Abstract: A microfluidic detection unit comprises at least one fluid injection section, a fluid storage section and a detection section. Each fluid injection section defines a fluid outlet; the fluid storage section is in gas communication with the atmosphere and defines a fluid inlet; the detection section defines a first end in communication with the fluid outlet and a second end in communication with the fluid inlet. A height difference is defined between the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet along the direction of gravity. When a first fluid is injected from the at least one fluid injection section, the first fluid is driven by gravity to pass through the detection section and accumulate to form a droplet at the fluid inlet, such that a state of fluid pressure equilibrium of the first fluid is established.

Abstract: This patent application discloses a new process for preparing the sintered article of aluminum nitride at low temperature. It comprises coating aluminum metal film on aluminum nitride powder, then directly molding or homogeneously cold pressing, followed by sintering at 1650.about.175O.degree. C., and finally forming dense aluminum nitride article.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a bioceramic composite in which an alumina based ceramic substrate is coated with an intermediate calcium pyrophosphate layer to cement a porous calcium phosphate material to the alumina based ceramic substrate. In one aspect of the invention, the porous calcium phosphate material is a porous lattice made from natural bone. A bioceramic composite which includes an alumina-based ceramic substrate, an intermediate calcium pyrophosphate layer and a porous natural bone material bonded to the intermediate calcium pyrophosphate layer is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 ceramic sintered bodies. Lithium fluoride powder is added to a calcined Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 powder prepared by sol-gel process as sintering agent. The resulting powder mixture is compressed into a molded article and sintered at a temperature of 950.degree.-1250.degree. C. to obtain the sintered bodies of the invention. The sintered bodies according to the present invention have a relative density of 97.9% and a thermal expansion coefficient of 10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. magnitude.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing an ultrafine powder of aluminum nitride. This process is characterized in adding 1-5 wt % of aluminum nitride powder to the mixture of alumina and carbon black and heating the resulting powder mixture at a temperature of 1550.degree.-1650.degree. C. in an atmosphere of nitrogen. Preferably, prior to heating, the powder mixture is shaped into a compact. The aluminum nitride powder prepared by the process of the present invention has an average particle diameter of about 0.45 micron and a purity of above 98.1%, and is therefore a very suitable material for making printed circuit boards and heat release boards for IC, LSI and VLSI.