Abstract: A process for manufacturing a ceramic powder with binder includes at least one additional element or compound, the ceramic powder with binder being in particular based on zirconia and/or alumina and/or strontium aluminate, wherein the process includes a step (E3) of depositing at least one additional element or compound on a ceramic powder with binder by a physical vapour deposition (PVD) and/or by a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and/or by an atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a ceramic component, in particular component containing zirconia and/or alumina, for a timepiece or a jewelry piece, is characterised in that it includes a step (E3) of depositing at least one additional element or compound on a ceramic powder, optionally bound, by atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Abstract: Sintered technical ceramic based on zirconia ZrO2, characterised in that it comprises: —less than or equal to 3.6 wt % and greater than or equal to 2.5 wt % of yttrium oxide Y2O3; —at least one complementary component from hafnium oxide HfO2, alumina Al2O3, and magnesium oxide MgO; —at least one additional element from Fe, Ni, Cr, Zn, Co, Mn, Cu, Ti, Ta, W, Pt, the weight proportion of said at least one additional element being greater than or equal to 0.1 wt %, or greater than or equal to 0.5 wt %, or greater than or equal to 1 wt %, or greater than or equal to 1.5 wt %.

Abstract: A horology component (1) for a timepiece, including a first portion (10) and a second portion (20), the first portion (10) comprising one part that is at least partially transparent and at least partially superposed on top of the second portion (20), this second portion (20) taking the form of a massive portion comprising a material capable of emitting at least one emission light wave if excited by at least one excitation light wave, and the at least partially transparent part of the first portion allowing an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20) to be transmitted at least partially toward the outside of the horology component so that the horology component exhibits at least a first appearance by day and at least one different second appearance by night where the first portion (10) is backlit by an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20).

Abstract: A ceramic powder for a ceramic component, in particular based on zirconia and/or alumina, in particular for a timepiece or jewelry piece. The powder includes at least one noble metal among platinum, rhodium, osmium, palladium, ruthenium and iridium, at a quantity of less than or equal to 5% by weight.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a ceramic component, in particular a ceramic component containing zirconia and/or alumina, for a timepiece or a jewelry piece, is characterised in that it includes a step (E3) of depositing at least one additional element or compound on a ceramic powder, optionally bound, by atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a ceramic powder with binder includes at least one additional element or compound, the ceramic powder with binder being in particular based on zirconia and/or alumina and/or strontium aluminate, wherein the process includes a step (E3) of depositing at least one additional element or compound on a ceramic powder with binder by a physical vapour deposition (PVD) and/or by a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and/or by an atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Abstract: A horology component (1) for a timepiece, including a first portion (10) and a second portion (20), the first portion (10) comprising one part that is at least partially transparent and at least partially superposed on top of the second portion (20), this second portion (20) taking the form of a massive portion comprising a material capable of emitting at least one emission light wave if excited by at least one excitation light wave, and the at least partially transparent part of the first portion allowing an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20) to be transmitted at least partially toward the outside of the horology component so that the horology component exhibits at least a first appearance by day and at least one different second appearance by night where the first portion (10) is backlit by an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20).

Abstract: A horology component (1) for a timepiece, wherein said component comprises a first portion (10) and a second portion (20), the first portion (10) comprising a part that is made from at least one opaque material at least partially superposed on top of the second portion (20), this second portion (20) comprising a material capable of emitting at least one emission light wave if excited by at least one excitation light wave, and said part of the first portion (10) comprising structuring (13) allowing an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20) to be transmitted at least partially toward the outside of the horology component so that the horology component exhibits at least a first appearance by day and at least one different second appearance by night where the first portion (10) is backlit by an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20).

Abstract: A ceramic component, in particular based on zirconia and/or alumina, for a timepiece or jewelry piece, comprising at least one noble metal among platinum, rhodium, osmium, palladium, ruthenium and iridium, at a quantity of less than or equal to 5% by weight.

Abstract: Watch component made of a persistent phosphorescent ceramic composite material which is a sintered dense body comprising two or more phases, a first phase consisting of at least one metal oxide and a second phase consisting of a metal oxide containing at least one activating element in a reduced oxidation state, the watch component having a surface which comprises an area which shows phosphorescent emission and an area which does not show phosphorescent emission or which shows phosphorescent emission with an intensity which is lower than that of the emission of the other area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel technical ceramic bodies and a method for preparing these technical ceramic bodies. The method of the invention for the production of a coloured technical ceramic body comprises the following steps: providing a composition comprising alumina, at least one pigment component and optionally binder materials, preparing a green body from this composition, optionally debinding the green body, thereafter subjecting the green body to a treatment with a metal-containing preparation as a further pigment component, and sintering the treated green body. The coloured technical ceramic body of the present invention consists of alumina as a technical ceramic material, the technical ceramic body comprising a first coloured area and a second coloured area of a different colour, whereby the first coloured area contains a first pigment component, and the second coloured area contains a second pigment component in combination with the first pigment component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a persistent phosphorescent ceramic composite material which is a sintered dense body comprising two or more phases, a first phase consisting of at least one metal oxide and a second phase consisting of a metal oxide containing at least one activating element in a reduced oxidation state. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of a phosphorescent ceramic composite material as defined in any of the previous claims, the method comprising the following steps: preparing a mixture of a metal oxide and a phosphor; fabricating a green body from the mixture; and heat treating the green body in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel technical ceramic bodies and a method for preparing these technical ceramic bodies. The method of the invention for the production of a coloured technical ceramic body comprises the following steps: providing a composition comprising alumina, at least one pigment component and optionally binder materials, preparing a green body from this composition, optionally debinding the green body, thereafter subjecting the green body to a treatment with a metal-containing preparation as a further pigment component, and sintering the treated green body. The coloured technical ceramic body of the present invention consists of alumina as a technical ceramic material, the technical ceramic body comprising a first coloured area and a second coloured area of a different colour, whereby the first coloured area contains a first pigment component, and the second coloured area contains a second pigment component in combination with the first pigment component.

Abstract: Watch component made of a persistent phosphorescent ceramic composite material which is a sintered dense body comprising two or more phases, a first phase consisting of at least one metal oxide and a second phase consisting of a metal oxide containing at least one activating element in a reduced oxidation state, the watch component having a surface which comprises an area which shows phosphorescent emission and an area which does not show phosphorescent emission or which shows phosphorescent emission with an intensity which is lower than that of the emission of the other area.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alumina-based opaque ceramic, similar to ruby and having a high toughness. This ceramic comprises, by weight: 0.4% to 5% of at least from one oxide of a metal chosen from chromium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, vanadium, titanium and iron; 0.00080 to 0.5% of magnesium oxide; and 0.05 to 6% of at least one oxide of an element of the group of rare earths. The ceramic is applicable in particular in jewelry, fine jewelry and watch making. The invention also relates to methods of preparing such a ceramic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a persistent phosphorescent ceramic composite material which is a sintered dense body comprising two or more phases, a first phase consisting of at least one metal oxide and a second phase consisting of a metal oxide containing at least one activating element in a reduced oxidation state. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of a phosphorescent ceramic composite material as defined in any of the previous claims, the method comprising the following steps: preparing a mixture of a metal oxide and a phosphor; fabricating a green body from the mixture; and heat treating the green body in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alumina-based opaque ceramic, similar to ruby and having a high toughness. This ceramic comprises, by weight: 0.4% to 5% of at least from one oxide of a metal chosen from chromium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, vanadium, titanium and iron; 0.00080 to 0.5% of magnesium oxide; and 0.05 to 6% of at least one oxide of an element of the group of rare earths. The ceramic is applicable in particular in jewellery, fine jewellery and watch making. The invention also relates to methods of preparing such a ceramic.