Abstract: A dispersant system for formulating stable non-aqueous siliceous particulate slurries, comprising a vehicle comprising a liquid ester, and a dispersant comprising an alkoxylated aminoalcohol and organophosphate ester. Siliceous particulate slurries in accordance with the present invention can include slurries containing siliceous ceramic particulate (i.e., silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silica, and silicon metal powders partially oxidized by air exposure). A wide variety of linear and cyclic organic esters can be used as a vehicle component, including lactones. The alkoxylated aininoalcohol is typically an ethoxylated aminoethanol oligomer. A wide variety of aromatic and nonaromatic organophosphate ester compounds can be used for the second dispersant component.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced ceramic green body having enough green strength and handling strength. The fiber-reinforced ceramic green body is obtained by molding a ceramic composition comprising a ceramic powder, a sintering aid powder, an organic fiber, an aqueous dispersion medium and an optional dispersant. The organic fiber is contained in the ceramic green body in an amount of 0.2-3 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a total of the ceramic powder and the sintering aid powder and uniformly dispersed throughout it. The average length of the organic fiber is 300-1000 &mgr;m and the average diameter is 2.5-30 &mgr;m. The organic fiber is preferably a synthetic high polymer such as polyester, nylon, etc., and preferably has a hydrophilic nature imparted by surface treatment.

Abstract: A ceramic filter module includes a plurality of passage holes (11) and internal passage holes (12) alternately arranged about a plurality of ceramic partitions (15). The internal passage holes are sealed at each end by seals (13). The partitions are at most 1 mm thick and allow fluid to be filtered as the fluid flows from passage holes (11) to the internal passage holes (12). A plurality of discharge holes (14) traversing through the ceramic partitions between adjacent internal passage holes or between an internal passage hole and an outer surface allow the permeate to exit. The module is a porous ceramic body that preferably has an average pore diameter of 1 &mgr;m and is composed of silicon nitride. The ceramic filter module has the advantages of low permeation resistance and very high permeability.

Abstract: There is disclosed a silicon nitride sintered body produced by sintering a molded article which comprises a mixture of a silicon nitride powder as the main component and plural kinds of sintering additives, wherein said silicon nitride powder is set to be 0.1 to 1.0 &mgr;m in average grain size, and said plural kinds of sintering additives includes first and second sintering additives, said first sintering additive comprising oxide powders of at least one element of Group 3a element, said second sintering additive comprising oxide powders of at least one element selected from Zr (zirconium), Hf (hafnium), Nb (niobium), Ta (tantalum) and W (tungsten), said first sintering additive having the average grain size set to be 0.1 to 10 times as large as the average grain size of said silicon nitride powder and being incorporated in an amount ranging from 0.

Abstract: A thermally insulating coating system for curved and/or hardened glass panes includes at least one layer of noble metal enclosed by a lower and an upper blocker layer. An underoxidic NiCrOx layer with a thickness between one Å and two nm is embedded into the noble-metal layer. The advantage is that the optical qualities of the coating system are not influenced by the tempering and curving of the glass pane.

Abstract: A ceramic compound which undergoes martensitic transformation comprises a compound represented by compositional formula Ln1-xSixAlO3+0.5x obtained by substituting a part of LnO1.5 in LnAlO3-type compounds with SiO2, where Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb, and x=0.01 to 0.3.