A method is provided for producing an article which is transparent to IR wavelength in the region of 4 μm to 9 μm. The method includes the steps of (a) Producing ultra-fine powders of ZnS, (b) followed by pretreatment of the ultra-fine powders under reduced gas conditions including H2, H2S, N2, Ar and mixtures there of (c) followed by vacuum (3×10.sup.−6 torr) treatment to remove oxygen and sulfates adsorbed to the surface disposing a plurality of nano-particles on a substrate, wherein said nanoparticles comprise ZnS with ultra-high purity of cubic phase; (b) subjecting the nano-particles to spark plasma sintering thereby producing a sintered ZnS product with IR transmission reaching 75% in the wavelength range of 4 μm to 9 μm.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an osseointegrative implant and related tools, components and fabrication techniques for surgical bone fixation and dental restoration purposes. In one embodiment an all-ceramic single-stage threaded or press-fit implant is provided having finely detailed surface features formed by ceramic injection molding and/or spark plasma sintering of a powder compact or green body comprising finely powdered zirconia. In another embodiment a two-stage threaded implant is provided having an exterior shell or body formed substantially entirely of ceramic and/or CNT-reinforced ceramic composite material. The implant may include one or more frictionally anisotropic bone-engaging surfaces. In another embodiment a densely sintered ceramic implant is provided wherein, prior to sintering, the porous debound green body is exposed to ions and/or particles of silver, gold, titanium, zirconia, YSZ, α-tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, carbon, carbon nanotubes, and/or other particles which remain lodged in the implant surface after sintering. Optionally, at least the supragingival portions of an all-ceramic implant are configured to have high translucence in the visible light range. Optionally, at least the bone-engaging portions of an all-ceramic implant are coated with a fused layer of titanium oxide.

The present disclosure is directed to a rapid process for the preparation of gadolinium oxysulfide having a general formula of Gd.sub.2O.sub.2S, referred to as GOS, scintillation ceramics by using the combination of spark plasma primary sintering (SPS) and hot isostatic pressing secondary sintering.

A tool holder comprising a base element, a deformable receiver for clamping a tool and at least one locking element configured for preventing an axial extraction of the tool from the tool holder through engaging a corresponding opposite element at the tool, wherein the at least one locking element is integrally configured in one piece with the receiver.

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 pm 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.

The invention relates to a process of manufacturing a dental milling block with a homogeneous color and/or translucency gradient. This process comprises the steps of providing a mold with a cavity having a z-direction and an x/y-direction, filling the cavity partially with a first powder up to a height H1, the first powder having a volume VP1 with a top and bottom surface, introducing a second powder on top of the first powder up to a height H2, the second powder having a volume VP2 with a top and bottom surface and, the top surface of the first powder being in contact with the bottom surface of the second powder and forming an intermediate region, providing a mixer unit with at least one rotatable mixing element, introducing the rotating mixing element in z-direction into the intermediate region, mixing the powder located in the intermediate region by rotating the mixing element, removing the rotating mixing element from the powder, compacting the powder, optionally applying heat to the compacted powder, the first powder differing from the second powder by its physical properties and/or chemical composition and/or color. The invention also relates to a process of producing a dental restoration using dental milling block obtainable according to this process.

The invention relates to a process of manufacturing a dental milling block with a homogeneous color and/or translucency gradient. This process comprises the steps of providing a mold with a cavity having a z-direction and an x/y-direction, filling the cavity partially with a first powder up to a height H1, the first powder having a volume VP1 with a top and bottom surface, introducing a second powder on top of the first powder up to a height H2, the second powder having a volume VP2 with a top and bottom surface and, the top surface of the first powder being in contact with the bottom surface of the second powder and forming an intermediate region, providing a mixer unit with at least one rotatable mixing element, introducing the rotating mixing element in z-direction into the intermediate region, mixing the powder located in the intermediate region by rotating the mixing element, removing the rotating mixing element from the powder, compacting the powder, optionally applying heat to the compacted powder, the first powder differing from the second powder by its physical properties and/or chemical composition and/or color. The invention also relates to a process of producing a dental restoration using dental milling block obtainable according to this process.

A cBN sintered compact comprising a cubic boron nitride and a ceramic binder phase, wherein a cubic C-containing Ta compound in an amount of 1.0 to 15.0 vol % is dispersed in the ceramic binder phase and has a mean particle diameter of 50 to 500 nm.

A cBN sintered compact comprising a cubic boron nitride and a ceramic binder phase, wherein a cubic C-containing Ta compound in an amount of 1.0 to 15.0 vol % is dispersed in the ceramic binder phase and has a mean particle diameter of 50 to 500 nm.

A high toughness inorganic composite artificial stone panel and preparation method are disclosed. The panel includes a surface layer, an intermediate metal fiber toughening layer and a substrate toughening layer. The surface layer includes the following components: 40-70 parts of quartz sand, 10-30 parts of quartz powder, 20-45 parts of inorganic active powder, 0.5-4 parts of pigment, 0.3-1 part of water reducer and 3-10 parts of water. The intermediate metal fiber toughening layer includes the following components: 40-60 parts of inorganic active powder, 45-65 parts of sand, 0.8-1.5 parts of water reducer, 6-14 parts of water and 4-8 parts of metal fiber. The substrate toughening layer includes the following components: 30-50 parts of inorganic active powder, 30-55 parts of quartz sand, 15-20 parts of quartz powder, 0.5-1.2 parts of water reducer, 4-8 parts of water and 0.8-2.5 parts of toughening agent.