Abstract: A ceramic compact having a high transverse rupture strength is provided by a low cost sintering method. This ceramic compact comprises 55 to 96% by volume of a first component, 4 to 45% by volume of a second component and at most 3% by volume of unavoidable impurities:First Component: ZrO.sub.2 consisting of at least 80% by weight of at least one of tetragonal system and cubic system and the balance of mono-clinic system, in which at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxides of Group IIIa (Including Sc, Y, La) elements of the Periodic Table, CaO, MgO, and mixtures thereof are dissolved to form a solid solution.Second Component: at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbonitrides, oxycarbides, oxynitrides and carboxynitrides of group IVa (Including Ti, Zr, Hf), Va (Including V, Nb, Ta) and VIa (Including Cr, Mo, W) elements of the Periodic Table, and mixtures or solid solutions thereof.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for manufacturing a fine powder of metals or ceramics are proposed in which a mixed gas of volatile metal compound and/or evaporated metal and a reaction gas is reacted in a discharged state while heating by laser beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous electrolytic cathode and/or anode in which an aqueous solution of alkaline metal hydroxide is used or an active nickel or nickel alloy electrode having greater stability and smaller overvoltage under the condition of high current density for use in electrolysis of aqueous solution of alkaline metal halide, and the method for producing the same. Electrode material consisting of nickel or nickel alloy or electrode material of multiple layers comprising said electrode material coated with nickel or nickel alloy powder is forcibly subjected to oxidization and reduction treatments in repetition under a selected treatment temperature and atmosphere so that the surface area is expanded by the production of surface openings, thereby enabling to obtain an electrode having the said high properties.

Abstract: A process for continuous production of porous metal in a tape form is disclosed which comprises the steps of treating a non-conductive porous tape to give its skelton surface electrical conductivity and then moving the porous tape in an electrolytic bath in close contact with a moving cathode immersed in said bath to electroplate it to a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A catalyst for concentrating hydrogen isotopes for use in performing hydrogen isotopes exchange between gaseous hydrogen and liquid water, the catalyst comprising a support of porous polytetrafluoroethylene having a total specific surface area of 2 to 80 m.sup.2 /g as a result of mixing therewith 0.5 to 15% by weight of fluorocarbon or a porous styrene polymer or styrene/divinylbenzene copolymer having a specific surface area of at least 150 m.sup.2 /g, and deposited on the support particles of at least one element selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table. A method for producing a support of porous polytetrafluoroethylene for such catalyst is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a tubular multi-layered porous barrier comprising the step of depositing fine powder onto at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of a sintered tubular porous support member in a layer of uniform thickness to form a fine powder layer and pressurizing said powder layer against said support member to form a porous barrier layer on the support member.