Abstract: Featured is an ignition system using miniaturized hot surface igniters of various types, configurations, and material systems. The ignition system includes an electronic microprocessor on which a software program is executed so as to control the operation of an igniter and all functions of the ignition system. The software program evaluates performance characteristics relating to operation of the igniter. Additionally, the software program determines operation parameters and characteristics for energizing the igniter when it determines that the operation parameters and characteristics for energizing should be updated or revised.

Abstract: A water hammer mitigation device includes an inlet, an outlet, an expansion housing, and a deflector. The inlet receives fluid from a source. The outlet passes the fluid to a destination. The expansion housing is disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The expansion housing defines an internal expansion chamber having an expansion volume sufficient to hold a plurality of volume units of the fluid. Each volume unit is defined by a fluid flow volume over a duration of time. The deflector is disposed within the expansion chamber. The deflector substantially redirects a backward energy pulse, which enters the expansion chamber through the outlet, away from the inlet.

Abstract: An igniter shield for use in combination with an igniter includes a substantially cylindrical-shaped body that includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first longitudinally oriented support and a second longitudinally oriented support wherein the first and second longitudinally oriented supports extend between and are connected to the proximal portion and the distal portion, the substantially cylindrical-shaped body further including a longitudinally oriented baffle circumferentially spaced apart from the first and second longitudinally oriented supports, wherein the baffle extends between and is connected to the proximal portion and the distal portion, and wherein the baffle includes a radially outward facing convex surface and a radially inward facing concave surface, the radially inward facing concave surface having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of at least one of the proximal or distal portions.

Abstract: ESD safe ceramic component is provided which includes a sintered composition which is formed of a base material and a resistivity modifier. The base material includes a primary component and a secondary component, the primary component including Al2O3 and the secondary component including tetragonal-ZrO2.

Abstract: A reaction bonded ceramic body that has 50% to 60%, by weight, boron carbide, and 20% to 30%, by weight, silicon carbide. The reaction bonded ceramic body has least a portion of the boron carbide reacted with silicon to become siliconized boron carbide. Also, a method of making a reaction bonded ceramic material. The method may include the steps of forming a green body from a mixture of boron carbide, carbon, and an organic binder, and contacting the green body with a liquid infiltrant comprising silicon. The infiltrant has a temperature of about 1625° C. to about 1700° C. Furthermore, a method of making a reaction bonded boron carbide ceramic body. The method includes the steps of forming a green body from a mixture of boron carbide, carbon, and an organic binder. The weight ratio of boron carbide to carbon in the green body may be about 5:5 to 1 or more.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a coated substrate and a method of making and using the same. A plasma-spray coated layer may be formed on a substrate, wherein the plasma-sprayed coated layer comprises a rare-earth oxide (e.g., yttrium oxide), a rare-earth fluoride (e.g. yttrium fluoride), or a rare-earth silicate (e.g. yttrium silicate). An exposed surface of the plasma-spray coated layer may be irradiated to form a treated portion of the layer, wherein the treated portion of the layer has a mean spacing of local peaks (S value) between about 100 and 200 microns. A second layer may be formed on the treated portion of the plasma-spray coated layer, wherein the second layer comprises a dielectric material.

Abstract: Ceramic igniters are provided that comprise at least three zones of differing electrical resistance, preferably in sequence a first conductive zone of relatively low resistance, a power booster or enhancement zone of intermediate resistance, and a further hot or ignition zone of high resistance. Igniters of the invention can provide extremely high speeds (low time-to-temperature).

Abstract: A semiconductor processing component has an outer surface portion comprised of silicon carbide, the outer surface portion having a skin impurity level and a bulk impurity level. The skin impurity level is average impurity level from 0 nm to 100 nm of depth into the outer surface portion, the bulk impurity level is measured at a depth of at least 3 microns into the outer surface portion, and the skin impurity level is not greater than 80% of the bulk impurity level.

Abstract: A reaction bonded ceramic body that has 50% to 60%, by weight, boron carbide, and 20% to 30%, by weight, silicon carbide. The reaction bonded ceramic body has least a portion of the boron carbide reacted with silicon to become siliconized boron carbide. Also, a method of making a reaction bonded ceramic material. The method may include the steps of forming a green body from a mixture of boron carbide, carbon, and an organic binder, and contacting the green body with a liquid infiltrant comprising silicon. The infiltrant has a temperature of about 1625° C. to about 1700° C. Furthermore, a method of making a reaction bonded boron carbide ceramic body. The method includes the steps of forming a green body from a mixture of boron carbide, carbon, and an organic binder. The weight ratio of boron carbide to carbon in the green body may be about 5:5 to 1 or more.

Abstract: A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a reaction sintered YSZ. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrolyte that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrolyte, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a reaction sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia and metal oxide electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a two-phase composite that includes cubic YSZ and the metal oxide. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrode that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrode, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a two-phased sintered body that includes cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia and the metal oxide. The method may further include reducing the sintered body to form the electrode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide pumps, plungers and plunger assemblies, as well as methods of using them. In accordance with some embodiments, a plunger may comprise a ceramic material and/or may have a facial profile that may allow for more efficient pumping operations. In particular embodiments, for example, a plunger may have a facial profile that allows for deformation of at least a portion of the plunger when the face of the plunger is in contact with a pressurized fluid. Other embodiments provide plunger assemblies, which may comprise a flexible coupling attachment. Yet other embodiments provide pumps comprising such plungers and/or plunger assemblies.

Abstract: A method of forming a high wear resistance coating on a substrate having a low coefficient of thermal expansion is described. The method may include providing the low CTE substrate, where a surface of the substrate includes a plurality of protrusions raised above the surface. A high wear resistance layer is formed on a top portion of protrusions, where the layer is not contiguous between adjacent protrusions on the substrate. Also, a wafer support component to support a wafer during, for example, a photolithography or inspection process. The wafer support component includes a substrate that has a material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion, where the substrate has a surface with a plurality of protrusions raised about the surface. A high wear resistance layer is formed on a top surface of each of the protrusions.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating water vapor from a water-vapor containing gas mixture is described. The apparatus may include a mixed ion conducting membrane having at least a portion of one surface exposed to the water-vapor containing gas mixture and at least a portion of a second surface, that is opposite the first surface, that is exposed to a second gas mixture with a lower partial pressure of water vapor. The membrane may include at least one non-porous, gas-impermeable, solid material that can simultaneously conduct oxygen ions and protons. At least some of the water vapor from the water-vapor containing gas mixture is selectively transported through the membrane to the second gas mixture.

Abstract: A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a reaction sintered YSZ. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrolyte that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrolyte, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a reaction sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia and metal oxide electrolyte.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention, therefore, provide pumps, and methods for their production. One exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a ceramic plunger pump assembly. The pump assembly can include a pump body, which defines a pump chamber with an inlet port and an outlet port. The pump body can further define a plunger port disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port. In certain embodiments, the pump assembly can further include a ceramic plunger housing, which defines a cylindrical bore having an interior diameter. The plunger housing can be disposed within the plunger port. The pump assembly can also include a ceramic plunger. In particular embodiments, the ceramic plunger is slidably disposed within the cylindrical bore, such that the ceramic plunger may be reciprocated back and forth within the bore. Thus, the fluid can be moved from the inlet port of the pump chamber to the outlet port of the pump chamber through the reciprocal action of the plunger.

Abstract: A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a two-phase composite that includes cubic YSZ and the metal oxide. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrode that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrode, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a two-phased sintered body that includes cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia and the metal oxide. The method may further include reducing the sintered body to form the electrode.

Abstract: The invention provides exemplary silicon carbide ceramic bodies and processes for making such ceramic bodies. In one embodiment, a raw batch for producing a ceramic body includes a silicon carbide slurry and agglomerates of particles defining a dry lubricant mixture. The mixture includes a binder and a dry lubricant such as graphite, with a majority of the agglomerates having a shape that is generally spherical.

Abstract: A mechanical seal surrounding a rotary shaft to prevent a fluid (i.e., a liquid or gas) from flowing across the seal, the seal including a rotatable seal ring that includes a rotatable seal face, where the rotatable seal ring is rotatable around a rotational axis of the rotary shaft, and a stationary seal ring spatially fixed relative to the rotatable seal ring and having a stationary seal face to engage the rotatable seal face to form the mechanical seal, where the stationary seal ring includes about 1% to about 30%, by weight, graphite, and about 70% to about 98%, by weight, polytetrafluoroethylene. Also, a graphite containing teflon sealing ring used to form a mechanical seal around a rotary shaft, where the teflon sealing ring includes a first seal face capable of engaging a second seal face on a second sealing ring surrounding the rotary shaft to form the mechanical seal. The teflon sealing ring may include graphite, polytetrafluoroethylene, and optionally, non-graphite carbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductive zirconia sintering material comprising more than 2% by weight of aluminum oxide and sintered zirconia material derived therefrom as well as a method of producing the sintered material. The sintered semiconductive zirconia materials of the present invention have a better physical and mechanical properties than conventional sintered semiconductive zirconia materials.