Abstract: Porous ceramic and hybrid ceramic films are useful as low dielectric constant interlayers in semiconductor interconnects. (Hybrid ceramic films are defined as films that contain organic and ceramic molecular components in the structure, as, for example, organosilicates). This invention describes the usefulness of humidity treatments (using specific temperature/humidity treatments as illustrative examples) in increasing mechanical integrity of porous dielectric films with minimal detrimental effect on film porosity or dielectric constant and with no adverse impact on film quality. The efficacy of such treatments is illustrated using surfactant-templated mesoporous silicate films as an example. This invention also describes a specific family of additives to be used with highly pure alkali-metal-free ceramic and hybrid precursors for such dielectric films that will enable better control of the film porosity and quality and lower dielectric constants with the required mechanical integrity.

Abstract: The process for producing, processing, sintering, pressing or extruding thermoelectric materials with heat treatment under inert gas or under reduced pressure at temperatures in the range from 100 to 900° C. comprises producing, processing, sintering, pressing or extruding in the presence of oxygen scavengers which form thermodynamically stable oxides in the presence of free oxygen under the production, processing, sintering, pressing or extrusion conditions and hence keep free oxygen away from the thermoelectric material.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device is produced by providing a material having a hydroxyapatite (HA) component. The HA component is textured by, for example uniaxial pressing, to impart one of the limiting symmetries ?, ? mm, or ?2. The textured material may then be poled to enhance the piezoelectric properties.

Abstract: A method for pretreating an unfired honeycomb formed article of a raw material composition containing a ceramic raw material, water, and a binder and having a plurality of cells separated by partition walls and functioning as fluid passages before firing. The method has a first step of passing superheated steam having a temperature of 100 to 150° C. through the cells to raise temperature of the honeycomb formed article and then maintaining the temperature of the superheated steam at the temperature of the superheated steam passed through the cells or more and 200° C. or less. The method can provide a pretreatment to a honeycomb formed article in a shorter time with inhibiting generation of a defect such as a deformation or a damage.

Abstract: This invention provides a stacked ceramic body that prevents reaction between components of dielectric layers and components of electrode layers of an unsintered stacked body during sintering and in which both components do not easily form a liquid phase, and a production method of such a stacked ceramic body. A print portion 13 is formed on a green sheet 1, 12 containing lead by use of an electrode paste consisting of copper oxide as its main component. A desired number of print sheets 10 are stacked to give an unsintered stacked body 15. Degreasing is conducted in an atmosphere to degrease organic components. The print portion 13 is subjected to reducing treatment in a reducing atmosphere containing hydrogen and is converted to a print portion 13 containing copper as its main component. The unsintered stacked body 15 is sintered in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: A sand lime shaped product including wax mixed with sand and lime formed into a shaped product having a density of at least 200 kg/m3. A method for making a sand lime shaped product is also disclosed, including mixing wax with sand and lime to form a mixture; and forming the mixture into a shaped product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing mold contamination in an injection molding process by using a mixture of nitrile rubbers, in the range of from 0.1-0.5 wt. % of fatty acids and optionally further additives.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a sintered piece comprises preparing a molded piece of a composite including calcium phosphate compound such as hydroxyapatite, and baking the molded piece in an oxygen atmosphere to obtain the sintered piece. The oxygen concentration of the oxygen atmosphere is controlled to be not less than 25 vol %, and the relative humidity of the oxygen atmosphere is controlled to be below 30% RH. The baking is performed for 30 minutes to 8 hours at a temperature not less than 1000° C. and below a temperature at which thermal decomposition of the calcium phosphate occurs.

Abstract: An oven for continuous curing of a succession of pre-formed elastomer articles, in particular tubes, which comprises a curing chamber at atmospheric pressure, communicating with the exterior by means of an intake aperture and an output aperture, a chain, which can advance the pre-formed articles along a closed path, extending through the curing chamber, and a unit for admission of water vapor into the curing chamber in order to keep it saturated with steam.

Abstract: A process for producing a silica sintered product for a multi-layer wiring substrate of the invention includes: providing a fine silica powder having an average particle size of 5 to 500 nm and a fine crystallized quartz powder having an average particle size 1 to 10 .mu.m, the fine crystallized quartz powder having a volume equal to 1 to 20% of the entire volume of the fine silica powder and the fine crystallized quartz powder; mixing the fine silica powder and the fine crystallized quartz powder with a binder and a solvent to form a silica-containing slurry; forming a green sheet by slip-casting the silica-containing slurry; and firing the green sheet at a temperature of 800.degree. to 1200.degree. C. in an atmosphere containing steam at a partial pressure of 0.005 to 0.85 atm.