Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing sinterable metallic shaped parts from a metal powder, which is mixed with an auxiliary compacting agent containing at least in part components from the polyalkylene glycol family, is filled into a compacting mold and, following the compacting under pressure, is ejected from the mold as compacted shaped part.

Abstract: A fired body and method of making involves compounding powder, binder, aqueous solvent for the binder, surfactant, and non-solvent with respect to at least the binder, the solvent, and the powder, with the addition of an organosilicon compound. The non-solvent is lower in viscosity than the binder combined with the solvent, and the amount of solvent is less than the amount that would be used absent the non-solvent. The components are mixed and plasticized and then shaped into a green body, which is then fired to produce the product body. The organosilicon compound enhances the stiffness in the green body afforded by other non-solvents, and results in increased strength and reduced cracking in the fired body, among other advantages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of removing water-insoluble binder from a porous article formed from pressed particulate material, such as tantalum powder. The invention provides a method capable of removing substantially all of the binder from the article for high purity applications, such as capacitor manufacture. The method comprises contacting the article with an aqueous solution of an agent which reacts with said binder to produce a water soluble derivative thereof whereby said binder derivative may be substantially dissolved in said solution. In a particular embodiment, the derivative is produced by hydrolysis of a fatty acid binder.

Abstract: A cutting member is manufactured by forming a mixture of cemented carbide and a bearer, and heating the mixture. Then, the heated mixture is injected into a mold for forming a body having a cutting edge in a front surface thereof, a flushing channel extending therethrough, and a rearwardly open blind hold formed centrally in a rear surface thereof. The body is then removed from the mold.

Abstract: A method for producing high-density powder metallurgy articles formed of hard powder materials, and particularly hard ferromagnetic materials that yield powder metallurgy magnets exhibiting improved magnetic properties as compared to powder metallurgy magnets formed of pure iron. The method generally entails the use of a powder of a material that is harder than iron, and then encapsulating each particle of the powder with a layer of iron. The powder is then compacted, by which the particles are adhered together to form a powder metallurgy article. As a result of forming a sufficiently thick encapsulating layer of iron on each powder particle, the powder can be compacted to a greater density than would be possible without the encapsulating layer of iron. If a ferromagnetic material is used, the resulting magnetic article is capable of exhibiting magnetic properties superior to a substantially identical pure iron powder metallurgy magnet.

Abstract: An iron-based powder which is a mixture comprising a major proportion of a first alloy powder, a minor proportion of a second alloy powder and a proportion of a solid lubricant. The first alloy powder consists of, in weight percentages, 14 to 30 chromium, 1 to 5 molybdenum, 0 to 5 vanadium, 0 to 6 tungsten, the total of molybdenum, vanadium and tungsten being at least 3, a total of 0 to 5 of other strong carbide forming elements, 0 to 1.5 silicon, carbon with a minimum level sufficient to form carbides with substantially all of the molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, and any other strong carbide forming elements present, and a balance which is iron and incidental impurities. The second alloy powder is an austenitic stainless steel.

Abstract: The present invention includes iron-carbon compacts and a process for making them. The process includes preparing a slurry comprising iron powder, furfuryl alcohol, and a polymerization catalyst for initiating the polymerization of the furfuryl alcohol into a resin, and heating the slurry to convert the alcohol into the resin. The resulting mixture is pressed into a green body and heated to form the iron-carbon compact. The compact can be used as, or machined into, a magnetic flux concentrator for an induction heating apparatus.

Abstract: A base metal repair tape includes a first layer formed braze alloy bonded together with fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene, a second layer formed from powdered base metal bonded together by fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene and a third layer comprising a brazing alloy bonded together by fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene. This is used to repair base metal by placing the first layer on the base metal and brazing the base metal powder so that the brazing alloy melts and diffuses into the base metal powder bonding it to the surface of the article. This permits the braze powder to be bonded to the base metal surface with minimal distance between the base powder particles. The number of alternating layers of base metal and braze alloy can be increased to increase the thickness of the repair. This can also be used to form small intricate parts.

Abstract: A method of gelcasting includes the steps of providing a solution of at least hydroxymethylacrylamide (HMAM) and water. At least one inorganic powder is added to the mixture. At least one initiator system is provided to polymerize the HMAM. The initiator polymerizes the HMAM and water, to form a firm hydrogel that contains the inorganic powder. One or more comonomers can be polymerized with the HMAM monomer, to alter the final properties of the gelcast material. Additionally, one or more additives can be included in the polymerization mixture, to alter the properties of the gelcast material.

Abstract: A magnetic core of a compressed compact comprises a mixture of magnetic powder and a spacing material, wherein the distance between adjacent magnetic powder particles is controlled by the spacing material. In this constitution, a magnetic core low in core loss, high in magnetic permeability, and excellent in direct-current superposing characteristic is realized.

Abstract: A high density, non-magnetic alloy is described along with a process for manufacturing it. The preferred composition for the alloy is approximately 95% by weight of tungsten and 5% of austenitic stainless steel. The process for manufacturing the alloy begins with blending tungsten and stainless steel powders which are then mixed with an organic binder to form a feedstock. The latter is then molded into the form of compacted items, such as a hard drive counterweight balance, and then sintered in either vacuum or a hydrogen atmosphere. The tungsten heavy alloys of the present invention can be easily manufactured in large volume economically in many intricate shapes with excellent control of weight and dimensions.

Abstract: A method for forming molded articles in any shape from ceramic, glass, or metal powders which comprises: preparing a slurry by dispersing more than one powder selected from a group consisting of ceramic, glass, and metal materials in a dispersing medium using a dispersing agent, and curing by adding a reactive substance that reacts with the dispersing agent to make the dispersibility of the dispersing agent disappear or lower.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing semi-wet pressed green bodies having improved wet strength. The wet strength of the semi-wet pressed green bodies is increased by the addition of at least one polymeric binder having a molecular weight greater than 50,000 comprising, as polymerized units, at least 10 percent of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated acids, salts, or anhydrides, and further comprising at least one hydrophobe per polymeric chain on average. The present invention further provides semi-wet pressed green bodies, having improved wet strength, made from the above method.In one embodiment, the polymeric binder increases the wet strength of ceramic green bodies. In another embodiment, the polymeric binder increases the wet strength of metallurgic green bodies. In another embodiment, the polymeric binder increases the wet strength of cermet green bodies.

Abstract: Conventional anodes for solid electrolytic capacitor have small numbers of spaces and gaps therein and, when made into a capacitor, have shown insufficient (high) tan d and ESR. An anode having enlarged numbers of spaces and gaps and giving a capacitor of improved tan d and ESR can be produced by using, as a material for shaped material (anode before sintering), a mixed powder of a granulated valve metal powder of 50 to 200 .mu.m in particle diameter and a solid organic substance of 20 .mu.m or less in average particle diameter.

Abstract: The present invention is a method which customizes the penetration depth of a heat-fusible powder used in solid freeform fabrication process such as laser sintering. The penetration depth of the heat-fusible powder is customized by combining opaque and transparent powders at a ratio which ensures that the beam contacts a portion of powder beneath its surface, thereby promoting complete layer sintering as well as adherence to previously sintered layers.

Abstract: A powder injection molding composition or feedstock is made of 70% or more by weight of a powdered metal or ceramic and 30% or less by weight of a binder system. The binder system contains a sufficient amount of polypropylene or polyethylene to hold the so-called brown preform of the molded metal or ceramic powder together for the sintering step of the injection molding process and a sufficient amount of partially hydrolyzed cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol water and plasticizer to facilitate molding of the composition into the so- called green preform of the article to be manufactured. The debinding step of the injection molding process for transforming the green preform into the brown preform consists simply of immersing the green preform in water at ambient temperature to dissolve the polyvinyl alcohol. The binder system is nonhazardous, safe, harmless and fully degradable.

Abstract: A molding compound consisting of the nickel superalloy Hastelloy X is used to form net-shape or near net-shape articles. The compound, containing atomized Hastelloy X powder having an average particle size less than about 20 .mu.m, is mixed with a liquid carrier, a gel forming binder and processing additives and molded at relatively low pressures in a conventional injection molding machine. A critical air debinding step prior to sintering results in high densification of the article, which has mechanical properties comparable to cast or wrought processed material.

Abstract: A process for production of a moulded ceramic and/or metallic body from a ductile material comprising one or more ceramic and/or metallic components, which material is fed into the pre-heated mould cavity (1) of a moulding tool. The moulded tool includes at least two mould parts (4, 5) of which at least one wholly or partly consists of a microporous material with communicating micropores. At least one mould cavity (1) comprising at least one mould surface (2, 3) exhibiting closed micropores is arranged in the microporous mould part (4, 5) or in a microporous section (6) thereof. The microporous mould part (4, 5) or the microporous section (6) thereof is pre-heated by supply of warm fluid, such as a heated gas. Said part (4, 5) or section (6) is after terminated moulding cooled by supply of cold fluid, such as a condensed gas. the invention includes in a further aspect a moulded body produced according to the process.

Abstract: A debinding and sintering method is employed to produce consolidated net shape articles from metal powders including 17-4PH stainless steel alloy by metal injection molding using an agar based aqueous binder. The debinding and sintering step can be combined into one cycle to economically produce components for the consumer and aerospace industries.

Abstract: A ball linear guide includes a ball-cyclic-running path composed of a loaded ball groove and a non-loaded ball groove, wherein said ball linear guide main body is of a single structure including: a dovetail groove having at both ends thereof an inlet and an outlet for balls; and a tunnel-like non-loaded ball hole being continuous to said dovetail groove with said inlet and said outlet being as both ends thereof. The tunnel-like non-loaded ball hole is manufactured by forming, around a tunnel-like core, an iron alloy containing about 0.85 wt % of C, about 0.3% of Si, about 0.3 wt % of Mo, about 4.0 wt % of Cr, about 5.0 wt % of Mn, about 6.0 wt % of W, about 2.0 wt % of V, and/or about 0.6 wt % of Ti. The ball linear guide allows smooth rotation of balls at a high speed with reduced noise, and also it exhibits a long service life. Further, in the manufacturing method, the number of parts and the number of working steps are reduced, and the assembly is easily performed without great care.

Abstract: The present invention relates to particle agglomeration of aluminum powder using a lubricating binder. The resulting powder has improved flowability and can be shaped easily. The aluminum particles are admixed with a lubricant, e.g. polyethylene, and are held together by the lubricant. To agglomerate the aluminum powder, the lubricant is melted and is then solidified to form solid bridges between the aluminum powder particles. The lubricant may be burned out cleanly at temperatures lower than 450.degree. C.

Abstract: A powder injection molding composition or feedstock is made of 70% or more by weight of a powdered metal or ceramic and 30% or less by weight of a binder system. The binder system contains a sufficient amount of polypropylene or polyethylene to hold the so-called brown preform of the molded metal or ceramic powder together for the sintering step of the injection molding process and a sufficient amount of partially hydrolyzed cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol, water and plasticizer to facilitate molding of the composition into the so-called green preform of the article to be manufactured. The debinding step of the injection molding process for transforming the green preform into the brown preform consists simply of immersing the green preform in water at ambient temperature to dissolve the polyvinyl alcohol. The binder system is nonhazardous, safe, harmless and fully degradable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for rapid fabrication of molds and mold components. This method involves first the step of producing a digital CAD representation of the mold; using this digital representation to make a set of oversized core and cavity three dimensional models, patterns or replicas, by using solid modeling technologies; placing these models, patterns or replicas respectively into a mold base with die pockets to accept the patterns; powder injection molding fine metal powders around each version of the core and cavity of the part to produce a "green" molded article having the negative or female impression or the original core and cavity patterns; debinding these "green" articles to remove the binder; sintering the debound articles to produce the final tool steel or related alloy molds; and performing secondary operations to fit then into a master mold base as part of a complete molding tool.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to aluminum containing iron-base alloys useful as electrical resistance heating elements. The aluminum containing iron-base alloys have improved room temperature ductility, electrical resistivity, cyclic fatigue resistance, high temperature oxidation resistance, low and high temperature strength, and/or resistance to high temperature sagging. The alloy has an entirely ferritic microstructure which is free of austenite and includes, in weight %, over 4% Al, .ltoreq.1% Cr and either .gtoreq.0.05% Zr or ZrO.sub.2 stringers extending perpendicular to an exposed surface of the heating element or .gtoreq.0.1% oxide dispersoid particles. The alloy can contain 14-32% Al, .ltoreq.2% Ti, .ltoreq.2% Mo, .ltoreq.1% Zr, .ltoreq.1% C, .ltoreq.0.1% B, .ltoreq.30% oxide dispersoid and/or electrically insulating or electrically conductive covalent ceramic particles, .ltoreq.1% rare earth metal, .ltoreq.1% oxygen, .ltoreq.3% Cu, balance Fe.

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: A milled tooth shaped rotary cone drill bit for drilling oil wells and the like manufactured using a powder metallurgy process in which an alloy powder is pressure molded into the desired bit shape, sintered, and precision machined.

Abstract: In the present invention, nickel and phosphorous are simultaneously plated onto the surface of iron powder, mixed iron and nickel powder, or iron-nickel pre-alloyed powder, to form iron-nickel-phosphorous ternary alloy powders with very uniform distribution of phosphorous, with concentrations ranging between 2.0 and 6.0 wt%. When mixed with an appropriate amount of organic binder, these powders may be used as raw materials for injection molding. Intricate parts thus formed can be sintered at relatively low temperatures to attain high sintered density, large grain size, and isotropic shrinkage. The sintered microstructure thus obtained is characterized by spheroidal grains embedded in continuous intergranular insulating phosphide phase. The magnetic properties of the resulting material are substantially improved as compared to those of powder processed products.

Abstract: A tungsten skeleton structure fabrication method employed in an application of a copper infiltration and tungsten-copper composite fabrication method includes the steps of forming a source powder by coating the tungsten powder surface having a purity of 99.9 weight percent and 2.about.5 .mu.m in size, with nickel by less than 0.06 weight percent (600 ppm), forming an injection molded admixture by admixing a source powder and a polymer binder, carrying out a powder injection molded with regard to the admixture, and obtaining a tungsten skeleton structure by removing the polymer binder from the resultant injection molded body. The method prevents the molded body from being unevenly shrunken during a liquid phase sintering for thereby decreasing its production cost.

Abstract: Aluminum powder compositions intended for powder metallurgy applications are provided. The powder compositions contain aluminum and aluminum alloys or blends made from elemental powders, admixed with a polyethylene lubricant. The polyethylene admixture eases the compaction of powders and the ejection of parts. As compared to other conventional admixed lubricants used for Al powder metallurgy applications, polyethylene allows to obtain parts with higher green and sintered strengths. Proper delubrication prior to sintering is of importance.

Abstract: Provided is a powder and binder system for manufacturing sintered parts from particulate material, and a method of injection molding parts for sintering. The particulate material includes ceramic, metallic and intermetallic powders. Preferably, selected powder particles are coated with one or more additives depending on their shape and surface chemistry to create a powder system. The additives may include antioxidants, coupling agents, surfactants, elasticizing agents, dispersants, plasticizer/compatibilizers and lubricants. The surface active additives are designed to improve the interface between the powder and the binder. The powder system may be mixed or compounded with a binder system in an inert atmosphere to form a powder and binder system, or feedstock, for powder molding. The binder system, may contain one or more components which are removed prior to the sintering the powder. The powder and binder system may also be molded about an expendable core which is extracted prior to sintering.

Abstract: This invention provides a heat transmitting pipe and a heat transmitting plate which are capable of greatly improving the heat transfer efficiency of a conventional finned heating pipe and a convention heating plate. Copper oxide powder is deposited in a vapor phase onto a cellular synthetic resin coated with an adhesive beforehand. Thereafter, a copper plate with the same metal powder deposited thereon is placed on one surface of the metal powder-bearing cellular synthetic resin and is brought into lightly pressed contact with the surface by a roll press or the like, to thereby form a laminated article. Subsequently, the cellular synthetic resin is burnt off in a combustion furnace, to thereby produce a cellular metal material of the copper oxide on the copper plate. Further, the cellular metal material is reduced and sintered in a reducing atmosphere such as that of a hydrogen reduction furnace, to thereby produce a cellular copper material which is provided with the copper plate on one surface thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a shaped article involves forming an aqueous mixture comprising inorganic powder material, supercritical fluid, organic binder component a portion of which is essentially insoluble in water, and aqueous vehicle, and extruding the mixture into a shaped article.

Abstract: Direct Metal Fabrication of metal parts is accomplished with a continuous thermal process in which partial reduction of the "green form" part leaves a thin carbon film that maintains the part's structural integrity. The remaining carbon catalyzes a eutectic reducing element to diffuse throughout the part forming organo-metallic bonds that bind the homogenized metal alloy. Supersolidus liquid phase sintering (SLPS) densities the alloy to provide a final part of parent material quality. The DMF process can be used in magnetographic printing to imprint an image.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of forming an implant having a porous surface using an organic binder compound to enhance the bonding between the porous surface layer and implant. Preferably, the binder is formed from a water-soluble protein that carbonizes during the sintering process to alloy with the metal of the porous surface layer. The porous surface layer may be in the form of beads or of fiber metal and can be preformed to fit with an implant or formed over the surface of the implant.

Abstract: A method of producing a formable mixture involves combining a powder material, and a plurality of gel-forming polymers, wherein at least one gel-forming polymer is a proton donor, and at least one gel forming polymer is a proton acceptor. A method of making a monolithic structure involves producing a formable mixture of powder material which can be ceramic, metal, glass, glass ceramic, molecular sieve and combinations thereof, a plurality of gel-forming polymers as described above, extruding the mixture to form a green monolithic structure, and drying and firing the green structure.

Abstract: The present invention concerns low allow PM materials which after single pressing and sintering utilizing traditional powder metallurgy processes and equipment combine high mechanical strength and high density with maintained precision of tolerance. As base material is used an iron powder having at least one alloying element diffusion-bonded to the outer surfaces of unalloyed iron particle is provided.

Abstract: A process of molding inorganic materials into desired shapes comprises mixing the material with a dispersant, milling, molding the mixture, drying the mixture and sintering.

Abstract: A water solvent extraction degreasing method capable of reducing degreasing time without consideration of abrupt decomposition/vaporization and swelling caused by heat. An organic binder is removed from a molded product that is produced by a powder material mixed with the organic binder and this organic binder contains at least one water-soluble organic compound and at least one water-insoluble thermoplastic resin. The degreasing step of this method includes a water solvent extraction step for extracting the water-soluble organic compound from the organic binder contained in the molded product, using water as a solvent.

Abstract: A method for making multi-channel structures suitable for use as filters, catalyst carriers or the like. A composite rod comprising an outer shell and an inner core is formed of respective mixtures of powders. The mixture for the outer shell comprises a sinterable powdered structural material such as ceramics, metals, intermetallics, and a powdered binder. The inner core comprises a powdered carbon channel-forming filler material such as graphite or amorphous carbon, and a powdered binder. The composite rod may be deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce its diameter. A bundle of composite rods is assembled and deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce the diameter of the bundle and of its component composite rods. Further bundles of the reduced diameter bundles of composite rods may be likewise deformed by extrusion to reduce further the diameter of the component composite rods of the successive bundles, thereby also increasing the number of such rods per given cross section area of the bundle.

Abstract: Powdered ferrous metal compositions are disclosed which provide for increased corrosion resistance through the admixing of powder aluminum containing compositions with standard ferrous metal compositions prior to forming the powder metal parts. In a preferred embodiment, the aluminum ranges is admixed as an FeAl alloy powder with the standard ferrous metal composition. The present invention further includes a powder metal ferrous part formed from the composition produced by a method including the steps of (i) providing a ferrous powder metal composition, (ii) admixing a powder aluminum containing composition with the ferrous composition to form a blended mixture, and (iii) forming a powder metal part from at least a portion of the blended mixture.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for freeze molding, comprising the steps of: mixing poly(vinyl alcohol) or a modified additive thereof with a material slurry to obtain a mixture; pouring the mixture into a molding die; and subjecting the mixture in a molding die to at least one cycle of cooling and heating so as to obtain a compact. A compact obtained in this method is free from melting and can maintain its configuration even if the compact is kept at a temperature of freezing point or higher. Further, since the method does not require vacuum drying, the compact can easily be dried.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed including a substantially monolithic stator. The stator is formed by a metal injected molding (MIM) process in which high silicon iron is sintered to produce a stator made from loss magnetic material. The low loss magnetic material is a low hysteresis loss, high resistivity material. A substantially monolithic stator without multiple laminations is thus achieved. Avoiding stator laminations in this manner permits the fabrication of a disk drive having a significantly reduced vertical profile while still suppressing undesired eddy current and hysteresis losses in the stator. The stator is advantageously directly machined with a central bore to receive a bearing assembly for the spindle of the hub of the drive motor. The disclosed stator geometry is optimized in three dimensions to minimize stator volume and maximize the stator winding volume.

Abstract: A low-cost thermal decomposition degreasing method capable of drastically reducing the time required for a degreasing process which involves heating, vaporization and thermal decomposition, while assuring the shape retention property of an injection molded product during degreasing. The degreasing process comprises: (i) a first step wherein a molded product placed under a reduced pressure less than or equal to atmospheric pressure is heated at a temperature lower than the melting point of a thermoplastic binder so that the thermoplastic binder partially evaporates by 5 wt % or more, and then the molded product is further heated at a temperature lower than higher one of the melting points of a more volatile organic compound and a thermoplastic resin whereby the thermoplastic binder further evaporates by 10 wt % or more, and wherein the final temperature is set to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is provided for the manufacture of porous metal components. The process involves preparing a colloidal suspension comprising a metal-containing powder in admixture with a binder system, and a plasticizer in an organic solvent. Optionally, a particulate pore forming agent may be added to the suspension. The suspension is cast into a thin sheet and air dried to thereby form a tape. The tapes are layered and formed by compacting at predetermined pressures to laminate the tapes, thus forming a green body. Optionally, a second pore-forming agent may be introduced between, or associated with, the tape layers. The green body is heated at a controlled rate to form a brown body, and finally sintered under controlled conditions to produce the finished component.

Abstract: A method of producing a three-dimensional form includes the steps of spraying from at least one nozzle a gas including particles of materials having different properties onto a base surface to deposit a layer of particles, repeatedly spray-depositing layers of particles each on the upper surface of a deposition layer, thereby building up a three-dimensional object consisting of the accumulated deposition layers each having different properties in a two-dimensional plane, and utilizing the different properties in the accumulated deposition layers to remove part of the three-dimensional object, thereby producing a desired three-dimensional form.

Abstract: Metallic shaped bodies are produced from an injection-molding composition comprising at least one carbonyl metal powder and at least one element powder of metals from the group Cr, Mn, V, Si, Ti or of other metals which are at least as oxidation-sensitive by shaping, removing the binder and sintering. In place of an element powder, it is also possible to use an alloy powder comprising the corresponding metals.

Abstract: A process for making metal castings, comprising the steps of(a) preparing an alloy from at least two different metals;(b) forming the alloy into a powder;(c) optionally combining the powder with a lubricant and/or flux;(d) pressing the powder into pellets;(e) melting one or more of the pellets;(f) casting the molten alloy into the mold;(g) cooling the metal casting.This process allows for the production of alloy castings even from high melting poorly soluble metals. The use of pellets containing a lubricant and/or flux is preferred. In addition the pellets may contain deoxidizers, grain refiners, and/or oxidizers. The process is especially suitable for the manufacture of dental, jewelry and precision castings.

Abstract: A sintered structure is formed from a powdered material by the steps of providing a first, green powdered material which can be a ceramic or metallic ceramic material. A second, preformed mold blank material to the green powdered material, wherein the preformed mold blank will not fuse with the first, green powdered material. The mold blank material is different green material having a higher sintering temperature than the first green powdered material. Then the structure is fired at the sintering temperature of the first, green powdered material; and the preformed mold blank material from the fired powdered material is removed. Grooves can be formed by pressing non-sinterable lines into a green sheet prior to firing. A wave guide unit can be formed in the ceramic. A ceramic structure can be formed with fracture markings in the green powdered material.

Abstract: A process for making an inert electrode composite wherein a metal oxide and a metal are reacted in a gaseous atmosphere at an elevated temperature of at least about 750.degree. C. The metal oxide is at least one of the nickel, iron, tin, zinc and zirconium oxides and the metal is copper, silver, a mixture of copper and silver or a copper-silver alloy. The gaseous atmosphere has an oxygen content that is controlled at about 5-3000 ppm in order to obtain a desired composition in the resulting composite.

Abstract: This invention consists of two parts: "Cemented Carbide with Minimal Amount of Binder Metal", and "Nonmagnetic Cemented Carbide".The "Cemented Carbide with Minimal Amount of Binder Metal" is for cemented carbide bodies which are made from less than 2% binder metal powder and metal carbide powder. The raw powder is to be prepared following a conventional powder metallurgy method--especially the conventional method of making cemented carbide--milling, forming and sintering.The "Non-magnetic Cemented Carbide" is cemented carbides which have nickel-tungsten alloy as a binder metal. The process of manufacturing uses said conventional powder metallurgy. The purpose of this invention is to manufacture non-magnetic cemented carbide using more than two metal carbide powders and binder metal. More than one kind of metal carbides form solid solution carbide during the sintering process.