Abstract: In a low pressure die casting apparatus, the properties of the rising pipe of sintered ceramic material for light metal melts is improved by a covering of heat-resistant material surrounding the upper part of the rising pipe.

Abstract: Ceramics having principal phases of aluminum iron titanate and mullite corresponding to the overall chemical composition:50 to 62% by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3,36 to 49.5% by weight titanium oxide, expressed as TiO.sub.2,0.5 to 10% by weight SiO.sub.2, and0.2 to 15% by weight iron oxide, expressed as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3,up to 1% by weight impurities,with the sum of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2 being 100%,wherein the sum of the crystalline phases Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2 (other than the principal phases) is less than 6% by weight, based on the sintered body, are useful where a ceramic having a high thermal-shock-resistance is required, such as exhaust port liner internal combustion engines, for example.

Abstract: Slip-cast ceramic component having an internal chamfer which is optionally interrupted by an internally projecting area, obtainable by providing a slip cast blank of the ceramic component with uniform thickness and desired internal configuration wherein the volume corresponding to the internal chamfer is outwardly disposed and which is removed by external machining to arrive at the geometry of the ceramic component. The component is useful, inter alia, as a spacer ring which serves for the positioning of honeycomb-shaped catalyst blocks in exhaust gas lines.

Abstract: Sintered ceramic material which comprises doped aluminum titanate and mullite having the composition:50-61.5% by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3,36-47.5% by weight titanium oxide, expressed as TiO.sub.2,2.5-5% by weight SiO.sub.2,with the sum total of the three components adding up to 100%, and which further comprises 0.3 to 1% by weight MgO and up to 1% by weight impurities, useful as, inter alia, filters, catalyst supports and internal combustion engine parts, are prepared by mixing and shaping materials of suitable composition and then sintering the shaped composition at temperatures of 1250.degree. to 1600.degree. C. over a holding time of 0.5 to 100 hours.