Abstract: A system, process and related sintered article are provided. The process includes supporting a piece of inorganic material with a pressurized gas and sintering the piece of inorganic material while supported by the pressurized gas by heating the piece of inorganic material to a temperature at or above a sintering temperature of the inorganic material such that the inorganic material is at least partially sintered forming the sintered article. The inorganic material is not in contact with a solid support during sintering. The sintered article, such as a ceramic article, is thin, has high surface quality, and/or has large surface areas.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic composite, including: a discontinuous phase having a plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of an inorganic material; and a continuous organic phase having a thermoplastic polymer, such that the continuous organic phase surrounds the plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of the inorganic material, and the organic-inorganic composite is a plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of inorganic material contained within a similarly oriented host fiber of the thermoplastic polymer. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the composite.

Abstract: A system, process and related sintered article are provided. The process includes supporting a piece of inorganic material with a pressurized gas and sintering the piece of inorganic material while supported by the pressurized gas by heating the piece of inorganic material to a temperature at or above a sintering temperature of the inorganic material such that the inorganic material is at least partially sintered forming the sintered article. The inorganic material is not in contact with a solid support during sintering. The sintered article, such as a ceramic article, is thin, has high surface quality, and/or has large surface areas.

Abstract: A ceramic and polymer composite including: a first continuous phase comprising a sintered porous ceramic having a solid volume of from 50 to 85 vol % and a porosity or a porous void space of from 50 to 15 vol %, based on the total volume of the composite; and a second continuous polymer phase situated in the porous void space of the sintered porous ceramic. Also disclosed is a composite article, a method of making the composite, and a method of using the composite.

Abstract: A composite ceramic composition including a boron carbide phase and a method of forming the same. The composite ceramic composition includes a tungsten boride phase, a transition metal boride phase. The composite ceramic composition may also include a carbon disposed in solid solution with at least the tungsten boride phase and the transition metal boride phase. The transition metal boride phase may include a boride of at least one metal chosen from Cr, Nb, and Zr.

Abstract: A system, process and related sintered article are provided. The process includes supporting a piece of inorganic material with a pressurized gas and sintering the piece of inorganic material while supported by the pressurized gas by heating the piece of inorganic material to a temperature at or above a sintering temperature of the inorganic material such that the inorganic material is at least partially sintered forming the sintered article. The inorganic material is not in contact with a solid support during sintering. The sintered article, such as a ceramic article, is thin, has high surface quality, and/or has large surface areas.

Abstract: A sintered refractory ceramic composition including: a pseudobrookite structured discrete first phase; and a continuous second phase, as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of making the sintered refractory ceramic composition.

Abstract: A sintered refractory ceramic composition including: a pseudobrookite structured discrete first phase; and a continuous second phase, as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of making the sintered refractory ceramic composition.

Abstract: Sorbent substrates for CO2 capture and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for forming a sorbent substrate for CO2 capture may include forming a plurality of matrix rods from a sorbent material and forming a plurality of channel rods from a support material. The plurality of matrix rods may then be co-extruded with the plurality of channel rods to form a plurality of sorbent filaments comprising a matrix of the sorbent material in which channels of support material are positioned such that the channels extend in an axial direction of each of the plurality of sorbent filaments. The plurality of sorbent filaments may then be stacked to form a filament assembly in which the plurality of sorbent filaments are axially aligned. Thereafter, the plurality of sorbent filaments of the filament assembly may be bonded to one another to form the sorbent substrate.

Abstract: Sorbent substrates for CO2 capture and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for forming a sorbent substrate for CO2 capture may include forming a plurality of matrix rods from a sorbent material and forming a plurality of channel rods from a support material. The plurality of matrix rods may then be co-extruded with the plurality of channel rods to form a plurality of sorbent filaments comprising a matrix of the sorbent material in which channels of support material are positioned such that the channels extend in an axial direction of each of the plurality of sorbent filaments. The plurality of sorbent filaments may then be stacked to form a filament assembly in which the plurality of sorbent filaments are axially aligned. Thereafter, the plurality of sorbent filaments of the filament assembly may be bonded to one another to form the sorbent substrate.

Abstract: A method of extruding a dry mixture includes providing mixing materials to a twin screw extruder. The mixing materials are substantially dry and may include a substantially unfibrillated binder and a carbon material. The method includes extruding the mixing materials via a twin screw extruder to form an extruded mixture that is substantially dry. In one embodiment, the substantially dry mixture exiting the extruder may be further processed to form an electrode material, such as by a calendaring step.

Abstract: Sorbent substrates for CO2 capture and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for forming a sorbent substrate for CO2 capture may include forming a plurality of matrix rods from a sorbent material and forming a plurality of channel rods from a support material. The plurality of matrix rods may then be co-extruded with the plurality of channel rods to form a plurality of sorbent filaments comprising a matrix of the sorbent material in which channels of support material are positioned such that the channels extend in an axial direction of each of the plurality of sorbent filaments. The plurality of sorbent filaments may then be stacked to form a filament assembly in which the plurality of sorbent filaments are axially aligned. Thereafter, the plurality of sorbent filaments of the filament assembly may be bonded to one another to form the sorbent substrate.

Abstract: Sorbent substrates for CO2 capture and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for forming a sorbent substrate for CO2 capture may include forming a plurality of matrix rods from a sorbent material and forming a plurality of channel rods from a support material. The plurality of matrix rods may then be co-extruded with the plurality of channel rods to form a plurality of sorbent filaments comprising a matrix of the sorbent material in which channels of support material are positioned such that the channels extend in an axial direction of each of the plurality of sorbent filaments. The plurality of sorbent filaments may then be stacked to form a filament assembly in which the plurality of sorbent filaments are axially aligned. Thereafter, the plurality of sorbent filaments of the filament assembly may be bonded to one another to form the sorbent substrate.

Abstract: A porous ceramic material is disclosed having a principal cordierite phase, the porous ceramic material exhibiting a normalized strength greater than 20 MPa. The cordierite phase has a reticular microstructure. A method for forming a porous ceramic body having a predominant phase of cordierite is provided which includes forming a body from a plasticized mixture of inorganic ceramic-forming ingredients that include a magnesia source, a silica source, and an alumina source, the alumina source including alumina-containing elongated particles, wherein at least 90 wt % of the alumina-containing elongated particles have a length of 50 to 150 ?m, and then firing the body.

Abstract: Particle-loaded fibers include a fiber body having inorganic particles bound together by an organic binder. The fiber body has a diameter less than about 150 ?m, and the inorganic particles comprise a particle density of greater than 20%, 30%, 40% or even 50% by volume of the fiber body. Methods for producing such particle loaded fibers include extruding a composition through a die orifice having a diameter of less than 1000 ?m to form a fiber having a first diameter, and drawing the fiber from the first diameter to a smaller second diameter of less than 150 ?m, wherein the inorganic particles are greater than 50% by weight of the extruded composition.

Abstract: An aluminum titanate-based ceramic is provided having an anisotropic microstructure which includes the reaction products of a plurality of ceramic-forming precursors. The batch contains at least one precursor in fibrous form. The inorganic ceramic has low thermal expansion. Porous ceramic bodies and the method of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to carbon electrode batch materials and methods of using and products of the same. In particular, the disclosure relates to batch materials for forming carbon electrodes comprising at least one activated carbon, at least one binder, and a carrier substantially comprising water. The disclosure further relates to methods comprising extruding said batch materials.

Abstract: A porous ceramic material is disclosed having a principal cordierite phase, the porous ceramic material exhibiting a normalized strength greater than 20 MPa. The cordierite phase has a reticular microstructure. A method for forming a porous ceramic body having a predominant phase of cordierite is provided which includes forming a body from a plasticized mixture of inorganic ceramic-forming ingredients that include a magnesia source, a silica source, and an alumina source, the alumina source including alumina-containing elongated particles, wherein at least 90 wt % of the alumina-containing elongated particles have a length of 50 to 150 ?m, and then firing the body.

Abstract: An aluminum titanate-based ceramic is provided having an anisotropic microstructure which includes the reaction products of a plurality of ceramic-forming precursors. The batch contains at least one precursor in fibrous form. The inorganic ceramic has low thermal expansion. Porous ceramic bodies and the method of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: A microtiter plate reader is disclosed which allows visual examination of the contents of the wells of a microtiter plate having an array of wells. The microtiter plate reader includes supporting means for supporting the microtiter plate with the wells opening generally upwardly and a light emitting surface is adapted to extend under a microtiter plate so held. Regions of reduced light emission on the light emitting surface are arranged in an array corresponding in relative position to a selected portion of the array of microtiter plate wells. Locator means are provided for locating the microtiter plate with respect to the array of regions of reduced light emission to allow selective alignment of the wells with the dark regions, providing a dark background to the bottom of the wells which are then illuminated indirectly. The wells can be illuminated directly when the dark regions are out of alignment with the wells.