Particulate compositions including cores, binders, and powders are provided. Also provided are methods for producing particulate compositions, and methods for using particulate compositions.

A method is provided for producing an article which is transparent to near-wave IR, mid-wave and Long-wave multi-spectral and IR wavelength in the region of 0.4 μm to 16 μm. The method includes the steps of (a) Producing ultra-fine powder of CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4 via SPLTS process, (b) followed by pretreatment of the ultra-fine powder under inert and reducing gas conditions including H.sub.2 or Argon or N.sub.2 or H.sub.2/H.sub.2S, H.sub.2S, and mixtures there of (c) followed by sieving the powder in 140 mesh screen and cold pressing the powder at 7000 psi for 7 min. into a disk shaped green body (d) then Cold-Isostatic Pressing (CIP) at 40,000 psi for 5 min in a rubber mold (e) finally sintered article of CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4 disk of 25.4 mm diameter with ultra-high density containing cubic phase of CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4 to yield IR transmission of a peak value of 57% within the IR wavelength range of 2 μm to 16 μm, either by using microwave sintering followed by hot isostatic press or spark plasma sintering followed by hot isostatic press or vacuum sintering at (3×10.sup.−6 torr) followed by hot isostatic press or hot press sintering followed by hot isostatic press and finally followed by mirror polished IR article, is obtained.

A method of manufacturing a wafer mounting table according to an embodiment includes: (a) a step of loading a ceramic slurry containing a ceramic powder and a gelling agent into opening portions of a metal mesh, inducing a chemical reaction of the gelling agent to gelate the ceramic slurry, and then performing degreasing and calcining to prepare a ceramic-loaded mesh; (b) a step of sandwiching the ceramic-loaded mesh between a first ceramic calcined body and a second ceramic calcined body obtained by calcining after mold cast forming so as to prepare a multilayer body; and (c) a step of hot press firing the multilayer body to prepare the wafer-receiving table.

A method of manufacturing a wafer mounting table according to an embodiment includes: (a) a step of loading a ceramic slurry containing a ceramic powder and a gelling agent into opening portions of a metal mesh, inducing a chemical reaction of the gelling agent to gelate the ceramic slurry, and then performing degreasing and calcining to prepare a ceramic-loaded mesh; (b) a step of sandwiching the ceramic-loaded mesh between a first ceramic calcined body and a second ceramic calcined body obtained by calcining after mold cast forming so as to prepare a multilayer body; and (c) a step of hot press firing the multilayer body to prepare the wafer-receiving table.

A method of fabricating a part out of composite material, includes forming a fiber texture from refractory fibers; impregnating the fiber texture for a first time with a first slip containing first refractory particles; eliminating the liquid phase from the first slip so as to leave within the texture only the first refractory particles; impregnating the fiber texture for a second time with a second slip containing second refractory particles; eliminating the liquid phase from the second slip so as to leave within the texture only the second refractory particles and obtain a fiber preform filled with the first and second refractory particles; and sintering the first and second refractory particles present in the fiber preform in order to form a refractory matrix in the preform.

A press die for producing a clay roof tile, including a first die half and a second die half, which can move between a pressing position, in which they define a receiving space that represents the form of the finished roof tile, and a filling position, in which they are mutually spaced and the receiving space can be filled with a plastically deformable clay material. At least one of the first and the second die half has at least one depression which represents a projecting part of the finished roof tile; a first compression element is provided at the depression, and movable between an initial position, in which it is retracted in relation to the form of the finished roof tile, and a compacting position, in which some sections of the first compression element represent the surface of the finished roof tile.

An exterior panel is formed of superplastic materials, including an exterior skin of titanium to accommodate high thermal stresses imposed on hypersonic transport vehicles during hypersonic flight. The exterior skin is fixed to an underlying reinforcing skeletal structure consisting of a superplastic formable reinforcement (SFR) layer, for example a titanium, zirconium, and molybdenum (TZM) alloy, which supports the exterior skin whenever the latter may be heated to temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. The exterior panel includes a separate interior skin configured for attachment to a frame member such as a rib, stringer, or spar of the hypersonic transport vehicle. A multicellular core is sandwiched between the exterior and interior skins to impart tensile and compressive strength to the exterior panel. In one disclosed method, the core is superplastic formed and diffusion bonded to the exterior and interior skins.

An exterior panel is formed of superplastic materials, including an exterior skin of titanium to accommodate high thermal stresses imposed on hypersonic transport vehicles during hypersonic flight. The exterior skin is fixed to an underlying reinforcing skeletal structure consisting of a superplastic formable reinforcement (SFR) layer, for example a titanium, zirconium, and molybdenum (TZM) alloy, which supports the exterior skin whenever the latter may be heated to temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. The exterior panel includes a separate interior skin configured for attachment to a frame member such as a rib, stringer, or spar of the hypersonic transport vehicle. A multicellular core is sandwiched between the exterior and interior skins to impart tensile and compressive strength to the exterior panel. In one disclosed method, the core is superplastic formed and diffusion bonded to the exterior and interior skins.

The present invention provides a welding tool member for friction stir welding comprising a silicon nitride sintered body, wherein the silicon nitride sintered body includes an additive component other than silicon nitride in a content of 15% by mass or less, and the additive component includes three or more elements selected from Y, Al, Mg, Si, Ti, Hf, Mo and C. It is preferable that the content of the additive component is 3% by mass or more and 12.5% by mass or less. It is also preferable that the additive component includes four or more elements selected from Y, Al, Mg, Si, Ti, Hf, Mo and C. Due to above structure, there can be provided a welding tool member for friction stir welding having a high durability.

There is provided an apparatus and process for manufacturing a brick or paver with a high content of coal ash (ranging from 60% to 100% coal ash or fly ash) so that a waste product (coal ash, and more particularly Class F coal ash) from a coal-fired power plant is incorporated into a building product (high content fly ash brick or paver). Also provided is a variable firing tray to support the dried, high content coal ash bricks/pavers as the dried products are sent through a tunnel kiln, to improve circulation around the individual bricks/pavers and thereby result in reduced firing time in the kiln.