Abstract: An integral dual module geopolymer building block includes an inner foam module for insulation and an outer dense tile surface on an outer side of the inner foam module for weather protection. The outer porous module comprises a geopolymer paste including sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide flakes dissolved in the sodium silicate to form an activated solution and adding calcined kaolin clay to the activated solution to form a geopolymer paste. A first relatively dense tile layer has a thickness of about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. A second geopolymer layer made from a second mass of paste mixed with hydrogen peroxide forms a geopolymer foam having a thickness of between 5 cm and 15 cm.

Abstract: The invention provides novel carbonatable calcium silicate compositions and carbonatable calcium silicate phases that are made from widely available, low cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production. The method of the invention is flexible in equipment and production requirements and is readily adaptable to manufacturing facilities of conventional cement. The invention offers an exceptional capability to permanently and safely sequesters CO2.

Abstract: Forming a metal oxide by treating an acidic solution containing a metal to yield a precursor in the form of a semi-liquid, semi-solid or solid, and treating the precursor to yield a product including the metal oxide. An organic or inorganic component may be combined with the precursor to yield a second semi-liquid, semi-solid or solid. The product may be treated to yield a new material. In some cases, the metal oxide has an empirical formula HxM2A1y-A2z, where M represents a transition metal or any combination of transition metals in Groups 3-12; A1 is a first oxyanion; A2 is a second oxyanion; 0?x?3; 0?y?3; 0?z?3; and y+z>0.

Abstract: A method for making a thin, free-standing ceramic sheet may include drawing a carrier film proximate a casting head and across a casting bed of a tape caster at a rate from about 2 cm/min to about 500 cm/min. Depositing a thin film of ceramic slip less than about 150 ?m on the carrier film with the casting head. The ceramic slip may comprises a ceramic powder with an ultimate crystallite size of less than about 10 ?m dispersed in a fluid vehicle such that the ceramic slip has a ceramic solids fraction of greater than about 20% by volume. The deposited ceramic slip may be dried on the carrier film thereby forming a green ceramic sheet on the carrier film. After the green ceramic sheet is dried, the green ceramic sheet may be sintered.

Abstract: The nozzle member of a fluid nozzle includes at least one through hole that is parallel to a center axis, wherein a diameter dimension of the through hole is 10 ?m to 100 ?m, a length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) of the through hole is 5 or above, and the nozzle member is formed of ceramics having relative density of 95% or above. The nozzle member including a plurality of minute through holes is manufactured by performing extrusion or cast molding in such a way that a molded body includes a filament of synthetic resin, carbon, or metal in a direction of the center axis of the molded body, and then defatting/sintering the molded body after removing the filament or, when the filament is formed of synthetic resin or carbon, defatting/sintering the molded body under oxidizing atmosphere to evaporate and remove the filament without removing the filament from the molded body.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a glass-ceramic composite using natural raw material and waste glasses. The invention provides a method for manufacturing a white glass-ceramic composite using waste glass and a whitening agent. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a colored glass-ceramic composite using waste glass, the whitening agent and a coloring agent.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic materials, for example closed cell glass ceramic materials, for use in construction of buildings comprising a clay material, carbon, and water used to form the cellular ceramic blocks, slabs and beams by expansion of the particles inside the ware. The cellular ceramic materials are produced by first mixing the clay, carbon and about 40% to about 70% water by weight of the clay in the mixture, allowing the mixture to cure, drying the cured mixture, then firing the dried mixture at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to melt the surface of the mixture. The clay material can be, for example, surface clays, ball clays, kaolin, shale, fly ash and/or bentonite. In another embodiment a mixture of volcanic ash, carbon and water can be formed and layered with the mixture of clay, carbon and water.

Abstract: A sintered rod-shaped proppant and anti-flowback agent possesses high strength and high conductivity. The sintered rods comprise between about 0.2% by weight and about 4% by weight aluminum titanate. In some embodiments, the sintered rods are made by mixing bauxitic and non-bauxitic sources of alumina that may also contain several so-called impurities (such as TiO2), extruding the mixture, and sintering it. The starting material may optionally be milled to achieve better compacity and crush resistance in the final sintered rod. A fracturing fluid may comprise the sintered rods alone or in combination with a proppant, preferably a proppant of a different shape.

Abstract: A composite target material includes titanium oxide in a range between about 50 wt % and about 85 wt % and the remaining comprising stannic oxide or aluminum oxide or a combination of stannic oxide and aluminum oxide. A method for manufacturing composite target material includes the steps of: providing a mixture made of titanium oxide power in a range between about 40 wt % and about 80 wt %, stannic oxide powder or aluminum oxide in a range between about 15 wt % and about 50 wt %, binder in a range between about 5 wt % and about 10 wt %; pressing the mixture to form a blank; sintering the blank; cooling the blank.

Abstract: The invention is a solution impregnation and drying treatment that imparts a high temperature binder into an already formed porous green body composed of particulate batch material. The batch material includes inorganic compounds and binder. The result is reduced sag and distortion and the same or increased strength when the porous body is later fused during sintering/firing.

Abstract: Comminuted pre-mixtures for technical ceramics production, and ceramic bodies made therefrom, the comminuted pre-mixtures being comprised of cellulosic components and alumina source components and the bodies being produced by compounding the comminuted pre-mixtures with powdered inorganic components into batch mixtures, adding liquids to the batch mixtures to form plastic batches, forming the plastic batches into shaped bodies, and heating the shaped bodies to form the ceramic bodies.

Abstract: A CO2 absorbent for exhaust gas capable of being repeatedly used in capturing and recycling of CO2 is provided. The CO2 absorbent for exhaust gas capturing CO2 included in exhaust gas is composed of solid materials including an active component at 5 to 70 wt %, a support at 5 to 70 wt %, an inorganic binder at 5 to 70 wt % and a recycling improver at 5 to 70 wt %. The CO2 absorbent for exhaust gas having such a composition meets the requirements for processes, including physical properties such as a spherical shape, an average particle size and size distribution, a tap density and attrition resistance, and has excellent CO2 absorbing capability and recycling capability. The carbon dioxide absorbent for exhaust gas satisfies physical characteristics such as spherical shape, average particle size and size distribution, tap density, attrition resistance and the like required for processes, and has excellent CO2 absorption and recycling capabilities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanostructured composite material of ?-alumina-doped zirconia stabilised with cerium oxide and zirconia-doped ?-alumina, the process for obtaining it and the applications thereof, such as knee prostheses, hip prostheses, dental implants, mechanical components for pumps, alkaline batteries, ceramic components for stereotactic neurology, cutting tools, etc.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal article according to one embodiment may include: Providing a supply of a sodium/molybdenum composite metal powder; compacting the sodium/molybdenum composite metal powder under sufficient pressure to form a preformed article; placing the preformed article in a sealed container; raising the temperature of the sealed container to a temperature that is lower than a sintering temperature of molybdenum; and subjecting the sealed container to an isostatic pressure for a time sufficient to increase the density of the article to at least about 90% of theoretical density.

Abstract: The invention provides water-soluble salt cores which are produced by compacting a mixture of water-soluble salts and a binding agent, under pressure and subsequently subjecting them to heat-treatment. The binding agent is an inorganic phosphate or a mixture of inorganic phosphates having a proportion of between 0.5 and 10 wt. % of the mixture.

Abstract: A composite target material includes titanium oxide in a range between about 50 wt % and about 85 wt % and the remaining comprising stannic oxide or aluminum oxide or a combination of stannic oxide and aluminum oxide. A method for manufacturing composite target material includes the steps of: providing a mixture made of titanium oxide power in a range between about 40 wt % and about 80 wt %, stannic oxide powder or aluminum oxide in a range between about 15 wt % and about 50 wt %, binder in a range between about 5 wt % and about 10 wt %; pressing the mixture to form a blank; sintering the blank; cooling the blank.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cooling fin and package substrate that includes preparing a mold, which has a support base and a resin layer formed on the support base and including on a side thereof a groove, which is configured to form a cooling fin; printing fireable paste containing a carbon component on a side of the mold that has the groove configured to form a cooling fin; removing the support base to leave a cooling object; and firing the cooling object.

Abstract: Coloring materials are added in dry powder form to the material of the base composition to form a colored ceramic body.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide composite body and includes the steps of forming a slurry including silicon carbide and a carbonaceous precursor, adding to the slurry composite granules containing a carbonaceous binder and carbon black, drying the slurry, shaping the dried slurry and sintering the dried and shaped slurry at a temperature of at least 2000° C. to form a body containing silicon carbide and non-graphitic carbon. The invention further relates to the composite body formed and the mixture prior to sintering.

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: There are provided a porous honeycomb structure body capable of satisfying a pressure loss and isostatic strength which are mutually contradictory properties simultaneously and a method for manufacturing the same. In a porous honeycomb structure body having partition walls which contain cordierite as a primary crystal phase and have a porosity of 40 to 75% and an average pore diameter of 10 to 50 &mgr;m, porosity and an average pore diameter in a center portion of the structure body are made larger than porosity and an average pore diameter in a peripheral portion of the structure body.

Abstract: A process for making an alkaline resistant material comprises the steps of grinding together 0-40% light magnesia, 0-80% roasted magnesia, 10-54% ceramic clay, 0-9% limestone, 1-4% water glass, 0-1.5% carboxymethyl cellusolve, 0-27% talc, 0-3% calcium or barium carbonate to a particle size of less than 50 microns, mixing the ground mixture with water to produce a paste containing <23% wt. water, shaping the paste to a desired shape, drying the shaped product at a temperature of 110 degrees Centigrade, and firing the dried shaped product in a kiln at 1350 degrees Centigrade. The resulting alkali resistant ceramic contains 25-76 wt % MgO, 13-47% SiO2, 5-20 wt % Al2O3, and 1-10 wt % Fe2O3, CaO, K2O, and/or Na2O, with forsterite and spinel being the dominant crystalline phases.

Abstract: It is directed to a silicon carbide-based porous body, wherein said body is a porous one which contains silicon carbide particles as an aggregate and metallic silicon, and has an oxygen-containing phase at the surfaces of silicon carbide particles and/or metallic silicon or in the vicinity of the surfaces thereof. The silicon carbide-based porous body contains refractory particles such as silicon carbide particles or the like and yet can be produced at a relatively low firing temperature at a low cost, has a high thermal conductivity, and is superior in oxidation resistance, acid resistance, chemical resistance to ash and particulates.

Abstract: A particulate filter for diesel engines comprises a metal shell or casing inside which is set a filtering body made of ceramic foam. The filtering body is made up of a plurality of separate elements made of ceramic foam and having a substantially plane and elongated shape, which are set about a longitudinal axis of the shell in such a way as to define, inside the shell, an inner chamber (B) set inside the array of filtering elements and at least one outer chamber (A) set outside the array. The said chambers respectively communicate with the intake pipe and with the outlet pipe, or vice versa, in such a way that, during use, the flow of the engine exhaust gases that traverses the shell passing from the intake pipe to the outlet pipe (or vice versa) is forced to traverse the aforesaid filtering elements, thus assuming a component of radial velocity with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shell.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure made of a silicon carbide-based porous body and having a number of through-holes extending in the axial direction, separated by partition walls. The strength and Young's modulus of the silicon carbide-based porous body satisfy the following relation: Strength (MPa)/Young's modulus (GPa)≧1.1. The honeycomb structure contains refractory particles such as silicon carbide particles and the like and yet can be produced at a relatively low firing temperature at a low cost, has a high strength and a high thermal shock resistance, and can be suitably used, for example, as a filter for purification of automobile exhaust gas by a treatment such as plugging of through-channel at its inlet or outlet, or as a catalyst carrier, even under a high SV condition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved process for the production of ceramic tiles using industrial wastes. The invention particularly relates to an improved process for the production of ceramic tiles using industrial wastes such as iron ore slime, fly ash and blast furnace slag.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of bulk foams which comprises contacting ceramic foam particles with a hydrophobic material to form impregnated and/or coated ceramic foam particles with hydrophobic properties. The impregnated and/or coated ceramic foam particulate material is mixed with a ceramic binding material with or without an organic binder in an aqueous composition solution to form a castable and pressable mixture. The castable and pressable mixture is cast, and optionally pressed, in a mold to form a wet green body, which is in turn dried to form a dried green body, and is then fired and sintered to form a bulk shape foam article.

Abstract: In an improved method for the production of slabs of ceramic material the starting mixture is enclosed between two sheets of cardboard or paperboard, subjected to vibrating compression under vacuum. The aboard or paperboard being thick enough to absorb the excess mixture water prior to the transfer to the subsequent drying and firing stages, said sheets of paperboard being removed before said drying stage, so that the rough-formed slab is dried resting solely on a porous fabric or felt, and baking is performed while keeping the dried rough-formed slab in contact with the oven surface solely by means of a temporary protective layer of refractory material (engobe).

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb catalyst carrier wherein a porosity is 20% or less and an average surface roughness (Ra) of a partition wall of the carrier is 0.5 &mgr;m or more is obtained by forming ceramic raw materials to obtain a ceramic honeycomb formed body; drying the ceramic honeycomb formed body to obtain a ceramic honeycomb dried-up body; roughening a surface of the partition wall of the ceramic honeycomb dried-up body by exposing the ceramic honeycomb dried-up body in an airflow in which polishing powders are included; and sintering the ceramic honeycomb dried-up body after a surface treatment, or, by forming ceramic raw materials to obtain a ceramic honeycomb formed body; drying and sintering the ceramic honeycomb formed body to obtain a ceramic honeycomb sintered body; and roughening a surface of the partition wall of the ceramic honeycomb sintered body by exposing the ceramic honeycomb sintered body in an airflow or a water flow in which polishing powders are included.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ceramic media or ceramic media coatings comprising mainly magnesia, silicon dioxide, and alumina, with forsterite and spinel as the dominant crystalline phases, which show high resistance to alkali attack at high temperature. Ceramic materials having these characteristics are particularly well suited for use as heat-exchange media in regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) for the wood process industry.

Abstract: A method for producing ceramic bodies, particularly ceramic foils, from a castable slip made of a dispersion of a ceramic powder in a solvent. A dispersion of an aqueous vinyl-acetate homopolymer or an aqueous vinyl-acetate/ethene copolymer being used as the solvent.

Abstract: An initial resin substrate is formed by laminating resin layers, and one surface of the initial substrate is heated and pressed by a molding die to mold a projected and dented surface such that substantially no deformation occurs on the resin layer providing a surface opposed to the one surface of the initial substrate. A reversible image display medium is produced by a method comprising the steps of accommodating a dry developer into the concavities and fixing a second substrate to the first substrate using an adhesive. Alternatively a reversible image display medium may be produced by, e.g.

Abstract: Ceramic monoliths are described which exhibit tunable coefficients of thermal expansion from about −5 to −11×10−6° C.−1 near ambient temperatures. These two-phase ceramics, which are fabricated, for example, by reactive sintering of WO3 and ZrO2, consists of a matrix of ZrW2O8 with inclusions of ZrO2 having diameters less than 10 &mgr;m. Additives may increase the density of the monoliths to greater than 98% of the calculated density. Green body densities, pre-sintered particle size distribution, sintering atmosphere, microstructure, and mechanical properties are discussed. These ceramics may be used as substrates for thermally compensating fiber Bragg gratings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sol-gel process for making high-density monolithic alpha-alumina articles. Cracking problems caused by shrinkage of the gel during the drying and firing stages are minimized by controlling the temperature and humidity during the drying process and by using molds formed of prescribed polymeric materials, preliminarily coated with a silicone release agent. The process of the invention provides porous alpha-alumina articles having a controlled microstructure and a controlled pore size distribution, which are beneficial features when the material is used in practical applications, e.g., as substrates for gas sensors.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ceramic boards for use as finishing construction materials is provided, which includes the steps of: blending raw materials at predetermined ratios; mixing the blended raw materials with water to prepare a mixture; kneading the mixture to remove bubbles; molding the bubble-free kneaded mixture into planar wares having a face; engraving a predetermined pattern on the face of the planar wares and then filling the patterns with a colored inlay material to form inlaid surfaces; drying the engraved and inlaid wares; polishing the inlaid surfaces to expose the patterns; primarily calcining the wares having exposed patterns at a temperature of 800° C. to 900° C. for a predetermined period to prepare primary ceramic boards; coating a glaze mixture composed of components at fixed ratios on the faces having the exposed patterns to prepare glazed wares and then drying; and secondary calcining the glazed wares at a temperature of 1250° C. to 1350° C. for a predetermined period.

Abstract: The application discloses a number of unique sintered quartz glass products together with new silica compositions and processes for making and using such products. Nitrided clear and opaque nitrided quartz products are disclosed having incredible physical properties resulting from the incorporation of very small, but effective, amounts (e.g., 25 ppm or more) of chemically bound nitrogen. Opaque quartz glass heat shields with remarkable resistance to transmission of infrared radiation are disclosed which can have a high bubble population density, such as 80 to 120 per mm2. These heat shields make possible remarkable improvement in the performance of tube furnaces and other reactors used in processing silicon wafers and other electronic components.

Abstract: A ceramic composition is provided to insulate ceramic matrix composites under high temperature, high heat flux environments. The composition comprises a plurality of hollow oxide-based spheres of various dimensions, a phosphate binder, and at least one oxide filler powder, whereby the phosphate binder partially fills gaps between the spheres and the filler powders. The spheres are situated in the phosphate binder and the filler powders such that each sphere is in contact with at least one other sphere. The spheres may be any combination of Mullite spheres, Alumina spheres, or stabilized Zirconia spheres. The filler powder may be any combination of Alumina, Mullite, Ceria, or Hafnia. Preferably, the phosphate binder is Aluminum Ortho-Phosphate. A method of manufacturing the ceramic insulating composition and its application to CMC substrates are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of a sintered oxide ceramic of composition CexMyDzO2-a with dense structure without open porosity or with a predetermined porosity. The first doping element M is at least one element of the group consisting of the rare earths but M≢Ce, alkali and earth alkali metals. The educts are used with a second doping element D of at least one metal of the group consisting of Cu, Co, Fe, Ni and Mn, in the submicron particle size or as a salt solution, and sintered at a temperature in the range of 750-1250° C. into an oxide ceramic with extremely fine structure of a grain size of maximum around 0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing high-strength construction and decoration materials which resemble natural stone, are in the form of panels and are used for cladding facades, walls and floors, both indoors and outdoors, from mixtures of broken glass, mineral components and finely divided additives, with a specified composition. A sintering aid, in the form of a solution of metal oxychlorides or metal alkoxides or tetrachlorides, preferably titanium tetrachloride, is added to the mixture, which is then introduced into a heat-resistant mould. In this mould, the mixture is subjected to a conventional sintering operation. The sintering aid which has been added makes it possible in particular to reduce the maximum sintering temperature and to improve the quality of the surface considerably.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for sintering finely divided material, containing manganese compounds with a particle size less than 6 mm and a high degree of oxidation, by means of some carbon-bearing material in a conveyor-type sintering apparatus (9) in an essentially continuous operation. According to the invention, through the material (8) to be sintered in the sintering apparatus (9), there is conducted hot gas (15, 18), which causes combustion reactions between the manganese compounds contained in the material and having a high degree of oxidation and the carbon contained in the burning material. Thus the sintering (18) is carried out essentially by means of the combustion heat released from the material (8). Moreover, the sintered material (8) is subjected to cooling (17) prior to removing the material from the sintering apparatus (9).

Abstract: Shaped ceramic articles can be obtained by screen printing the desired shapes from a dimensionally stable dispersion of a precursor of the ceramic onto a surface, drying the screen printed shapes so obtained and firing them to generate the shaped ceramic articles.

Abstract: A cordierite body is produced by providing cordierite-forming raw materials as talc, calcined talc, MgO-forming component, magnesium aluminate spinel, SiO.sub.2 -forming component, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -forming component, kaolin, calcined kaolin, and/or mullite, such that the quantity R is less than about 10.156. R is0.140 (wt. % mullite powder)+0.433 (wt. % SiO.sub.2 powder)+0.0781 (wt. % alpha Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder)(mean particle size of alpha Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder)+0.0872 (wt. % Al(OH).sub.3 powder)(mean particle size of Al(OH).sub.3 powder)+0.00334 (wt. % SiO.sub.2 powder)(wt. % spinel powder)+2.330 log.sub.10 (1+(wt. % MgO-forming component)(wt. % calcined kaolin))-0.244 (wt. % MgO-forming component)-0.167 (wt. % dispersible high surface area Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -forming component)+1.1305 (heating time at maximum temperature).sup.-1.

Abstract: A number of unique processes are disclosed for manufacture of sintered high-purity quartz glass products in which a shaped silica body or preform is made from an aqueous slurry of micronized silica particles by gel casting, slip casting or electrophoretic deposition. The silica particles may comprise a major portion by weight of crystalline silica. In one embodiment of the invention the sintered quartz glass is transparent, substantially bubble-free and suitable for scientific or optical uses. In another embodiment the porous silica preform is fired in steam to increase the hydroxyl content and then nitrided in a nitrogen-hydrogen reducing atmosphere. A minute amount of chemically-combined nitrogen in the high-purity quartz glass is sufficient to provide a tremendous improvement in physical properties and an incredible increase in the resistance to devitrification.

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 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: A method of producing a ceramic product comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous slurry of a silica sol with a refractile material comprising a calcium or zirconium silicate, causing the slurry to gel by physical or chemical means to form a solid structure, and drying said structure to form a porous ceramic product. The product has a high green strength which nevertheless increases on heating, and may be used in building applications.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a ceramic composition and a process for forming thin tapes and bodies with minimal and controllable firing-induced shrinkage. The composition comprises a refractory component, a glass component and may also include a metal component. The glass component should have no more than about five percent of particles less than 10 microns. The glass component is not milled with the refractory component. They are briefly blended, e.g., by high shear mixing, in a manner which will preserve the particle size and particle size distribution of the glass. The resultant mixture is cast into a sheet or tape, with minimal or no pressure, dried and fired.

Abstract: A lightweight artificial aggregate manufacturing method includes the steps of: mixing aggregate sludge, whose moisture content exceeds 30%, with stone fragments, generated when pulverizing stone, to decrease the moisture content, mixing this mixture and sewage disposal plant sludge, which are dried and micro-pulverized, in a weight ratio of 50 to 50, and making the mixed sludge spheroids with a rotary plate molding device; applying paper sludge, which is dried and micro-pulverized, to the surface of the spheroids in order to prevent condensation of the spheroid during burning and to light the weight of aggregate; burning the spheroid with reducing flame of a temperature between 1000.degree. C. and 1200.degree. C. in a burning furnace, which uses gas or oil as fuel; and cooling the burned spheroid.

Abstract: A ceramic body comprising at least about 80 w/o silicon nitride and having a mean tensile strength of at least about 800 MPa.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for screening using porous backing material. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus that uses a porous backing material which is adhered to a green sheet during the screening process. Basically, a backing layer having a very high porosity is adhered to a green sheet, while the green sheet is screened. During the drying process of the green sheet some of the screening fluids are absorbed by the porous backing layer, which allows the screened vias of the green sheet to have a smooth surface.