Abstract: The present invention relates to ceramic fibers of the Si-C-N-O series with a diameter less than about 20 micrometers. It has been unexpectedly found that the thermal stability of these fibers can be increased by minimizing the impurity content, primarily the content of metals or metallic compounds. Such fibers with low levels of contaminants retain greater than about 60 percent of their initial tensile strength when subjected to temperatures of 1300.degree.-1400.degree. C. for at least 30 minutes in a non-oxidative environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sample holder to be used with an x-ray powder diffractometer. One of the novel features resides in the fact that the sample holder is made of single crystal silicon grown in the [100] direction. This sample holder may have a cavity therein for holding a powder sample.

Abstract: Thermally stable high (beta)-cristobalite glass-ceramics suitable for making articles such as refractory linings for ovens, furnaces, and the like and which do not undergo transition to the low (alpha)-cristobalite crystal phases upon cooling of the ceramic to ambient temperature. A method for making such stable ceramics by melting a glass of the composition MO.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.nSiO.sub.2 wherein the (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /MO) molar ratio is 1, MO is CaO or a mixture of CaO and MxO where Mx is a cation of the first, second or fourth group of the Periodic Table or iron and n is a positive number of from 8 to 37, and subjecting the glass to a heat schedule sufficient to form a stabilized high (beta)-cristobalite type crystal structure in the resulting glass-ceramic, with or without a portion of low cristobalite and/or feldspar crystals.

Abstract: Thermally stable high (beta)-cristobalite glass-ceramics suitable for making articles such as refractory linings for ovens, furnaces, and the like and which do not undergo transition to the low (alpha)-cristobalite crystal phases upon cooling of the ceramic to ambient temperature. A method for making such stable ceramics by melting a glass of the composition MO. Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.nSiO.sub.2 wherein the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 MO molar ratio is 1, MO is CaO or a mixture of CaO and MxO where Mx is a cation of the first, second or fourth group of the Periodic Table or iron and n is a positive number of from 8 to 37, and subjecting the glass to a heat schedule sufficient to form a stabilized high (beta)-cristobalite type crystal structure in the resulting glass-ceramic, with or without a portion of low cristobalite and/or feldspar crystals.