Abstract: A process for manufacturing a sintered ceramic composite, based on silicon nitride and ?-eucryptite, includes a step of producing a first powder blend, consisting of a powder of silicon nitride in crystalline form and a powder of a first lithium aluminosilicate in crystalline form, the composition of which is the following: (Li2O)x(Al2O3)y(SiO2)z, the lithium aluminosilicate composition being such that the set of molar fractions (x,y,z) is different from the set (1,1,2).

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a sintered ceramic composite, based on silicon nitride and ?-eucryptite, includes a step of producing a first powder blend, consisting of a powder of silicon nitride in crystalline form and a powder of a first lithium aluminosilicate in crystalline form, the composition of which is the following: (Li2O)x (Al2O3)y (SiO2)z, the lithium aluminosilicate composition being such that the set of molar fractions (x,y,z) is different from the set (1,1,2).

Abstract: A composite having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than 1.3×10?6 K?1 is a sintered ceramic based on an oxide and on ?-eucryptite crystals having a ?-eucryptite content of less than 55% by weight (69% by volume).

Abstract: The invention relates to porous bioglass and to the preparation method thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to a solid, porous crystalline or partially-crystalline composition containing at least SiO2, Ca<SB>O</SB>, Na2O, and P2O5, comprising micropores and macropores. The invention is characterised in that: the pore ratio varies between 50% and 80%, preferably between 60 and 75%, and is measured using the geometric method; the average diameter of the macropores varies between 100 and 1250 micrometers, preferably between 150 and 300 micrometers; the average diameter of the micropores is less than or equal to 5 micrometers; and the compression strength varies between 7 MPa and 70 MPa. The invention also relates to the method of preparing one such composition and to such a composition treated with a physiological liquid having an ionic composition similar to that of human plasma. The invention also relates to an implant which is made from one such composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to porous bioglass and to the preparation method thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to a solid, porous crystalline or partially-crystalline composition containing at least SiO2, Ca<SB>O</SB>, Na2O, and P2O5, comprising micropores and macropores. The invention is characterised in that: the pore ratio varies between 50% and 80%, preferably between 60 and 75%, and is measured using the geometric method; the average diameter of the macropores varies between 100 and 1250 micrometers, preferably between 150 and 300 micrometers; the average diameter of the micropores is less than or equal to 5 micrometers; and the compression strength varies between 7 MPa and 70 MPa. The invention also relates to the method of preparing one such composition and to such a composition treated with a physiological liquid having an ionic composition similar to that of human plasma. The invention also relates to an implant which is made from one such composition.

Abstract: Crack-free, dense and either amorphous or crystalline, nonoxide monolithic ceramic shaped articles are produced at relatively low temperatures, by shaping a powder (P) of an infusible, organometallic ceramic precursor polymer (Pi) into a green body having a relative density of at least 65%, and thence pyrolyzing such shaped green body.