Abstract: The method for preparing fluorine-doped lamellar black TiO2 nanomaterials includes mixing a solution of tetra-n-butyl titanate, n-propanol and hydrofluoric acid together, and then stir the solutions for a period of time. The solution is transferred into an autoclave and reacts at a certain temperature for a period of time. The sample obtained by the reaction is washed and dried. Then, the sample is heated in a protective atmosphere for a period of time so as to produce the fluorine-doped lamellar black TiO2 nanomaterials. This fluorine-doped lamellar black TiO2 owns superior optical absorption and electron transport performances.

Abstract: The invention concerns a refractory ceramic batch as well as a refractory ceramic product.

Abstract: A friction member for a bicycle brake that is obtained through combustion synthesis is disclosed. One example of the bicycle brake friction member includes an intermetallic compound, which is obtained from a first metal and a second metal, and a metal phase, which is obtained from the first metal.

Abstract: A duplex eutectic silicon alloy including 30-70 weight % silicon, 10-45 weight % nitrogen, 1-40 weight % aluminum, and 1-40 weight % oxygen has a eutectic structure comprising a ??-sialon phase and an ??-sialon phase. The alloy is produced by controlling cooling at a rate of 50° C. or less per minute in combustion synthesis. A ductile sintered product capable of replacing steel in various applications can be produced by placing a compact composed of a powder of the alloy in a sintering furnace which can supply a heat quantity at least ten times the heat capacity of the compact; and sintering the compact at a pressure at least as great as atmospheric pressure, within a nitrogen atmosphere in which the silicon gas mole fraction is 10% or more, and at a temperature within the range from 1400° C. to 1700° C.

Abstract: A boron carbide based sintered body having a four-point flexural strength of at least 400 MPa and a fracture toughness of at least 2.8 MPa·m1/2, which has the following two preferred embodiments. (1) A boron carbide-titanium diboride sintered body obtained by sintering a mixed powder of a B4C powder, a TiO2 powder and a C powder while reacting them under a pressurized condition and comprising from 95 to 70 mol % of boron carbide and from 5 to 30 mol % of titanium diboride, wherein the boron carbide has a maximum particle diameter of at most 5 ?m. (2) A boron carbide-chromium diboride sintered body containing from 10 to 25 mol % of CrB2 in B4C, wherein the sintered body has a relative density of at least 90%, boron carbide particles in the sintered body have a maximum particle diameter of at most 100 ?m, and the abundance ratio (area ratio) of boron carbide particles of from 10 to 100 ?m to boron carbide particles having a particle diameter of at most 5 ?m, is from 0.02 to 0.6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for in-situ preparation of alumina-(Ti,Zr) borides composite. The present invention particularly relates to fast and in-situ process for synthesis and consolidation of Al2O3—Zr/Ti B2 composites of approximate-95% density with controlled grain-growth in the range of less than or the order of 5 micrometer or less grain size using a dynamic Self propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) process.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced ceramic composites contain bundles, tows or hanks of long fibers, wherein the long fiber bundles, tows or hanks are completely surrounded by a short fiber-reinforced matrix, with the long and short fibers having, independently of one another, a mean diameter of from 4 to 12 &mgr;m and the long fibers having a mean length of at least 50 mm and the short fibers having a mean length of not more than 40 mm, a process for producing them and their use for producing clutch disks or brake disks.

Abstract: A method of making a ceramic setter comprises forming a mixture of ceramic particulates and a binder to a shape of a green ceramic setter. The green ceramic setter then is placed on a metallic support member such that air ingress is provided therebetween for allowing access of air to the surface of the setter adjacent the support member. The green setter on the support member is placed in a burn-out hood. A volatile constituent of the biinder is ignited to burn off excess volatile constituent. The air ingress allows ambient air to reach the bottom surface of the green setter adjacent to the support member as well as the top surface of the green setter such that the volatile constituent of the binder is ignited and burned at both the top and bottom surfaces of the green setter. Use of the support member in this manner results in a significant reduction in green setter contour distortion during the burn-out operation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the preparation of in-situ formation of a series of glass-ceramic composites by the Self-propagating High temperature Synthesis (SHS) technique with advantages of processing simplicity as well as the potential of cost savings. The materials produced by the technique contain crystalline TiB2 phase and have either a pure glassy matrix or a glass matrix with partial devitrification based on the Al2O3—CaO system. The materials can potentially be used for infrared light transmission and for other high temperature applications. These materials can also be produced with relatively high porosity.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing ceramic metal composite bodies, the ceramic metal composite bodies and their use. The process is based on molten infiltration and the simultaneous or delayed exchange reaction of ceramic or metal ceramic un-fired bodies or sintered bodies which may consist of nitrides or carbides as well as metals, with molten metal of additional metals, whereby new nitride, carbide and intermetallic phases are formed which have improved wear and high-temperature characteristics. These ceramic metal composite bodies can be used for tribological applications.

Abstract: A process for controlling and thus predicting the microstructural bias of multi-phase composites to obtain preferential positioning of the component compounds in their morphology and position in the resulting microstructure to cause the grains of a first phase either to locate at the grain boundaries of a second phase, or to be homogeneously distributed in the second phase using both conventional manually mixing (MM) and advanced self-propagating high-temperature (SHS) processing technologies. A process whereby a lower cost composite material performs comparably to a more expensive monolithic nature of higher performance material by causing the higher performance first phase grains to preferentially locate at the grain boundaries of the second phase during densification/fusing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molding method for powder particles, which is excellent in molding performance, and which makes it possible to obtain a preliminary molded product excellent in strength by enhancing mutual bonding between particles in the preliminary molded product. A molding apparatus for powder particles includes an outer frame die having a mold space with a lower punch and an upper punch to be slidably fitted thereto. Slight clearances exist between the outer frame die and the lower and upper punches. A mixture is prepared by mixing a powdery raw material with a liquid additive to cause an exothermic reaction therewith.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ceramics and a method for making ceramics having very little dimensional change after sintering and high dimensional accuracies, so that the characteristics of inorganic functional material are fully maintained and utilized. The ceramics of the present invention comprise grains of inorganic functional material and grains of complex oxide. The pores existing between said grains of inorganic functional material are filled with said grains of complex oxide produced by a sintering reaction between an oxidized metal and an inorganic compound.

Abstract: In order to produce a new substance having a diamond crystal structure, the following steps are taken in order. First, a graphite-like substance is prepared which contains boron (B), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) as main elements. Then, the graphite-like substance is mixed with a metal powder to produce a mixture. Then, a pressure is applied to the mixture to produce a molded body, and then an explosion pressure is applied to the molded body.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making a ceramic article, especially pipes and tubes of ceramic material such as silicon carbide, in which the article is formed by projecting a ceramic powder mixture comprising refractory particles and combustible particles against a smooth-surface metal former which is heated to a temperature of at least 850.degree. C. where in the presence of an oxygen-rich gas the combustible particles react exothermically to produce from the refractory particles and the reaction product of the combustible particles a coherent refractory article in the shape of the former.

Abstract: Boron nitride articles are made by heat treating turbostratic BN powder to reduce its oxygen content to 5-8% (mesographitic BN), washing this heat-treated powder, mixing it with 5-8% amorphous boron, shaping the mixture, explosively compacting the shape by a hydrodynamic method and reaction sintering the compacted shape, to form the article.The article is then buried in a powder mixture of BN and SiC and heat treated, to getter residual B.sub.2 O.sub.3.After this, the article is impregnated with low-viscosity oligomers (MW<1000) of methylsilanes selected to yield a high proportion of SiC on pyrolysis, and the article is heat-treated to fill the pores evenly throughout its thickness with SiC.

Abstract: In-situ formation of glass-ceramic composites by the Self-propagating High temperature Synthesis (SHS) technique. The reagents used are: TiO.sub.2, B.sub.2 O, Al, Ti, B and MO where MO represents BaO, MgO, CaO and other similar oxides. BaCO.sub.3 may be substituted for BaO. The composition of the reaction products can be adjusted by adjusting the ratios of the reagents. All reagents are in powder form and the reaction can be carried out either in inert atmosphere inside a reaction chamber or in air without a chamber. The materials produced have crystalline TiB.sub.2 particles in a glassy matrix (aluminoborate glass). The TiB.sub.2 particles have a size of about 0.5 .mu.m. Advantages include processing simplicity and cost savings. The glass-ceramic composites produced are electrically conductive and find application where high strength, hardness and electrical conductivity are required.

Abstract: The invention reduces the time required for nitriding in the process of reaction sintering for production of a sintered body of silicon nitride, thereby improving productivity, and provides a sintered body of silicon nitride having sufficient compactness and high strength which can be produced by reaction sintering. The sintered body is Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 having an unpaired electron density of 10.sup.15 /cm.sup.3 to 10.sup.21 /cm.sup.3. The sintered body is produced through reaction sintering by using a Si powder having an unpaired electron density of 10.sup.15 -10.sup.20 /cm.sup.3, which is obtained by annealing a commercially available Si powder at temperatures of 300.degree. to 800.degree. C. in other than nitrogen atmosphere for 3-5 hours.