Abstract: In a method for manufacturing ceramic components, a resin mold is initially filled with a paste containing a ceramic material. Next, a ceramic powder is applied on the paste. The ceramic powder and paste are then press-formed and removed from the resin mold. Finally, the ceramic powder and paste are baked. The method allows manufacturing of ceramic components having a microstructure without collapse. Additionally, ceramic components having a large area can be manufactured without warping.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a preform with a high volume fraction of SiC particles. A slurry containing SiC particles and binders is ball-milled and pressed in an apparatus to give a primary preform. This primary preform is dried at room temperature and then, at a high temperature. The dried primary preform is subjected to calcination to prepare the preform. In the apparatus, which comprises a bottom die; a top mold with a cavity, placed on the bottom die, an upper punch for pressing a material for the preform in the cavity; and two water-absorbers, one being inserted between the bottom die and the top mold, the other being placed on the top mold, the slurry is introduced in the cavity and pressed by the punch while the water is absorbed in the absorbers or drained through a gap between the bottom die and the top mold, thereby improving the volume fraction of SiC particles.

Abstract: A method for forging, or hot working bulk ceramics, including high temperature superconductors and other sensitive materials, under precisely controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, atmospheric composition, and strain rate. A capsule with massive end plates and with an independent gas supply is located in a modified hot isostatic press (HIP), designed to operate at pressures of up to 200 MPa and at temperatures of up to 1000 C. Essentially uniaxial deformation of a pre-compacted disc with forces of up to 500,000 Newtons (50 tons), and over time scales from seconds to hours can be achieved by separately controlling the pressure in the capsule from that of its surroundings. The separate gas supply to the capsule can also maintain a specified gaseous atmosphere around the disc, up to the operating pressure of the equipment. The apparatus can be designed to tolerate oxygen concentrations of up to 20%.

Abstract: Novel C/N-- and B/C/N polymers which can be obtained by reaction of (a) a carbodiimide having the formula R.sub.3 E--NCN--ER.sub.3, in which R includes a group selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and aryl groups, and E comprises a component selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, and Sn, and (b) a halogenotriazine. Methods for making and using said polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a smoking article (1) having a high proportion of non-combustible, inorganic material and a relatively low level of visible sidestream. The smoking article includes a substantially non-combustible, wrapper (5) which extends along the full length of the smoking material rod and enwraps a combustible fuel source (6) and aerosol generator (7), both of which extend substantially along the length of the smoking material rod. Various suitable fuel source systems and aerosol generating systems are described. The article has a visible burn line which advances along the article and produces an ash which can be removed by the smoker in the normal way.

Abstract: A crystal-oriented ceramic has an isotropic or pseudoisotropic perovskite-type-structure of not smaller than 10% in Lotgering orientation degree. The ceramic may contain at least one of Bi, Sr and Ca. A host material, a raw material capable of producing a guest material and an additive having the ability of converting a host material into a guest material are mixed and roll-pressed, and sintered under heat to give the crystal-oriented ceramic as a large-sized and bulky material. This crystal-oriented ceramic has good crystal orientation-dependent characteristics including piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, ionic conductivity, giant magneto-resistivity effect, etc. This crystal-oriented ceramic can be produced by orienting epitaxially the polycrystals of an isotropic or pseudoisotropic perovskite oxide according to the orientation of the crystal plane or axis of a host material. The ceramic can be applied to an inexpensive and large-sized device.

Abstract: A process for making an indium-tin-oxide shaped body, comprising: (a) filling an indium-tin-oxide powder into a first flexible mold, the indium-tin-oxide powder having a specific BET surface of at most 3 m.sup.2 /g with a mean primary particle size of 0.03 .mu.m to 1.0 .mu.m and/or having a density of at least 40% of theoretical density after cold pressing at a pressure of 100 MPa and/or the indium-tin-oxide powder being made by reacting at least two reaction partners comprising a molten indium-tin-metal alloy as a first reaction partner and oxygen as a second reaction partner in a plasma arc in a plasma chamber provided with an inlet opening for the reaction partners and an outlet with a gas-supply device to obtain a material, and quenching the material at the outlet opening of the plasma chamber with a gas stream which cools the material at a cooling rate of 10.sup.5 K/s to 10.sup.8 K/s to +50.degree. C. to +400.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for forming ceramic tiles by means of a partially isostatic mold, comprising the following stages: loading the ceramic powder to be pressed into the mold cavity; exerting a uniform pressure on the entire surface of the ceramic powder present in the mold cavity; releasing the pressure and partially opening the mold to facilitate powder deaeration; exerting pressure on a first portion of the surface of the powder contained in the mold cavity; exerting pressure on a second portion of the surface of the powder contained in the mold cavity, while simultaneously nullifying the pressure on said first surface portion of the powder contained in the mold cavity; and alternating the exertion of pressure on said first and on said second portion alternately.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an alumina-silicon carbide nanocomposite having particular application to improved ball bonding capillaries of a wire bonding device produces a structure with a 93-98 volume percent of .alpha.-alumina having an average diameter of 0.1-0.3 .mu.m, a 2-7 volume percent of .beta.-silicon carbide having an average diameter of 0.1-1.5 .mu.m, a bending strength of 340-550 Mpa, and a toughness of 3.3-4.1 Mpam.sup.1/2.

Abstract: A method of making a hydrodynamic ceramic bearing includes the steps of providing ceramic powder comprising a first concentration of particulate aluminum oxide and a second concentration of particulate zirconium oxide alloy. The zirconium oxide alloy consists essentially of zirconium oxide and a the group consisting of MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, and rare earth oxides. The zirconium oxide alloy has a concentration of the secondary oxide of, in the case of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, about 0.5 to about 5 mole percent; in the case of MgO, about 0.1 to about 1.0 mole percent, in the case of CeO.sub.2, about 0.5 to about 15 mole percent, in the case of Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, about 0.5 to about 7.0 mole percent and in the case of CaO from about 0.5 to about 5 mole percent, relative to the total of the zirconium oxide alloy, the compacting further comprising forming a blank. A mold is provided for receiving and processing the ceramic powder thereby forming a ceramic billet.

Abstract: A sintered ITO compact having an ultra-high density of at least 7.08 g/cm.sup.3 is produced by a process wherein an aqueous slurry comprised of indium oxide, tin oxide, a binder, a dispersant and an aqueous medium is cast in a mold, and the thus-obtained cast green body is sintered. The aqueous slurry used is prepared by the steps of:dispersing uniformly a tin oxide powder and a dispersant in an aqueous medium to give an aqueous slurry;allowing the aqueous slurry to stand whereby coarse particles of tin oxide are sedimented;separating by decantation an upper liquid layer of the aqueous slurry containing finely divided particles of tin oxide (preferably, the secondary particle sizes of which are not larger than 4 .mu.m) and the dispersant from a lower liquid layer containing the sedimented coarse particles; and then,incorporating an indium oxide powder and a binder in the separated upper liquid layer containing finely divided tin oxide particles and the dispersant to give an aqueous slurry.

Abstract: An accessory tile and its manufacturing method. The accessory tile is made of preformed tile bodies of plate shape which have colored patterns on their surfaces, respectively. The preformed tile bodies are disposed on both sides of a press surface of a lower mold of a V-shaped cross section, respectively, while joint end surfaces of the preformed tile bodies are contacted closely with each other. They are pressed between the lower mold and an upper mold into one body. The pressed bodies are burnt to obtain the accessory tile as a final product.

Abstract: A process for fabricating ceramic-metal composites having continuous ceramic and metallic phases. The process includes the steps of contacting a porous ceramic matrix material having the general shape of an article of manufacture with molten metal whereby capillary action pulls the metal into the open porosity of the ceramic matrix to substantially fill the open void space. The present invention also provides a ceramic-metal composite having continuous metal and ceramic phases.

Abstract: In the process for producing a homogeneous and finely crystalline silicon nitride ceramic, ceramic powder is milled, mixed with shaping aids, the mixture is shaped into parts and the shaped parts are subsequently sintered in a nitrogen atmosphere. According to the invention, sintering is carried out in a multistage process at temperatures T.sub.max in the range from 1700.degree. to 1900.degree. C. using gas pressures in the range from 0.3 to 50 MPa. In a first temperature stage, a temperature from 0.9 to 0.96.multidot.T.sub.max is maintained over a time period from 10 to 50 minutes at an N.sub.2 pressure from 0.2 to 1.2 MPa, while in a second temperature stage a temperature from 0.97 to 0.985.multidot.T.sub.max is maintained over a time period from 20 to 80 minutes at an N.sub.2 pressure from 3 to 6 MPa. Then the temperature is increased to T.sub.max and the pressure is increased to from 7 to 50 MPa.

Abstract: A SiC whisker-reinforced ceramic composite is prepared by adding about 0.4 to 1.0% by weight of a nonionic polymer, polyvinylalcohol (PVA) to a heat-treated SiC whisker to obtain a SiC whisker slurry, mixing the SiC whisker slurry with a matrix slurry formed at about pH 4 followed by freeze-drying the resulting slurry mixture to produce granules having a uniform packing structure and hot pressing the granules.

Abstract: A composite and pressureless sintering process for making whisker-reinforced alumina composites using a nitride modifier. The whiskers are milled to an aspect ratio of less than 10. Green preform bodies are surrounded by a carbonaceous material during the sintering process to prevent direct exposure of the body surface to the atmosphere within the sintering furnace during the sintering step.

Abstract: A densified titanium diboride based ceramic composition is provided having W and Co therein and a fine grain size. The composition has particular usefulness as a cutting tool for the machining of titanium based alloys at high speeds.