Abstract: An optical wavelength converter (1) is configured such that an optical wavelength conversion member (9) is bonded to a heat dissipation member (13) having superior heat dissipation property. Thus, heat generated by light incident on the optical wavelength conversion member (9) can be efficiently dissipated. Therefore, even when high-energy light is incident on the optical wavelength converter, temperature quenching is less likely to occur, and thus high fluorescence intensity can be maintained. An intermediate film (21) is disposed between a reflective film (19) and a bonding portion (15). The presence of the intermediate film (21) improves the adhesion between the reflective film (19) and the bonding portion (15), thereby enhancing the heat dissipation from the optical wavelength conversion member (9) to the heat dissipation member (13). Thus, the temperature quenching of the optical wavelength conversion member (9) can be prevented, thereby enhancing fluorescence intensity.

Abstract: Provided is a ceramic sintered body having high wear resistance and chipping resistance. Also provided are an insert, a cutting tool and a friction stir welding tool, each of which uses such a high-performance ceramic sintered body. The ceramic sintered body includes Al2O3 (alumina), WC (tungsten carbide) and ZrO2 (zirconia), wherein Zr (zirconium) element is present at either one or both of: (1) a grain boundary between crystal grains of the Al2O3; and (2) a grain boundary of crystal grains of the Al2O and crystal grains of the WC, wherein the ceramic sintered body contains 55.0 to 97.5 vol % of the WC, 0.1 to 18.0 vol % of the ZrO2, and the balance being the Al2O3, and wherein the ZrO2 is in a phase of tetragonal structure (T) or a mixed phase of tetragonal structure (T) and monoclinic structure (M).

Abstract: A kitchen knife (1) includes a blade (3). The blade (3) is formed of a material having a density of 12.9 g/cc or more and a Young's modulus of 345 GPa or more.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical wavelength conversion member (9) composed of a sintered body containing, as main components, Al2O3 and a component represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce; an optical wavelength conversion member; an optical wavelength conversion component including the optical wavelength conversion member; and a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member or the optical wavelength conversion component. The production method of the sintered body includes firing in a firing atmosphere having a pressure of 104 Pa or more and an oxygen concentration of 0.8 vol. % or more and less than 25 vol. %.

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion member and a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member. The light-emitting device (1) includes a container (3), a light-emitting element (5), and an optical wavelength conversion member (9). The optical wavelength conversion member (9) is composed of a polycrystalline ceramic sintered body containing, as main components, Al2O3 crystal grains and crystal grains of a component represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce. Specifically, A and B of the A3B5O12 individually represent at least one element selected from the following element groups: A: Sc, Y, and lanthanoids (except for Ce), and B: Al and Ga; the at least one element selected from the element groups is present in each crystal grain and the crystal grain boundary of the ceramic sintered body; and the element concentration of the crystal grain boundary is higher than the element concentration of the crystal grain.

Abstract: An optical wavelength converter (1) is configured such that an optical wavelength conversion member (9) is bonded to a heat dissipation member (13) having superior heat dissipation property. Thus, heat generated by light incident on the optical wavelength conversion member (9) can be efficiently dissipated. Therefore, even when high-energy light is incident on the optical wavelength converter, temperature quenching is less likely to occur, and thus high fluorescence intensity can be maintained. An intermediate film (21) is disposed between a reflective film (19) and a bonding portion (15). The presence of the intermediate film (21) improves the adhesion between the reflective film (19) and the bonding portion (15), thereby enhancing the heat dissipation from the optical wavelength conversion member (9) to the heat dissipation member (13). Thus, the temperature quenching of the optical wavelength conversion member (9) can be prevented, thereby enhancing fluorescence intensity.

Abstract: The durability of a ceramic sintered body is improved, and a reduction in its light emission intensity and the occurrence of a chromaticity variation are suppressed. The ceramic sintered body contains alumina and a compound represented by M13-XM2XM35O12. The volume percent of the compound in the ceramic sintered body is from 3% to 70% inclusive. The ratio of the intensity of XRD from a complex oxide of aluminum and M2 to the intensity of XRD from the compound in the ceramic sintered body is less than 0.05. The average grain diameter of the alumina contained in the ceramic sintered body is from 0.30 (?m) to 3.00 (?m) inclusive. M1 is at least one selected from Sc, Y, and lanthanoid elements, and M2 is at least one selected from lanthanoid elements except any lanthanoid element selected for M1. M3 is at least one of Al and Ga, and X is from 0.003 to 0.500 inclusive.

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion member and a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member. The optical wavelength conversion member (9) is formed of a ceramic sintered body having a fluorescent phase containing fluorescent crystal grains as a main component and a translucent phase containing translucent crystal grains as a main component. Crystal grains of the fluorescent phase have a composition represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce, where the element A is selected from Sc, Y, and lanthanoids (except for Ce), and the element B is selected from Al and Ga. In the optical wavelength conversion member (9), 0.3<a<34 and 300 ?m<y<1,050 ?m are satisfied, wherein a represents the area ratio of the translucent phase to the fluorescent phase in a cross section of the optical wavelength conversion member (9), and y represents the interfacial length of the fluorescent phase.

Abstract: Provided is a ceramic sintered body having high wear resistance and chipping resistance. Also provided are an insert, a cutting tool and a friction stir welding tool, each of which uses such a high-performance ceramic sintered body. The ceramic sintered body includes Al2O3 (alumina), WC (tungsten carbide) and ZrO2 (zirconia), wherein Zr (zirconium) element is present at either one or both of: (1) a grain boundary between crystal grains of the Al2O3; and (2) a grain boundary of crystal grains of the Al2O and crystal grains of the WC, wherein the ceramic sintered body contains 55.0 to 97.5 vol % of the WC, 0.1 to 18.0 vol % of the ZrO2, and the balance being the Al2O3, and wherein the ZrO2 is in a phase of tetragonal structure (T) or a mixed phase of tetragonal structure (T) and monoclinic structure (M).

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion member including a polycrystalline ceramic sintered body containing, as main components, Al2O3 crystal grains and crystal grains of a component represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce, wherein A is at least one element selected from Sc, Y and lanthanoids (except for Ce), and B is at least one element selected from Al and Ga. Further, the following relations are satisfied: 0%?X?25%, 9%?Y?45%, and 48%?Z?90%, wherein X represents a proportion corresponding to the ratio a/N, Y represents a proportion corresponding to the ratio b/N, and Z represents a proportion corresponding to the ratio c/N and a, b, c and N are as defined herein. Also disclosed is a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member.

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion member and a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member. The optical wavelength conversion member (9) is formed of a ceramic sintered body having a fluorescent phase containing fluorescent crystal grains as a main component and a translucent phase containing translucent crystal grains as a main component. Crystal grains of the fluorescent phase have a composition represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce, where the element A is selected from Sc, Y, and lanthanoids (except for Ce), and the element B is selected from Al and Ga. In the optical wavelength conversion member (9), 0.3<a<34 and 300 ?m<y<1,050 ?m are satisfied, wherein a represents the area ratio of the translucent phase to the fluorescent phase in a cross section of the optical wavelength conversion member (9), and y represents the interfacial length of the fluorescent phase.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical wavelength conversion member (9) composed of a sintered body containing, as main components, Al2O3 and a component represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce; an optical wavelength conversion member; an optical wavelength conversion component including the optical wavelength conversion member; and a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member or the optical wavelength conversion component. The production method of the sintered body includes firing in a firing atmosphere having a pressure of 104 Pa or more and an oxygen concentration of 0.8 vol. % or more and less than 25 vol. %.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to improve the properties of a ceramic composition. A ceramic composition contains alumina (Al2O3) and tungsten carbide (WC) and is characterized in that an atomic layer formed of at least one element selected from among transition metals belonging to Groups 4 to 6 of the periodic table, yttrium (Y), scandium (Sc), and lanthanoids is present at a crystal grain boundary between an alumina (Al2O3) crystal grain and a tungsten carbide (WC) crystal grain.

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion member and a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member. The light-emitting device (1) includes a container (3), a light-emitting element (5), and an optical wavelength conversion member (9). The optical wavelength conversion member (9) is composed of a polycrystalline ceramic sintered body containing, as main components, Al2O3 crystal grains and crystal grains of a component represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce. Specifically, A and B of the A3B5O12 individually represent at least one element selected from the following element groups: A: Sc, Y, and lanthanoids (except for Ce), and B: Al and Ga; the at least one element selected from the element groups is present in each crystal grain and the crystal grain boundary of the ceramic sintered body; and the element concentration of the crystal grain boundary is higher than the element concentration of the crystal grain.

Abstract: The durability of a ceramic sintered body is improved, and a reduction in its light emission intensity and the occurrence of a chromaticity variation are suppressed. The ceramic sintered body contains alumina and a compound represented by M13-XM2XM35O12. The volume percent of the compound in the ceramic sintered body is from 3% to 70% inclusive. The ratio of the intensity of XRD from a complex oxide of aluminum and M2 to the intensity of XRD from the compound in the ceramic sintered body is less than 0.05. The average grain diameter of the alumina contained in the ceramic sintered body is from 0.30 (?m) to 3.00 (?m) inclusive. M1 is at least one selected from Sc, Y, and lanthanoid elements, and M2 is at least one selected from lanthanoid elements except any lanthanoid element selected for M1. M3 is at least one of Al and Ga, and X is from 0.003 to 0.500 inclusive.

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion member including a polycrystalline ceramic sintered body containing, as main components, Al2O3 crystal grains and crystal grains of a component represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce, wherein A is at least one element selected from Sc, Y and lanthanoids (except for Ce), and B is at least one element selected from Al and Ga. Further, the following relations are satisfied: 0%?X?25%, 9%?Y?45%, and 48%?Z?90%, wherein X represents a proportion corresponding to the ratio a/N, Y represents a proportion corresponding to the ratio b/N, and Z represents a proportion corresponding to the ratio c/N and a, b, c and N are as defined herein. Also disclosed is a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member.

Abstract: In a ceramic composition mainly composed of alumina (Al2O3), tungsten carbide (WC) and zirconia (ZrO2), zirconium (Zr) is distributed in a first grain boundary as an interface where an alumina (Al2O3) crystal grain is adjacent to a tungsten carbide (WC) crystal grain and in a second grain boundary as an interface where two alumina (Al2O3) crystal grains are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A spark plug including an insulator containing an Al component, in terms of oxides, 89 mass % or more and a Ti component, in terms of oxides, more than 0 mass % and 0.2 mass % or less, characterized in that the insulator is formed of an alumina-based sintered material which contains, in a grain boundary phase present between alumina crystal grains, a first crystal phase containing at least one species selected from among an La component, an Nd component, a Pr component, a Y component, an Er component, a Yb component, and an Lu component, and a second crystal phase containing at least one species of Group 2 element components, an Al component and an Si component.

Abstract: A gas sensor element and a gas sensor incorporating the gas sensor element. The gas sensor element (100) includes a detection portion (150) including a solid electrolyte body (105) and a pair of electrodes (104) and (106) disposed on the solid electrolyte body; and a porous protection layer (20) covering the detection portion. The porous protection layer includes an inner porous layer (21) and an outer porous layer (23). The inner porous layer has a higher porosity than the outer porous layer. Further, the inner porous layer contains, as main components, ceramic particles (21a), and ceramic fiber filaments (21b), and the amount of the ceramic fiber filaments is 25 to 75 vol % based on the total amount of the ceramic particles and the ceramic fiber filaments taken as 100 vol %.

Abstract: In a ceramic composition mainly composed of alumina (Al2O3), tungsten carbide (WC) and zirconia (ZrO2), zirconium (Zr) is distributed in a first grain boundary as an interface where an alumina (Al2O3) crystal grain is adjacent to a tungsten carbide (WC) crystal grain and in a second grain boundary as an interface where two alumina (Al2O3) crystal grains are adjacent to each other.