Abstract: A transparent ceramic optic includes: a lasing region comprising at least one lasing species dopant; and a transparent region transparent to light generated by the lasing species. At least the transparent region is doped with at least one other dopant species such that the lasing region and the transparent region are characterized by a difference in refractive index between the two regions in an amount of about 1.0×10?4 or less. Inventive formulations of inks suitable for fabricating transparent ceramic optics having desirable compositional characteristics such as concentration gradients in desired spatial arrangements, e.g. using additive manufacturing techniques such as direct ink writing and/or extrusion freeform fabrication are also disclosed, along with suitable techniques for forming the transparent ceramic optics from such inks.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a dielectric ceramic composition having good properties, particularly good IR property and high temperature accelerated lifetime. The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention has a main component made of a perovskite type compound expressed by a compositional formula of (Ba1-x-ySrxCay)m(Ti1-zZrz)O3 (note that, m, x, y, and z of the above compositional formula all represent molar ratios, and each satisfies 0.9?m?1.1, 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.3, 0?(x+y)?0.6, and 0.03?z?0.

Abstract: A sputtering target including a sintered body including In, Ga and Mg, the sintered body including one or more compounds selected from a compound represented by In2O3, a compound represented by In(GaMg)O4, a compound represented by Ga2MgO4 and a compound represented by In2MgO4, and having an atomic ratio In/(In+Ga+Mg) of 0.5 or more and 0.9999 or less and an atomic ratio (Ga+Mg)/(In+Ga+Mg) of 0.0001 or more and 0.5 or less.

Abstract: Porous composites of acicular mullite and tialite are formed by firing an acicular mullite body in the presence of an oxide of titanium. In some variations of the process, the oxide of titanium is present when the acicular mullite body is formed. In other variations, the oxide of titanium is applied to a previously-formed acicular mullite body. Surprisingly, the composites have coefficients of linear thermal expansion that are intermediate to those of acicular mullite and tialite alone. Some of the tialite is believed to form at grain boundaries and/or points of intersection between acicular mullite needles, rather than merely coating the needles. The presence of the titanium oxide(s) during acicular mullite formation does not significantly affect the ability to produce a highly porous network of mullite needles.

Abstract: An oxide sintered body including an oxide of indium (In), gallium (Ga), and positive trivalent and/or positive tetravalent metal X, wherein the amount of the metal X relative to the total amount of In and Ga is 100 to 10000 ppm (weight).

Abstract: An oxide sintered body including an oxide of indium and aluminum and having an atomic ratio Al/(Al+In) of 0.01 to 0.08.

Abstract: A high energy density multilayer ceramic capacitor, having at least two electrode layers and at least one substantially dense polycrystalline dielectric layer positioned therebetween. The at polycrystalline dielectric layer has an average grain size of less than about 300 nanometers, a particle size distribution of between about 150 nanometers and about 3 micrometers, and a maximum porosity of about 1 percent. The dielectric layer is selected from the group including TiO2, BaTiO3, Al2O3, ZrO2, lead zirconium titanate, and combinations thereof and has a breakdown strength of at least about 1100 kV per centimeter.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a niobium compound of formula (I): D?Nb?E?O3-???(I) wherein D is an alkali metal (e.g. Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and/or Fr), alkaline earth metal (such as Ba, Ca, Mg and/or Sr), La and/or Bi and may be present as a mixture of two or more metals; E is Ta, Sb and/or Fe and may be present as a mixture of two or more metals; ? is a positive number ? is a positive number ? is zero or a positive number ? is a number 0???0.5; and wherein the formula (I) has the perovskite or tungsten bronze structure; comprising spray pyrolising a solution, for example an aqueous solution, comprising metal (D) ions, Nb ions and if present, metal (E) ions.

Abstract: A method of producing a carbon-based material having an activated surface includes: (a) mixing an elastomer and a carbon material, and dispersing the carbon material by applying a shear force to obtain a composite elastomer; and (b) heat-treating the composite elastomer at a temperature for vaporising an elastomer to vaporize the elastomer in the composite elastomer.

Abstract: Provided is a polycrystal MgO sintered body which is capable of having a sintered density close to a theoretical density thereof, and exhibiting excellent mechanical properties and heat conductivity, while reducing contamination of an atmosphere due to gas generation, and a production method for the sintered body. The polycrystal MgO sintered body has a unique crystalline anisotropy in which (111) faces are oriented along a surface applied with a uniaxial pressure at a high rate. The polycrystalline MgO sintered body is obtained by a method which comprises the steps of: sintering an MgO raw material powder having a particle size of 1 ?m or less, under a uniaxial pressure; and then subjecting the sintered powder to a heat treatment under an atmosphere containing 0.05 volume % or more of oxygen, at a temperature of 1273 K or more for 1 minute or more.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising 50 to 73% by weight of loess, 9 to 20% by weight of clay, 3 to 10% by weight of wood flour, 3 to 7% by weight of lignum carbonized carbon body powder, 11 to 15% by weight of water and 1 to 5% by weight of ceramic glaze to manufacture a ceramic moulding including a carbon layer therein. Preferably, the composition according to the present invention further comprises elvan powder and Schmotte. Meanwhile, the present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a ceramic moulding with a carbon layer comprising forming a moulding out of the composition and firing the formed moulding with oxidizing flames.

Abstract: A ceramic material powder for a translucent ceramic is molded with a binder, and the resulting green compact is embedded in a ceramic powder having the same composition with the ceramic material powder. After removing the binder, the green compact embedded in the ceramic powder is fired in an atmosphere having an oxygen concentration higher than that in the removal procedure of the binder and thereby yields a translucent ceramic represented by Formula I: Ba{(SnuZr1-u)xMgyTaz}vOw, Formula II: Ba(ZrxMgyTaz)vOw or Formula III: Ba{(SnuZr1-u)x(ZntMg1-t)yNbz}vOw. The translucent ceramic has a refractive index of 1.9 or more and is paraelectric.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a green ceramic article containing organic compounds. The method involves first heating the green ceramic article to sequentially remove the organic compounds such that the organic compound with the lowest weight loss onset temperature is substantially removed prior to the next higher weight loss onset temperature organic compound. The organic compounds include but are not limited to at least an oil or oil-based compound having a flash point or an ignition temperature, higher than the weight loss onset temperature. For this system the temperature during heating is maintained below the flash point of the oil or oil-based compound until substantial removal thereof from the green ceramic structural body. After the organic compounds are substantially removed, the green ceramic article is further fired to a temperature and for a time to obtain a final fired body.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte fuel cell including a protonic oxide conductor having a composition represented by Ba(Zr1?xCex)1?yMyAlzO3?? (M: one or more kinds of elements selected from a group of tri-valent rare earth elements and In, 1?x?0, 0.3>y>0, 0.04>z?0, and 1.5>?>0); and an electrode that is mainly made of platinum and has catalysis properties; wherein an electrolyte has a film thickness of 300 ?m or less, and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The solid electrolyte fuel cell can obtain a cell output even at low temperatures equal to 500 degrees centigrade or less.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a sintered piece comprises preparing a molded piece of a composite including calcium phosphate compound such as hydroxyapatite, and baking the molded piece in an oxygen atmosphere to obtain the sintered piece. The oxygen concentration of the oxygen atmosphere is controlled to be not less than 25 vol %, and the relative humidity of the oxygen atmosphere is controlled to be below 30% RH. The baking is performed for 30 minutes to 8 hours at a temperature not less than 1000° C. and below a temperature at which thermal decomposition of the calcium phosphate occurs.

Abstract: A method of removing substantially all of the volatile component in a green, volatile-containing ceramic article is disclosed. The method comprises freezing the ceramic article; and then subjecting the frozen article to a vacuum for a sufficient time to freeze-dry the article. Frequently, the article is heated while being freeze-dried. Use of this method efficiently reduces the propensity for any warpage of the article. The article is often formed from a ceramic slurry in a gel-casting process. A method for fabricating a ceramic core used in investment casting is also described.

Abstract: Methods of making metal oxide articles, preferably iron oxide articles, and articles thereby produced. The method comprises the steps of slightly pressing powder to a compact, the powder consisting essentially of a first oxide of the metal; and subjecting the compact to a heat treatment that causes the powder to sinter into a unitary body and results in the transformation of at least a portion of the first oxide to a second oxide by oxidation or deoxidation during the heat treatment. In disclosed embodiments, the heat treatment is conducted either in air at atmospheric pressure or at a subatmospheric pressure. The method optionally includes more heating/cooling steps resulting in additional oxidation/deoxidation cycles. Sintered iron oxide articles of the invention have high mechanical strengths and interconnected pore structures, providing for efficient filtering of liquids and gases.

Abstract: A ceramic molded body obtained by molding a raw material powder having a mean grain size of about 1 &mgr;m or less and a BET specific surface area of about 5 m2/g or more is fired in an atmosphere of about 95% or higher oxygen concentration at a temperature higher than an ordinary firing temperature for a time shorter than an ordinary time, whereby the sintering can be completed in a short time.

Abstract: A method of removing substantially all of the volatile component in a green, volatile-containing ceramic article is disclosed. The method comprises freezing the ceramic article; and then subjecting the frozen article to a vacuum for a sufficient time to freeze-dry the article. Frequently, the article is heated while being freeze-dried. Use of this method efficiently reduces the propensity for any warpage of the article. The article is often formed from a ceramic slurry in a gel-casting process. A method for fabricating a ceramic core used in investment casting is also described.

Abstract: The process incorporating the invention enables fabrication of dense, highly textured (fraction of oriented grains >20 vol. %) alumina. The method uses a mixture of aluminum metal powder, alumina powder, tabular alumina grains and a liquid phase former. A dry powder mixtures of these components is compacted by dry forming techniques such as roll compaction, uniaxial pressing, forging and/or double action pressing. The formed part is then heated at 0.5-10° C./min. to a temperature between 450 and 500° C. and is held for 2-15 h, and is then heated at 1-10° C/min. to 900-1070° C. and is held for 2-10 hours to convert the aluminum particles into alumina. The part is then heated to a higher temperature (>1400° C.) to form a liquid phase which assists densification and promotes the growth of the tabular alumina grains. The aspect ratio range of the textured alumina grains is from 2-14.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic sintered body excellent in oxidation resistance under high temperatures and markedly superior to the conventional ceramic sintered body in the mechanical strength over a wide temperature range of between room temperature and 1,500.degree. C. The ceramic sintered body of the present invention comprises at least one ceramic crystal grain selected from the group consisting essentially of a monosilicate represented by the general formula RE.sub.2 SiO.sub.5, where RE denotes a IIIa group element including yttrium, and a disilicate represented by the general formula RE.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.7, where RE denotes a IIIa group element including yttrium, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Hf, Nb, Zr, Ti, V, Ta, Ca and Mg which is segregated in the boundaries of the ceramic crystal grains in an amount of 0.1 to 15% by weight of the sintered body in terms of the oxide thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ceramics and a method for making ceramics having very little dimensional change after sintering and high dimensional accuracies, so that the characteristics of inorganic functional material are fully maintained and utilized. The ceramics of the present invention comprise grains of inorganic functional material and grains of complex oxide. The pores existing between said grains of inorganic functional material are filled with said grains of complex oxide produced by a sintering reaction between an oxidized metal and an inorganic compound.

Abstract: A ZrO.sub.2 based ceramic material having excellent mechanical strength and fracture toughness comprises a first phase of ZrO.sub.2 grains containing CeO.sub.2 as a stabilizer and having an average grain size of 5 .mu.m or less, a second phase of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 grains having an average grain size of 2 .mu.m or less, and a third phase of elongated crystals of a complex oxide of Al, Ce, and one of Mg and Ca. At least 90 vol % of the first phase is composed of tetragonal ZrO.sub.2. An aluminum (Al) content in the ceramic material is determined such that when Al of the complex oxide is converted to Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, a total amount of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in the ceramic material is within a range of 0.5 to 50 vol %. A content of the third phase in the ceramic material is determined within a range of 0.5 to 5 by area %. It is preferred that fine Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 grains having an average grain size of 1 .mu.m or less of the second phase are dispersed within the ZrO.sub.2 grains at a dispersion ratio of at least 2%.

Abstract: An oxide ceramic composite suitable for fabricating components of combustion turbines and similar high temperature environments. The composite is fabricated by dispersing metal particles in a fiber preform and infiltrating the fiber preform with sol-gel matrix precursor material. Alternatively, the metal particles are mixed into the sol-gel matrix precursor material and the preform is infiltrated with the mixture. Later in the fabrication process, the metal particles oxidize and become oxidized metal when the sol-gel matrix precursor material is sintered. The oxidized metal has more volume and mass than the metal particles. As a result, the oxidized metal contributes to increasing the density of the composite so that it is suitable for use in combustion turbines and similar high temperature environments.

Abstract: A process for producing ceramic dental prostheses, with which ceramic dental prostheses may be produced in the same diversity of shapes and with the same accuracy as metal dental prostheses. The process includes shaping an unfinished piece made out of 92.1 to 93.5 wt. % zirconium oxide, 4.5 to 5.5 wt. % yttrium oxide, 1.8 to 2.2 wt. % hafnium oxide, and reworking the piece to form a dental prosthesis by means of a rotating tool made of metal-bonded diamond grains.

Abstract: Making denser ceramic sinters by carrying out the sintering operation at elevated temperatures and in 100% oxygen at a pressure of at least 1.5 atmospheres, and then cooling the sinter without control of the ambient atmosphere. The product has a bulk density of at least 98% of the theoretical density of the sinter.