Abstract: Cellular ceramic materials, for example closed cell glass ceramic materials, for use in construction of buildings comprising a clay material, carbon, and water used to form the cellular ceramic blocks, slabs and beams by expansion of the particles inside the ware. The cellular ceramic materials are produced by first mixing the clay, carbon and about 40% to about 70% water by weight of the clay in the mixture, allowing the mixture to cure, drying the cured mixture, then firing the dried mixture at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to melt the surface of the mixture. The clay material can be, for example, surface clays, ball clays, kaolin, shale, fly ash and/or bentonite. In another embodiment a mixture of volcanic ash, carbon and water can be formed and layered with the mixture of clay, carbon and water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing granular material useful as a phosphorus removal aggregate and involves the mixing of a pulverized calcium or magnesium oxide material with a dewatered clay waste material in a paddle or ribbon type mixer until reaching a state of a uniform consistency paste like material and then allowing such material to cure for several days while periodically mixing to expose new surface area thereof to the air to facilitate evaporation until the water content of the cured material is less than six percent.

Abstract: The invention provides a glass-ceramic composition manufactured using conventional raw material and one or more waste materials, wherein the waste materials are capable of producing glass forming oxides and glass modifying oxides. The waste materials are selected from a group that includes cullet, pozzolanic waste and fly ash. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the glass-ceramic composition.

Abstract: An ultra-lightweight, high strength ceramic proppant made from mixture of naturally occurring clays, preferably porcelain clay, kaolin and/or flint-clay, earthenware clay or other naturally occurring clays having an alumina content between about 5.5% and about 35%. The proppant has an apparent specific gravity from about 2.10 to about 2.55 g/cc, and a bulk density of from about 1.30 to about 1.50 g/cc. This ultra-lightweight proppant is useful in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells, and has greater conductivity than sand at pressures up to 8,000 psi as measured by Stim-Lab after 50 hours and 275° F. on Ohio Sandstone, in the presence of deoxygenated aqueous 2% solution of KCI.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is greater than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in reduced shrinkage of green ware during the clay dehydroxylation stage of firing.

Abstract: The invention provides a porous glass ceramic composition manufactured using conventional raw materials and one or more waste materials, wherein the waste materials are capable of producing glass forming oxides, glass modifying oxides and pore forming oxides. The waste materials are selected from a group that includes cullet, pozzolanic waste and fly ash. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the porous glass ceramic composition.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is less than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in fired ceramic articles with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and improved thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic materials, for example closed cell glass ceramic materials, for use in construction of buildings comprising a clay material, carbon, and water used to form the cellular ceramic blocks, slabs and beams by expansion of the particles inside the ware. The cellular ceramic materials are produced by first mixing the clay, carbon and about 40% to about 70% water by weight of the clay in the mixture, allowing the mixture to cure, drying the cured mixture, then firing the dried mixture at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to melt the surface of the mixture. The clay material can be, for example, surface clays, ball clays, kaolin, shale, fly ash and/or bentonite. In another embodiment a mixture of volcanic ash, carbon and water can be formed and layered with the mixture of clay, carbon and water.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is less than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in fired ceramic articles with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and improved thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an aqueous clay paste, characterized in that it includes at least the steps of: preparing a first mixture of clay and phosphoric acid and kneading; and adding hydrated sodium silicate (Na2O)—(SiO2)—(H2O) to said mixture, preferably having a 30% content of SiO2, also preferably in a phosphoric acid and sodium silicate ratio of at least 1:3 by weight; and kneading the final mixture. Said method includes different variants, depending on the content of water in the clay starter. The invention likewise relates to a method for manufacturing ceramic materials in which the aqueous clay paste is used as a raw material, which are obtainable by the method described herein, as well as to the aqueous clay paste and the ceramic material produced by both methods. The invention additionally relates to the use of the aqueous clay paste for manufacturing ceramic materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical thermal energy storage material structure, including a granular chemical thermal energy storage material, a clay mineral having a layered ribbon structure, and a complex metal silicate that is generated by a reaction between the above-mentioned chemical thermal energy storage material and the above-mentioned clay mineral and that includes at least one type of alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: Optical quality doped polycrystalline lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG) scintillator materials having a transmittance in the visible light spectrum greater than 75% and methods for producing same from aluminum oxide and doped lutetium oxide powders.

Abstract: A rotatable turntable tool is used in trimming wheel-thrown pottery. The turntable tool includes a base portion, a bearing member, and a cap portion which is rotatably attached to the base portion. A method of trimming an unfired clay workpiece includes steps of inverting the workpiece and placing it at a central portion of a wheel head on a potter's wheel; placing the turntable tool on top of a central portion of the inverted workpiece; pressing downwardly on the cap portion of the turntable tool while rotating said wheel head to stabilize the workpiece, whereby the base portion of the turntable tool rotates with the workpiece, while the cap portion is substantially restrained from rotating; and applying a trimming tool to an edge of the workpiece to remove unwanted clay therefrom.

Abstract: Provide is a moisture control constructional material which has improved moisture control performance and strength and which is easily produced, and a method for producing the same. The moisture control construction material is produced by forming a raw material that contains aluminum hydroxide and talc, and firing the formed raw material at 700° C. to 1100° C. The raw material contains 20% to 95% by weight aluminum hydroxide and 5% to 80% by weight of the talc-like material. The raw material may further contain at least one of clay and bentonite and/or montmorillonite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an artificial lightweight aggregate containing bottom ash. The method includes the steps of: (a) mixing 100 parts by weight of clay and 10-100 parts by weight of bottom ash to obtain a mixture; (b) extrusion-molding the mixture by using an extruder and cutting the extrusion-molded mixture to form a molded article; (c) drying the molded article by using a rotary drier; and (d) sintering the dried article at 1050-1150° C. for 15-45 minutes to produce the artificial lightweight aggregate. The aggregate produced according to the invention is lightweight, cost-effective, and has uniform water absorption.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a process for producing an aluminum titanate-based ceramics body, wherein, as a regenerated starting material, a fired body recovered in a production process for an aluminum titanate-based ceramics body is used and the aluminum titanate-based ceramics body excellent in a mechanical strength and in a thermal characteristics such as low thermal expansion and heat resistance can be obtained. The invention provides a process for producing an aluminum titanate-based ceramics body using a fired ceramics body recovered in a production process for an aluminum titanate-based ceramics body, comprising the following steps: a step of preparing a pulverized product having a median particle diameter of 100 ?m or less from the fired ceramics body; a step of preparing a regenerated clay containing the pulverized product and water; a step of shaping the regenerated clay to form a shaped body; and a step of firing the shaped body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal accumulation-transmission panel that comprises an improved porcelain stoneware and a manufacturing process thereof, for its use as a thermal accumulator and transmission element in heating devices. The thermal accumulation-transmission panel of porcelain stoneware of the invention is characterised in that it comprises a porcelain stoneware whose chemical composition comprises between 80.0% and 90.0% SiO2 and between 5.0% and 15.0% Al2O3, in that its geometry presents parallelepiped projections on one of its faces that permit the creation of natural convection chimneys and in that it has a thickness of at least 12 mm.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wrinkled plate which can control a shape of wrinkles formed on a surface of the wrinkled plate and a wrinkled plate which is manufactured by the method are provided. The method for manufacturing a wrinkled plate la includes the steps of: placing an unhardened clay 5 having irregularities embossed on a surface thereof on an upper surface of a rubber sheet 4 in a stretched state in an overlapping manner; forming wrinkles 2 at least on a surface of the clay 5 by shrinking the rubber sheet 4; and hardening the clay 5 by baking.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic device is provided. The housing includes a substrate made of a light-transmittable ceramic. The substrate has an outer surface and an opposite inner surface defining at least one recess configured with patterns or symbols. An opaque layer is formed on the inner surface to prevent light penetrating through the substrate except through the at least one recess.

Abstract: A process for preparing roofing granules includes forming kaolin clay into green granules and sintering the green granules at a temperature of at least 900 degrees Celsius to cure the green granules until the crystalline content of the sintered granules is at least ten percent as determined by x-ray diffraction.

Abstract: A pulling roll for glass manufacture made of a high-temperature millboard material. The millboard includes aluminosilicate refractory fiber, silicate, mica, and kaolin clay. A method of manufacturing a pulling roll also is disclosed, together with a roll produced by the methods disclosed herein. The method includes forming a pulling roll and densifying at least a portion of the pulling roll by exposing the pulling roll to high temperatures.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for manufacturing an artificial ultra-lightweight aggregate having a specific gravity of 0.8-0.9 using raw sewage sludge. According to the invention, raw sewage sludge and water-free waste are mixed into a blend having a water content that allows the optimal extrusion, whereby excellent ultra-lightweight aggregate which has low water absorption rate and, low slump loss can be produced. In addition, the collective treatment of waste and the mass production of recycled products are possible without addition of a drying process for raw sewage sludge, and thus excellent ultra-lightweight aggregate can be supplied at low cost.

Abstract: A potter's wheel for forming an oval pottery, such as dish, bowl or the like, has a die (26) for positioning clay to be formed and a revolution-rotation device (24). The revolution-rotation device (24) provides the revolution of the die about a first axis and the rotation of the die about a second axis. A tool is held at a predetermined position with respect to the first axis. While the direction of the rotation is same as that of the revolution, the speed of the rotation is a half of that of the revolution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for promoting a person, place or thing. The method includes forming a design into clay, and then firing the clay into final form. The design is associated with the person, place or thing such that a third party, when viewing the design, will associate the design with the person, place or thing being promoted. Preferably, the design is formed using a clay cane method, including the steps of assembling a clay cane with a design in cross-section, rolling the clay cane to a predetermined diameter, and then removing sections of the clay cane for later firing.

Abstract: A method for rigidifying a fiber-based paper substrate for use in the exhaust system of a combustion device. In the method, a green ceramic fiber-based paper substrate is impregnated with an impregnating dispersion. The impregnated substrate is then dried, calcined and fired to form a rigidified substrate that is suitable for use in the exhaust system of a combustion device. This rigidification process is performed at least once and, preferably, two or more times. The green paper substrate comprises two or more sheets of green ceramic fiber-based paper, with at least one creased sheet and another sheet being a laminated together to form a plurality of tubular channels. The rigidified substrate comprises refractory ceramic fibers in the form of a ceramic fiber-based paper and agglomerates of ceramic particles.

Abstract: A sintering apparatus for silver clay wherein a silver clay composition can be readily and easily sintered by exposing a silver clay composition obtained by molding to a flame of a solid alcohol fuel.

Abstract: A porous bat may be used on a pottery wheel including a locating pin at a nominal location. The porous bat includes an elongated hole at a location corresponding to the nominal location. The elongated hole is adapted to slidably fit over the locating pin. The hole has a first axis with a dimension sized to fit over the locating pin and a second axis with a dimension larger than the first dimension to compensate for variations in the location of the locating pin on the pottery wheel.

Abstract: An articulated potter's wheel assembly in which the height and angle of the potter's wheel is adjustable relative to the user. A motor-driven wheel is mounted to an upper frame assembly that is adjustable for height, with the wheel being mounted at the front of the frame so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis. The wheel is mounted to a pivotable table assembly that includes the motor and drive mechanism for the wheel. The height of the upper frame assembly is adjusted relative to a second, lower frame assembly by a motor driven jackscrew. A tank is also mounted on the upper frame assembly for dispensing water to aid in working the clay. A strap attaches proximate the pivot points of the table so as to pass across and support the user's back. The assembly may be configured as a free-standing unit or for wall-mount installation. The assembly accommodates wheelchairs, and can be used in standing or sitting positions.

Abstract: A setter and a method for manufacturing a ceramic substrate are capable of suppressing deformation such as warpage occurring in a ceramic substrate after baking. A ceramic green sheet 4 is mounted and baked on a mount surface of a zirconia setter wherein an average particle size is 0.3 ?m, a porcelain density is not less than 6 kg/dm 3, a thermal conductivity is not more than 5 W/mK, and an arithmetic average roughness of the mount surface is 1 ?m–20 ?m, whereby it is feasible to suppress the deformation such as warpage occurring in a piezoelectric ceramic substrate after baked.

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 process for making an alkaline resistant material comprises the steps of grinding together 0-40% light magnesia, 0-80% roasted magnesia, 10-54% ceramic clay, 0-9% limestone, 1-4% water glass, 0-1.5% carboxymethyl cellusolve, 0-27% talc, 0-3% calcium or barium carbonate to a particle size of less than 50 microns, mixing the ground mixture with water to produce a paste containing <23% wt. water, shaping the paste to a desired shape, drying the shaped product at a temperature of 110 degrees Centigrade, and firing the dried shaped product in a kiln at 1350 degrees Centigrade. The resulting alkali resistant ceramic contains 25-76 wt % MgO, 13-47% SiO2, 5-20 wt % Al2O3, and 1-10 wt % Fe2O3, CaO, K2O, and/or Na2O, with forsterite and spinel being the dominant crystalline phases.

Abstract: A method of making a product which is generally impervious to water including the steps of making a generally homogenous mixture of slate particles and clay, wetting the mixture as necessary to produce a formable composition, forming the wet mixture to a desired configuration, at least partially drying the formed mixture and subjecting the dried formed mixture to a temperature of at least 1100° C. for a time sufficient for at least some of the clay to convert into a binder to bind together the slate particles.

Abstract: Ceramic media made using ceramic components comprising from 5 to 60% by weight of spodumene and 95 to 40 wt % of other ceramic-forming components comprising clay and feldspar have a reduced tendency to shrink upon firing to form the media and improved physical properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ceramic media or ceramic media coatings comprising mainly magnesia, silicon dioxide, and alumina, with forsterite and spinel as the dominant crystalline phases, which show high resistance to alkali attack at high temperature. Ceramic materials having these characteristics are particularly well suited for use as heat-exchange media in regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) for the wood process industry.

Abstract: A method of making a product such as a tile which comprises the steps of making a generally homogenous mixture of slate particles and clay powder, wetting the mixture as necessary to produce a formable composition, forming the wet mixture to a desired configuration, at least partially drying the formed wet mixture and subjecting the dried formed mixture to a temperature of at least 1100° C. for a time sufficient for at least some of the clay to convert into a binder to bind together the slate particles.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an artificial reef based on industrial waste is disclosed. Industrial wastes, including red mud, blast furnace slag, the sludges from the factories of refining raw ore, broken pieces of glass, the stone powders from the anti-pollution facilities equipped in stone- or aggregate-extracting spots, the slurries from the terminal treatment plants of water and sewage, the ashes from the incinerators for household wastes, the pulp sludges and slurries from paper mills, the coal ashes from thermoelectric power plants, and the side-products produced upon coal mining, are utilized, alone or in combination with a plasticizer and a mineralizer, in constructing artificial fishing reeves through pug-milling, molding and thermal treatment processes. The artificial fishing reef, through which the industrial wastes are converted into environment-affinitive resources, have advantages of being economically favorable and producing no pollution of the environment.

Abstract: Building bricks and tiles are made by mixing 60% to 75% clay, 20% to 40% sludge and 1% to 10% sand, all percentages being by weight of the total composition. This process utilizes industrial waste products to provide building materials which are lighter and stronger than conventional materials.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ceramic boards for use as finishing construction materials is provided, which includes the steps of: blending raw materials at predetermined ratios; mixing the blended raw materials with water to prepare a mixture; kneading the mixture to remove bubbles; molding the bubble-free kneaded mixture into planar wares having a face; engraving a predetermined pattern on the face of the planar wares and then filling the patterns with a colored inlay material to form inlaid surfaces; drying the engraved and inlaid wares; polishing the inlaid surfaces to expose the patterns; primarily calcining the wares having exposed patterns at a temperature of 800° C. to 900° C. for a predetermined period to prepare primary ceramic boards; coating a glaze mixture composed of components at fixed ratios on the faces having the exposed patterns to prepare glazed wares and then drying; and secondary calcining the glazed wares at a temperature of 1250° C. to 1350° C. for a predetermined period.

Abstract: A pottery article decorated with a selected rock, such as a lava rock, is prepared by shaping a pottery article, such as a vase, from pottery clay, then partially drying the vase and forming a hole in the side of the vase, large enough to force the rock into so that it will be held in place by the surrounding pottery clay. The edges of the hole are cut to a sharp angle. A multiplicity of smaller holes are formed in the pottery clay in the region around the rock to inhibit the cracking of the pottery from cracking due to shrinkage during subsequent drying and firing. The pottery is then dried at room temperatures for about two weeks. Optionally, the holes may be filled with a moist clay/glaze mixture and dried again. The article is then fired at a cone 08 for about twelve hours and cooled, then glazed by dipping in a glaze bath and firing again at a cone 05 for about six hours.

Abstract: A process for the production of faujasite X agglomerates containing at least 95% of faujasite LSX, that is to say with an Si/Al ratio equal to 1, constituting the active adsorbent. The agglomerate is formed from zeolite LSX and from a binder which can be converted to zeolite, the conversion of which to active zeolite is obtained by conversion to zeolite in a sodium hydroxide/potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide liquor.

Abstract: A fossil molding fabrication method includes the steps of (1) preparing a fossil skeleton material; (2) mixing the fossil skeleton material with water to form a paste-like fossil skeleton material, then filling the paste-like fossil skeleton material in the cavity of a flexible mold; (3) preparing a base rock material, then mixing the base rock material with water to form a paste-like base rock material, and then covering the paste-like base rock material over the fossil skeleton in the flexible mold; and (4) keeping the paste-like base rock material away from the radiation of the sun and letting it be dried in the air, and then removing the molding thus formed from the mold, so as to obtain a fossil molding. A cover rock may be covered on the base rock over the fossil skeleton.

Abstract: A ceramics dress substrate of the present invention capable of both performances of cutting a cut material with a high accuracy and dressing a diamond cutting grindstone with an excellent cutting property and an reduced wearing amount of the grindstone. This ceramics dress substrate comprises sintering a mixture of ceramics grinding particles and a silicate mineral, The ceramics grinding particles are preferably uniformed and have a scratch hardness ranging from 6 to 10. Alumina grinding particles, silicon carbide and mullite are preferably used as the ceramics grinding particles, and a kaolin mineral, pyrophyllite, montmorillonite, sericite, talc and chlorite are preferably used as the silicate mineral. The ceramics dress substrate is preferably coated with glass.

Abstract: A cordierite body is produced by providing cordierite-forming raw materials as talc, calcined talc, MgO-forming component, magnesium aluminate spinel, SiO.sub.2 -forming component, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -forming component, kaolin, calcined kaolin, and/or mullite, such that the quantity R is less than about 1.207. R is0.253 (wt. % mullite powder)+0.278(wt. % SiO.sub.2 powder)+0.00590(wt. % SiO.sub.2 powder)(wt. % spinel powder)-0.0193(wt. % SiO.sub.2 powder)(heating time at maximum temperature)-0.348(heating time at maximum temperature)-0.00237(mean heating rate from 25.degree. C. to 1275.degree. C.)+0.0736(wt. % alpha Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder)(mean particle size of alpha Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder)+0.0892(wt. % Al(OH).sub.3 powder)(mean particle size of Al(OH).sub.3 powder)-0.215(wt. % dispersible high surface area Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -forming component)+2.392(log.sub.10 (1+(wt. % MgO-forming component)(wt. % calcined kaolin))).

Abstract: Provided with a loess-containing fiber and its manufacturing method wherein the fiber contains loess that generates far-infrared rays and has antibiotic and disinfectant properties, the method including the steps of melting a polymer to form a melt polymer, firing loess in a firing furnace, grinding the fired loess into particles having a specified size by means of a mill, and admixing the powder of the ground loess with the melt polymer in a mixer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing ceramic filter media for water filters involves the steps of mixing a plurality of raw ceramic materials and a plurality of extrusion-aid materials to form a mixture of constituent materials, extruding the constituent materials to form tubular filter media, drying the tubular filter media, and firing the tubular filter media to create ceramic tubular filter media. The step of drying the tubular filter media preferably comprises placing the tubular filter media on top of rotating rollers which dries the tubular filter media evenly and preserves the desired characteristics of the tubular filter media.

Abstract: A banding wheel comprising a turntable and a tilting mechanism. The turntable is (i) rotatable, and (ii) adapted for releasable attachment to a pottery article support plate. The plate is adapted for releasably securing a pottery article to the banding wheel. The tilting mechanism is operatively connected to the turntable and adapted for tilting the turntable so that when the mechanism is in its closed position the turntable is horizontally disposed and when the mechanism is in its open position, the turntable is angularly disposed.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting lead-contaminated soil to commercially-useful ceramic shapes, in which the lead is covalently-bonded and from which it does not leach. The soil is mixed with conventional brick or tile fabricating ingredients to form a premix which is formed into a suitable shape and fired at a temperature in the range of 150.degree. F. to 250.degree. F.