Abstract: The present invention provides a sprayable composition comprising a ceramic particulate including albite, illite, and quart, and a metallic composition, including nickel, chromium, iron, and silicon. The sprayable composition may be a composite particle, a blend, or a cored wire. The present invention further provides an abradable coating formed on a metal substrate according to a method comprising the step of depositing the abradable coating on the metal substrate by thermal spraying of a sprayable composition comprising a ceramic particulate including albite, illite, and quartz, and a metallic composition, including nickel, chromium, iron and silicon. The sprayable composition may be a composite particle, a blend, or a cored wire. The abradable coating may be applied to a metal substrate such as steel, nickel-based alloys, and titanium.

Abstract: A rare earth garnet sintered compact which is produced by subjecting a rare earth garnet powder such as YAG to a pre-sintering, sintering the pre-sintered product by HIP, and annealing the sintered product at 1100° C. to 1600° C. in a whole oxygen atmosphere under a whole pressure of 4.5 MPa or more, and has an average crystallite diameter of 0.9 to 9 ?m, an optical loss coefficient of 0.002 cm?1 or less and a strain of a transmitted wave of 0.05 ? cm?1 or less.

Abstract: A translucent polycrystalline material suitable for use in ceramic discharge vessels for metal halide lamps is produced by sintering an alumina powder doped with a MgO sintering aid in a nitrogen atmosphere containing a partial pressure of a vapor phase carbon-containing species. The sintered polycrystalline alumina has a grain boundary phase containing aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen. The formation of the AL—O—N grain boundary phase is believed to facilitate the transport of nitrogen from entrapped pores during sintering. Preferably, the PCA is sintered in a carbon-element furnace under flowing ultra-high-purity nitrogen.

Abstract: An injectable heat generating biocompatible ceramic compositions based on hydraulic calcium aluminate, which can be used for therapeutic treatment in vivo, such as tumour treatment, pain control, vascular treatment, drug activation etc, when curing in situ, and which form a biocompatible solid material that can be left in the body for prolonged periods of time without causing negative health effects, and can also be used to restore the mechanical properties of the skeleton after cancerous diseases as well as in a medical implant, an orthopaedic implant, and a dental implant as a dental filling material.

Abstract: A substrate holding structure having excellent corrosion resistance and airtightness, excellent dimensional accuracy and sufficient durability when mechanical or thermal stress is applied thereto is obtained. A holder (1) serving as the substrate holding structure includes a ceramic base (2) for holding a substrate, a protective cylinder (7) joined to the ceramic base (2) and a joining layer (8) positioned therebetween for joining the ceramic base (2) and the protective cylinder (7) to each other. The joining layer (8) contains at least 2 mass % and not more than 70 mass % of a rare earth oxide, at least 10 mass % and not more than 78 mass % of aluminum oxide, and at least 2 mass % and not more than 50 mass % of aluminum nitride. The rare earth oxide or the aluminum oxide has the largest proportional content among the aforementioned three types of components in the joining layer (8).

Abstract: A method of preparing spherical pellets from a slurry comprising a ceramic powder, a solvent, and any desired additives, by means of a drop-generating orifice to which said slurry is fed is described, wherein the drops are released from said orifice by means of a relative flow of a liquid medium which is a poor solvent for the solvent of the slurry, formed into spherical bodies in said liquid medium by means of the action of surface tension, and thereafter treated for consolidation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the preparation of pellets of a catalyst or catalyst support material, suitable for use in high temperature conditions.

Abstract: A ceramic fuse housing is provided for surface mount circuit protectors, wherein a selectively destructible fuse is at least partially retained within the fuse housing. The fuse housing being formed of between 80% to 90% alumina and 20% to 10% zirconia, wherein 5% to 25% of the zirconia is in a tetragonal phase.

Abstract: A ceramic includes alumina in an amount between about 90 and about 99% by weight, a zirconium containing compound in an amount between about 0 and about 1% by weight, and an oxide mixture in an amount between about 1 and about 10% by weight. The oxide mixture includes a glass former and a network modifier, wherein the molar ratio of the glass former to the network modifier ranges between about 0.8:1 and 1.2:1. The ceramic insulator is particularly adapted for use as an insulator in a spark plug to provide improved dielectric strength and shunt resistance of greater than one 1000 megaohms at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, so as to reduce the shunting of the spark plug and thereby improve the quality of the spark generated by the spark plug.

Abstract: A substrate processing chamber component demonstrates reduced erosion in an energized gas. The component has a ceramic structure composed of aluminum oxide with a surface exposed to the energized gas in the chamber. The erosion of the surface by the energized gas is substantially reduced by erosion resistant properties of the ceramic structure, which arise from a ratio of the total area of the grains GSA to the total area of the grain boundary regions GBSA in the ceramic structure of from about 0.25 to about 2.5. Also, at least about 80% of the grains in the ceramic structure have a grain size in the range of from about 1 micron to about 20 microns. The ceramic structure also has a purity of at least about 99.8% by weight to further reduce erosion of the surface.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to novel crystalline compositions which may be obtained by doping the alpha (?) form of AlPO4 ceramics, which find use as piezoelectric materials, stable supports for catalysts, biotechnology uses, and the like.

Abstract: Ceramics containing 80 wt % or greater of alumina (Al2O3), with Mn, Ti, Fe, Si, Ca and Mg, with Mn—Al spinal (MnO.Al2O3) crystals and anorthite crystals (CaO.Al2O3.2SiO2) generated by calcination, and having a volume resistivity of 1×1011 ?·cm or less. Preferably, the ceramics contains a combined weight of 2–11 wt % or greater of Mn, Ti and Fe as the oxides, 0.5 wt % or greater of Mn as manganese dioxide (MnO2), 0.5 wt % or greater of Ti as titanium oxide (TiO2), and 0.5 wt % or greater of Fe as iron oxide (Fe2O3).

Abstract: A bond coat composition is provided for applying to the surface of a ceramic composite component between the composite substrate and the thermal barrier coat. The composition includes an alumina powder, a silica-yielding liquid, glass frits, and sufficient solvent to permit mixing of the components and forming a bond coat.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method to produce ceramic materials utilizing the sol-gel process. The methods enable the preparation of intimate homogeneous dispersions of materials while offering the ability to control the size of one component within another. The method also enables the preparation of materials that will densify at reduced temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an icosahedral, quasicrystalline compound or compound present in the form of an approximant having the nominal composition: TivCrwAlxSiyOz, in which v=60-65; w=25-30; x=0-6; Y=8-15; z=8-20; and in which the atom percent of oxygen is in the range of between 8 and 15%, and that of aluminum in the range of between 2 to 5%. Due to their layered structure and ceramic intermediate layers, compounds of this type exhibit excellent properties, in particular for use as coatings for gas turbine components, such as for example, rotor blades or guide vanes.

Abstract: An oxide ceramic material is provided to contain aluminum oxide as a principal component, and at least one selected from A and B shown below as an auxiliary component: A: niobium oxide and copper oxide B: copper oxide, titanium oxide, and silver oxide. With this, it is possible to provide an oxide ceramic material having sinterability at a low temperature and a high heat conductivity, as well as a ceramic substrate, a ceramic laminate device, and a power amplifier module employing the same.

Abstract: A process for producing roundish alumina particles includes the steps of granulating a composition containing at least one pulverized product of electrofused alumina and sintered alumina having a mean particle size of 5 to 35 ?m and at least one species selected from the group consisting of a halogen compound, a boron compound and an alumina hydrate to obtain a granulated product, heating the granulated product at 1,000 to 1,600° C., and crushing the heated product.

Abstract: A ceramic sintered body comprising from 90 to 99.8% by volume of cordierite and from 0.2 to 10% by volume of mullite based on 100% by weight of a total sum of the contents of the cordierite and the mullite, and having a density of 2.48 g/cm3 or more.

Abstract: A chemically bonded ceramic material based on calcium aluminate hydrate with additives of primarily calcium titanate, but also chemically similar compounds. The material is a biocompatible material for implants, particularly for orthopaedic and dental applications. The material possesses the properties required for an orthopaedic biocement. It cures through reaction with water and develops its strength within a short period of time, has good workability prior to curing, is shape stable, has a low heat generation during curing, and is friendly to adjacent tissues.

Abstract: There is provided a ceramic member for semiconductor manufacturing equipment which is formed of an alumina-based sinter containing an yttrium-aluminum-garnet at the amount of 3 to 50 wt %, silicon oxide at the amount of not more than 0.2 wt %, preferably 0.1 wt %, and the balance substantially alumina, wherein the sinter has dielectric loss of not more than 4×10?4 particularly 2.5×10?4 or less in the frequency range of 10 MHz to 5 GHz. Such a member may be formed of a ceramic sinter including an aluminum phase having mean crystal grain size in a range of 2 to 10 ?m and a yttrium-aluminum-garnet phase having a mean crystal grain size in a range of 1.5 to 5 ?m, wherein the ratio of the mean crystal grain size of the alumina phase to that of the yttrium-aluminum-garnet phase is larger than 1 and smaller than 7.

Abstract: Nanoscale corundum powders are obtained by first producing an Al2O3 precursor by adding seed crystals to an aqueous solution of an aluminium compound and adding a base and then converting the Al2O3 precursor into corundum by calcination at a high temperature. Before the calcination, the salts that are present in addition to the Al2O3 precursor are separated off. The resulting product is calcined at temperatures of 700 to 975° C. and any fines that may be present are removed. The resulting corundum powders can be sintered at temperatures of ?1200° C. to produce compacts or components of multiple layer systems.

Abstract: Methods of producing doped and undoped yttrium aluminum garnet and yttrium aluminum perovskite containing powders and the powders produced thereby are provided. Additionally, methods of forming doped and undoped polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet having a mean grain size of between about 1 ?m to about 3 ?m and the yttrium aluminum garnet produced thereby are provided. The doped and undoped polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet may be formed by sintering a compact and subsequently hot isostatically pressing the compact.

Abstract: A raw material with a high content of aluminum oxide has the following composition, in weight-percent, based on dry weight: Al2O3 ?50–80% MgO ??2–15% SiO2 ??1–15% CaO 0.5–20% Fe2O3 0.5–2% Na2O 0.5–2% Al (metallic) 0.1–2% AlN 0.1–1% K2O 0.1–1.5% F 0.1–2% Cl 0.1–0.8% balance in total, not to exceed ?5% loss on ignition, not to exceed 15% The main mineral constituents of the raw material are, in weight-percent aluminum hydroxide 20–60% corundum ?-Al2O3 10–40% spinel MgAl2O4 ?5–40% Specifically, the aluminum hydroxide is present as aluminum mono-hydroxide Al2O3.H2O and aluminum tri-hydroxide Al2O3.3H2O in a weight ratio exceeding 0.25.

Abstract: A ZrO2—Al2O3 composite ceramic material having high mechanical strength and toughness as well as excellent wear resistance and hardness is provided. This ceramic material includes a first phase of ZrO2 grains containing 10 to 12 mol % of CeO2 as a stabilizer and having an average grain size of 0.1 ?m to 1 ?m, and a second phase of Al2O3 grains having an average grain size of 0.1 to 0.5 ?m.

Abstract: A thermochemically stable oxidic thermal insulating material presenting phase stability, which can be used advantageously as a thermal insulating layer on parts subjected to high thermal stress, such as turbine blades or such like. The thermal insulating material can be processed by plasma spraying and consists preferably of a magnetoplumbite phase whose preferred composition is MMeAl11O19, where M is La or Nd and where Me is chosen from among zinc, the alkaline earth metals, transition metals, and rare earths, preferably from magnesium, zinc, cobalt, manganese, iron, nickel and chromium.

Abstract: A fired spinel complex oxide is produced by firing a mixture containing a slag by-produced in chromium refining, a reducer, and a silica-containing material, and is essentially composed of: 29 to 40 percent by weight of Fe2O3; 15 to 20 percent by weight of Al2O3; 9 to 14 percent by weight of MgO; 0 to 4 percent by weight of Na2O; 9 to 17 percent by weight of Cr2O3; 14 to 20 percent by weight of SiO2; and 2 percent by weight or less of CaO. The fired spinel complex oxide shows a Cu—K? X-ray diffraction pattern in which the ratio (b/a) of the diffraction peak intensity of the silica-containing material (b) in the vicinity of 2?=26.7° to the {113} plane diffraction peak intensity (a) in the vicinity of 2?=36° is 0.1 or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to uses of glasses and glass-ceramics in dental and orthodontic applications.

Abstract: High-surface-area alumina honeycombs are subjected to a water vapor pre-treatment to obtain protection from cracking damage on subsequent exposure to aqueous media e.g., aqueous solutions for depositing catalysts on the honeycombs.

Abstract: A method of preparing beta-spodumene bodies from a plastic batch comprised entirely of minerals, absent a glass component. The resulting structure has a stoichiometry of 1:1:4 (Li2O:Al2O3:SiO2) to 1:1:11 (Li2O:Al2O3:SiO2), and exhibits a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high porosity and high strength, and is suitable for automotive catalytic converter substrates requiring a fast light-off time. There is also provided a ceramic article having a solid-solution of beta-spodumene ranging in molar ratio from 1:1:4 Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2 to 1:1:11 LiO2—Al2O3—SiO2 wherein a component selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide (MgO), manganese oxide (MnO), and cobalt oxide (CoO) is substituted for lithium oxide (LiO2) at 10 to 65 mole %, and optionally a minor phase of mullite (3Al2O3-2SiO2) in an amount of up to 50% by weight.

Abstract: A member used within a plasma processing apparatus and exposed to a plasma of a halogen gas such as BCl3 or Cl2 is formed from a sintered body of metals of Group IIIa of Periodic Table such as Y, La, Ce, Nd and Dy, and Al and/or Si, for example, 3Y2O3.5Al2O3, 2Y2O3.Al2O3, Y2O3.Al2O3 or disilicate or monosilicate, and in particular, in this sintered body, the content of impurity metals of Group IIa of Periodic Table contained in the sintered body is controlled to be 0.15 wt % or more in total. Specifically, for this member, an yttrium-aluminum-garnet sintered body having a porosity of 3% or less and also having a surface roughness of 1 ?m or less in center line average roughness Ra is utilized.

Abstract: A ceramic article is disclosed which contains aluminum, silicon, and titanium in a total amount of at least 99% by weight as reduced to the oxides (Al2O3+SiO2+TiO2) and assumes an acidic color in methyl red, an indicator of at least pKa+4.8. It can be used as a carried for a catalyst. This ceramic article is obtained by mixing an aluminum compound, a silicon compound, and a titanium compound and calcining the resultant mixture at a temperature in the range of 1,000°-2,000° C. A catalyst for preparing ethylene oxide is obtained by depositing silver and a reaction promoter on the ceramic carrier and ethylene oxide is obtained by oxidizing ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of the catalyst in vapor phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zirconia based sintered body excellent in durability, characterized in that in Y2O3-toughened zirconia based sintered body, (a) ZrO2 contained therein is mainly composed of tetragonal ZrO2, and the sintered body contains Y2O3 as a secondary component and further SiO2 and Al2O3 as a third component; (b) the sintered body has a molar ratio of Y2O3/ZrO2 in the range of 1.5/98.5 to 4/96; (c) the sintered body has a SiO2 content of 0.05 to 2.5 wt %; (d) the sintered body has a Al2O3 content of 0.05 to 3.0 wt %; (e) the sintered body has an average crystal grain diameter of 0.7 ?m or less; (f) SiO2 (wt %)×average crystal grain diameter (?m) takes a value ranging from 0.03 to 0.5; (g) the sintered body contains at least one oxide of Na2O, K2O, CaO and Fe2O3 as an impurity and a weight ratio of SiO2/(total amount of the impurity) is 5 or more; and (h) the sintered body has a bulk density of 5.

Abstract: Sintered, translucent ceramic microbeads, preferably alumina, titania, zirconia, yttria, zirconium phosphate, or yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) are doped with one or more optically active species. The beads may be added to substances such as explosives in order to create a distinctive optical signature that identifies a manufacturer, lot number, etc. in the event of the need for forensic analysis. Because the beads have a generally spherical surface, the radius of curvature provides an additional distinguishing characteristic by which a particular sample may be identified. The beads could also be formulated into paints if needed to create distinctive optical signatures for camouflage, decoys, or other countermeasures and could also be applied as a dust to track the movement of personnel, vehicles, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low temperature fired porcelain comprising crystalline phases including sanbornite, celsian and ?-cristobalite phases when measured by a high power X-ray diffractometer. The ratio of the peak intensity of (101) plane of ?-cristobalite phase to the peak intensity of (101) plane of sanbornite phase is not higher than 5%. The porcelain is of a low temperature fired porcelain of silica-alumina-barium oxide system with cristobalite phase precipitated, in which the incidence of cracks in the porcelain may be reduced.

Abstract: A process for producing roundish alumina particles includes heating at 1,000 to 1,600° C. a composition containing at least one of electrofused alumina and sintered alumina having a mean particle size greater than 35 ?m, and at least one species selected from the group consisting of a halogen compound, a boron compound and an alumina hydrate; and crushing the composition.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic article precursor and a process for preparing a dielectric ceramic article are presented. The ceramic article precursor comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite or an amorphous aluminosilicate, a zinc oxide additive and a glass phase. The ceramic article precursor can optionally contain at least one forming aid selected from binders, plasticizers and surfactants. The process for preparing a dielectric ceramic article involves forming a mixture from the above components into a shaped article such as a tape and then calcining the shaped article at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 1000° C. for a time of about 0.5 to about 24 hours.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductive zirconia sintering material comprising more than 2% by weight of aluminum oxide and sintered zirconia material derived therefrom as well as a method of producing the sintered material. The sintered semiconductive zirconia materials of the present invention have a better physical and mechanical properties than conventional sintered semiconductive zirconia materials.

Abstract: A mixture, in particular for the production of fireproof molded bodies, including a fireproof metal oxidic main component, and an elastifying component containing a mineral emery. If needed, a binder component such as lignin sulphonate is added. A method is provided for the production of the mixture.

Abstract: A ceramic metal halide discharge lamp may be made having a monolithic seal between a sapphire arc tube and a polycrystalline alumina cap. The lamp is made by providing an arc tube of fully dense sapphire and providing a cap made of unsintered compressed polycrystalline alumina doped with magnesium oxide and yttrium oxide. The cap is presintered to remove binder material at a low temperature. The presintered cap is placed on an end of the arc tube to form a close interface. The presintered cap and arc tube are then heated to until the cap is fully sintered onto the arc tube and the sapphire tube grows into the cap. A monolithic seal is formed along the interface as the sapphire grows into the polycrystalline alumina.

Abstract: A brick additive and methods for using the brick additive are disclosed. The additive may include an internal porosity. The internal porosity may display an intra-granular internal porosity in which at least some of the pores are interconnected via an open network of pore spaces. In some embodiments, the additive is capable of maintaining its internal porosity after undergoing thermal modification via calcination, for example. In addition, brick additives of the present invention may display a large surface area.

Abstract: A cordierite ceramic body having (i) a pore size distribution and a porosity which satisfy the relationship 10.2474/[(d50)2(pore fraction)]+0.0366183(d90)?0.00040119(d90)2+0.468815(1/pore fraction)2+0.0297715(d50)+1.61639(d50?d10)/d50?3.65, and (ii) a CTE (25°-800° C.) of ?15×10?7/° C., wherein the cordierite ceramic body is produced from a moldable mixture comprising cordierite-forming raw materials including (a) a fine talc having a median particle diameter, as measured by laser diffraction, of less than 10 micrometers, and a B.E.T. specific surface area of greater than 5 m2/g, and (b) a pore former. The cordierite ceramic body is suitable in the fabrication of cellular, wall-flow diesel particulate filters having a low pressure drop, high filtration efficiency and improved strength.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a mullite-aluminum titanate porous diesel particulate filter constituting a porous ceramic body containing, expressed in terms of weight percent of the total body, of 60-90%, preferably 70-80%, most preferably 70% iron-aluminum titanate solid solution having a stoichiometry of Al2(1?x)Fe2xTiO5, where x is 0-0.1, and 10-40%, preferably 20-30%, most preferably 30% mullite (3Al2O3.2SiO2), and consists essentially, expressed in terms of weigh percent on the oxide basis, of 3 to 15% SiO2, 55 to 65% Al2O3, 22 to 40% TiO2, and 0 to 10% Fe2O3, and being useful for filtration of diesel exhaust. The inventive diesel particulate filter exhibits high interconnected open porosity and large median pore size, in combination with high permeability when fired to a temperature of between 1650° to 1700° C., along with high thermal shock resistance and good filtration capability.

Abstract: A transparent polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramic is described wherein the ceramic is colorless and transparent in both as-sintered and post-sinter, air-fired states which makes it highly desirable for lamp applications. The transparent YAG ceramic is co-doped with an amount of MgO and an amount of ZrO2 wherein the weight ratio of MgO to ZrO2 is from about 1.5:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of technical ceramics and specifically relates to a method of synthesis for aluminum oxides of different crystalline structure and to the products obtained by the method. The aim of the invention is to provide a method of producing redispersible nanoparticulate corundum and nanoporous Al2O3 sintered products, the method using precursors and being viable on a commercial scale. To this aim, inter alia, a method of producing redispersible nanoparticulate corundum of an average particle size of D50<100 nm is used which method includes the addition of crystal nuclei. According to the method, organic or chlorine-free inorganic precursors are dissolved or processed to a sol and hydrolyzed. The substance is then dried and calcinated at temperatures of between 350 and 650° C. and is then further heated by increasing the temperature to ?950° C.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure constituted by cell partition walls (ribs) which form combined cells being composed of a plurality of cells adjacent to each other, and a honeycomb outer wall surrounding and holding outermost cells located at the circumference of combined cells, characterized in that cell partition walls and the honeycomb outer wall are formed by a bonded texture containing silicon carbide (SiC) as an aggregate and cordierite as a binder, and that the proportion (volume %) of silidon carbide (SiC) forming the bonded texture to the total of cordierite and silicon carbide (SiC) is 40 to 90%. This honeycomb structure can exceed required levels, in all of thermal conductivity, chemical durability, low thermal expansion and mechanical strength, producible at a low cost, and suitably used in a filter for purification of automobile exhaust gas, a catalyst carrier, etc.

Abstract: A metal oxide ceramic material such as alumina or chromia which has been rendered electrically conductive through its thickness by the incorporation of silver into the material. The metal oxide ceramic material may be in the form of a layer on a substrate such as a bipolar plate or other component for a fuel cell assembly. The electrical conductivity may be achieved by heating the ceramic material and a silver-containing material in contact with each other to at least 750° C. such that silver migrates from the silver-containing material the metal oxide ceramic material and creates electrically conductive pathways through the ceramic material.

Abstract: A method for producing an &agr;-alumina particulate is described.

Abstract: A material usable for the electrodes and the dielectric layer plasma display panels and capable of reducing the occurrence of yellowing and a high-image-quality plasma display panel using the material are provided. Using glass powder containing 25 to 50 wt % of Bi2O3, 5 to 35 wt % of B2O3, 10 to 20 wt % of ZnO, 5 to 20 wt % of BaO, 0 to 15 wt % of SiO2 and 0 to 10 wt % of Al2O3, the electrodes and the dielectric layer of a plasma display panel are formed.

Abstract: An oxide ceramic material is provided to contain aluminum oxide as a principal component, and at least one selected from A and B shown below as an auxiliary component:

Abstract: Ceramics comprising filler crystal particles having an average particle diameter of not smaller than 2.5 &mgr;m and a matrix crystal phase present on the grain boundaries of the filler crystal particles, the filler crystal particles being Al2O3 and the matrix crystal phase being diopside-type oxide crystals precipitated from the crystallized glass. The ceramics has a dielectric loss tangent at 60 to 77 GHz of not higher than 50×10−4, and can be effectively used as an insulating substrate in a wiring board for transmitting high-frequency signals.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to injectable heat generating biocompatible ceramic compositions based on hydraulic calcium aluminate, which can be used for therapeutic treatment in vivo, such as tumour treatment, pain control, vascular treatment, drug activation etc, when curing in situ, and which form a biocompatible solid material that can be left in the body for prolonged periods of time without causing negative health effects. The present invention can also be used to restore the mechanical properties of the skeleton after cancerous diseases.