yield. Openings 13a, 13b are previously formed in a mold 11, and inserts 14 are inserted into the openings to project toward the inside of the mold. A slurry 15 composed of a mixture of a silicon carbide powder, an organic binder and water is put in the mold to conduct a slip casting molding method whereby a molded green product with perforation 16 is obtained.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flat, glass-like or ceramic moulding having a structured surface, in which a rotationally symmetrical, moist green body is manufactured from a suspension of a highly dispersed, powdered solid material and a dispersing agent by centrifuging in a hollow mould, whereafter said green body is removed from the hollow mould and, if necessary, rolled out subsequently, cut up and, after which it is spread out on a structure-imparting substrate, the surface is embossed by applying pressure and, subsequently, the glass-like or ceramic moulding is produced by drying and sintering.

Abstract: A process for applying color to an article made of clay. Color can be applied to such diverse articles as pottery, earthenware, figurines, ceramics, porcelains, china, tiles domes and other decorative roofings. The application of color to clay articles is easily adapted to industrial, commercial or artistic uses.

Abstract: A shaped body of amorphous silicon dioxide, which has a chemical purity of at least 99.9% and a cristobalite content of at most 1% and which is impermeable to gas, is known. To provide shaped bodies of amorphous silicon dioxide which have a high precision, which can be small or large in size and of simple to complicated shape, which have a chemical purity of at least 99.9%, are impermeable to gas above wall thicknesses of 1 mm, which have a high cold flexural strength, low thermal conductivity and low radiation of heat, which are thermal shock resistant and can be exposed repeatedly or also long-term to temperatures in the range from 1000.degree. to 1300.degree. C. and which can be welded in a sharply delineated manner without spreading joins and which have a low spectral transmission from the ultraviolet to the middle infrared spectral region, the shaped body is opaque, contains pores, at a wall thickness of 1 mm has a direct spectral transmission which is virtually constant in the wavelength range from .

Abstract: The well known slip casting process for the production of ceramic green parts, in which hardening is achieved by water removal with porous molds, is characterized by disadvantages in terms of strength, shrinkage during drying and problems with cracking during drying. The present invention avoids these disadvantages and produces ceramic green parts by changing the surface potential of powder particles in the slip instead of by removing water. Further more the coagulation strength is increased by adding polymers or extremely fine divided colloidal particles.

Abstract: A ceramic porous body is constituted of ceramic particles which have a substantially continuous, monotonic size distribution in the thickness direction of the porous body.