Abstract: A highly versatile method for manufacturing ceramic tiles of different formats, a plant for its implementation, and tiles obtained thereby includes the following operational stages. First, a single panel is dry-formed within a ceramic mold by compressing at least one ceramic material in powder form. At least two tiles are then separated from said panel, after the formation of the panel but before a firing process of said panel. The plant for implementing the method incorporates a press of relatively large power with which there is associated a single-exit ceramic mold arranged to form a starting panel of large dimensions, and at least one sectioning unit provided downstream of the press to obtain at least one tile of the desired format from said starting panel.

Abstract: A ceramic green sheet is manufactured by preparing a support which includes a releasing layer formed on its top surface and has a smoothness that at least a region of the top surface of the support to be coated with a ceramic slurry has substantially no projections having a height of equal to or more than about 1 &mgr;m, and applying a ceramic slurry to the releasing layer of the support, which ceramic slurry contains a ceramic powder dispersed in a medium. This ceramic green sheet has a small thickness of, for example, about 0.3 to 3 &mgr;m, has no depressions or through holes caused by a filler in the support and is excellent in smoothness.

Abstract: A method of producing ceramic foam wherein a precursor including an AlCl3 (Pri2O) complex is decomposed to form a mixture of a polymerizing species and liquid isopropyl chloride and the mixture is foamed. The foamed mixture is sintered and/or calcined to produce a ceramic foam.

Abstract: In the production of a silicon nitride sintered body through a hot press method, a sintering aid protecting agent is added to the raw material. The employable protecting agents are metallic elements such as Ta, W and Mo and compounds of the metallic elements such as nitrides and silicides. Conversion of these elements and compounds to carbides occurs preferentially to reduction of the sintering aid. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress reduction of the sintering aid in a reducing atmosphere formed, for example, of carbon monoxide, which is generated particularly when a graphite pressing die is employed.

Abstract: A ceramic slurry composition has a powdered ceramic uniformly dispersed therein without excessive damage thereto. A method for producing a ceramic green sheet using the ceramic slurry composition and a method for producing multilayer ceramic electronic devices are also disclosed. The ceramic slurry composition contains the powdered ceramic, a dispersing agent, a binder and a solvent, in which an anionic dispersing agent is used as the dispersing agent, and the content of the anionic dispersing agent is set to be such that the total acid content thereof corresponds to about 10 to 150% of the total base content of the powdered ceramic. In addition, the powdered ceramic having an average particle diameter of about 0.01 to 1 &mgr;m is used.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing a porcelain object in a desired shape, from a mixture of at least clay, feldspar and quartz. According to the method, an aqueous dispersion of vinyl acetate and ethylene based copolymer is added to the mixture, and the mixture transformed into an aqueous mass in the shape of a foil with a thickness of 50 &mgr;m to 3 mm and dried. The dried foil is then formed into a desired object shape, and permanently hardened by a ceramic firing process. The dried foil may be brought into the desired object shape by known processes such as rolling, laminating, calendering, cutting, punching, paper folding methods and deep drawing. Once brought into the desired object shape, no drying is required before ceramic firing.

Abstract: A production process of a Mn—Zn ferrite enables wastes of sintered cores to be recycled without serious difficulties in sintering. The production process includes recycling a powder obtained by milling a sintered Mn—Zn ferrite, thereby obtaining a sintered core having a component composition including 44.0 to 49.8 mol % Fe2O3, 4.0 to 26.5 mol % ZnO, 0.02 to 1.00 mol % Mn2O3 and a remainder MnO.

Abstract: An extrusion system for producing a desired extrusion profile on a continuously moving work piece has a die containing two or more pressurized fluid extrusion cells therein, through which the work piece passes. Fluid under pressure id directed against the work piece to shape it without physical contact between the die and the work piece. The individual extrusion cells are configured to produce the desired profile, which is monitored by a non-contact metering member which applies signals to a processing unit which, in turn, applies correction signals to a pressured fluid supply module to control the pressurized fluid supply to each of the extrusion cells.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a selected end region and the opening at a selected end of a hollow cylindrical glass tube includes a support member for holding and rotating the tube in a controlled manner and a heat source for supplying sufficient heat to the selected end region of the tube to place it in a malleable state. The apparatus also includes an actuatable mechanical holding means for holding a multi piece mold and for selectively applying the mold to the selected end region of the tube, when the tube is rendered malleable, for shaping the selected end region of the tube including its rim and for controlling the inner diameter of the tube throughout its end region. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the mechanical holding means and the action of the heat source and a micro-controller for automatically activating the application and retraction of the mold.

Abstract: A method for the production of a silicon nitride filter includes heat treating in nitrogen a green body containing from 40 to 90% of metal silicon particles having an average particle size of from 1 to 200 &mgr;m and from 10 to 60% of a pore forming agent. The green body contains at least 90% of the metal silicon particles and the pore forming agent and forms a porous product. The filter is excellent in heat resistance, corrosion resistance, acid resistance and mechanical strength and suitable for dust arresting or dust removing and is particularly suitable as a filter for particulates. The porosity of the silicon nitride filter is from 40 to 70% and the cumulative pore volume of pores with diameters of at most 1 &mgr;m is from 1 to 15 vol % of the total pore volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a seal pin indexed precisely in a resin transfer molding die to assure the desired resin-to-fiber ratio in the mold part, and, thereby, to produce reliably and consistently a part of minimum weight with adequate strength. The index/resin seal pin of the present invention for RTM mold dies is novel in that it provides the seal (via replaceable O-rings) on the threaded stem of the pin to prevent low viscosity resin from invading the threads, bolts pins, or other elements of the internal mandrel. The pin allows the entire inner mandrel to be enclosed and sealed within the mold cavity, simplifying the sealing system. The invention also relates to a method for using the seal pin in a resin transfer molding process.

Abstract: The electrolyte comprises up to about 80 wt % zirconia, up to about 30 wt % stabilizer, and up to about 40 wt % dopant-zirconia. Alternatively, the electrolyte can comprise zirconia having a phase chemistry, wherein the phase chemistry, at about 25° C., is about 15 wt % to about 35 wt % monoclinic, less than about 10 wt % tetragonal, balance cubic, based upon the weight of the zirconia in the electrolyte.

Abstract: A permanent, biocompatible material for soft tissue augmentation. The biocompatible material comprises a matrix of smooth, round, finely divided, substantially spherical particles of a biocompatible ceramic material, close to or in contact with each other, which provide a scaffold or lattice for autogenous, three dimensional, randomly oriented, non-scar soft tissue growth at the augmentation site. The augmentation material can be homogeneously suspended in a biocompatible, resorbable lubricious gel carrier comprising a polysaccharide. This serves to improve the delivery of the augmentation material by injection to the tissue site where augmentation is desired. The augmentation material is especially suitable for urethral sphincter augmentation, for treatment of incontinence, for filling soft tissue voids, for creating soft tissue blebs, for the treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis, and for mammary implants. It can be injected intradermally, subcutaneously or can be implanted.

Abstract: The well known slip casting process for the production of ceramic green parts, in which hardening is achieved by water removal with porous molds, is characterized by disadvantages in terms of strength, shrinkage during drying and problems with cracking during drying. The present invention avoids these disadvantages and produces ceramic green parts by changing the surface potential of powder particles in the slip instead of by removing water. Further more the coagulation strength is increased by adding polymers or extremely fine divided colloidal particles.

Abstract: A silica product, method and apparatus for manufacturing a tube-shaped silica glass product using a molded green body having a hollow rod structure. A molded green body having a hollow rod structure has a uniform outer diameter and has a bore having an inner diameter increasing gradually from one end to the other. When sintered in a vertically movable sintering furnace, a tube-shaped silica glass product having a longitudinal cross section distribution less than a tolerance limit may be obtained. Optical fiber manufactured using the silica glass tube according to the present invention may have a uniform longitudinal geometrical structure, thereby exhibiting superior transmission characteristics.

Abstract: A process for automatically controlling combustible vapors during debinding and firing of ceramic products which includes establishing a maximum percentage of lower flammability limit (LFL) setpoint no greater than 50%; measuring continuously the percentage of LFL in the kiln atmosphere; and, maintaining the measured percentage of LFL to be less than or equal to the maximum percentage of LFL setpoint by an action selected from the group consisting of increasing gas volume delivered to the kiln, decreasing O2 concentration in the kiln, decreasing heating rate in the firing cycle, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A silicon carbide honeycomb body is made by shaping a plasticizable raw material batch mixture containing powdered silicon metal, a water soluble crosslinking thermoset resin, a powdered silicon-containing filler, a water soluble thermoplastic binder, and water into a green honeycomb body, and thereafter drying, curing and sintering the green body at a temperature sufficient to convert the green body to a porous silicon carbide sintered body.

Abstract: A process for forming a porous silicon nitride-silicon carbide body, the process comprising (a) forming a plasticizable batch mixture comprising (1) powdered silicon metal; (2) a silicon-containing source selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride and mixtures thereof; (3) a water soluble crosslinking thermoset resin having a viscosity of about 50-300 centipoise; and, (4) a water soluble thermoplastic temporary binder; (b) shaping the plasticizable batch mixture to form a green body; (c) drying the green body; (d) firing the green body in nitrogen at a temperature of 1400° C. to 1600° C. for a time sufficient to obtain a silicon nitride-silicon carbide structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a building material includes the steps of directing molten volcanic magma from an underwater volcanic magna vent to a level above seal level via a tube formed from the magma, directing the molten volcanic magma into a mold located on a floating barge or located on land, and cooling the magma in the mold to form a building material. As an alternative to obtaining the magma from an underwater vent, the molten volcanic magma can be obtained from a vent on land, a lava pool or stream, tapping a lava tube, or the like. The molten volcanic magma can be cast, molded, formed, extruded, flossed, stranded, foamed and used as a heat source to produce harbor works, floors, walls, roofs, pipe, flotation, barges, vessels, insulation, fiber reinforcing and electricity.

Abstract: A process for producing a shaped body comprising at least one porous oxidic material and at least one metal oxide comprises the following step (i): (i) mixing the porous oxidic material or materials with at least one metal oxide sol which has a low content of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal ions and/or at least one metal oxide which has a low content of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal ions.