A low-temperature co-fired microwave dielectric ceramic material includes: (a) 85 wt % to 99 wt % ceramic material comprising Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4, Ca.sub.2SiO.sub.4, CaTiO.sub.3, and CaZrO.sub.3, wherein a weight ratio of Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4 relative to Ca.sub.2SiO.sub.4 is of (1x):x, a weight ratio of CaTiO.sub.3 relative to CaZrO.sub.3 is of y:z, and a weight ratio of entities of Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4 and Ca.sub.2SiO.sub.4 relative to CaTiO.sub.3 is of (1yz):y, 0.2x0.7, 0.05y0.2, 0.05z0.4; and (b) 1 wt % to 15 wt % glass material composed of Li.sub.2O, BaO, SrO, CaO, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2.

A low-temperature co-fired microwave dielectric ceramic material includes: (a) 85 wt % to 99 wt % ceramic material comprising Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4, Ca.sub.2SiO.sub.4, CaTiO.sub.3, and CaZrO.sub.3, wherein a weight ratio of Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4 relative to Ca.sub.2SiO.sub.4 is of (1x):x, a weight ratio of CaTiO.sub.3 relative to CaZrO.sub.3 is of y:z, and a weight ratio of entities of Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4 and Ca.sub.2SiO.sub.4 relative to CaTiO.sub.3 is of (1yz):y, 0.2x0.7, 0.05y0.2, 0.05z0.4; and (b) 1 wt % to 15 wt % glass material composed of Li.sub.2O, BaO, SrO, CaO, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2.

The present disclosure relates to a porous ceramic media that may include a chemical composition, a phase composition, a total open porosity content of at least about 10 vol. % and not greater than about 70 vol. % as a percentage of the total volume of the ceramic media, and a nitric acid resistance parameter of not greater than about 500 ppm. The chemical composition for the porous ceramic media may include SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, an alkali component and a secondary metal oxide component selected from the group consisting of an Fe oxide, a Ti oxide, a Ca oxide, a Mg oxide and combinations thereof. The phase composition may include an amorphous silicate, quartz and mullite.

The present disclosure relates to a porous ceramic media that may include a chemical composition, a phase composition, a total open porosity content of at least about 10 vol. % and not greater than about 70 vol. % as a percentage of the total volume of the ceramic media, and a nitric acid resistance parameter of not greater than about 500 ppm. The chemical composition for the porous ceramic media may include SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, an alkali component and a secondary metal oxide component selected from the group consisting of an Fe oxide, a Ti oxide, a Ca oxide, a Mg oxide and combinations thereof. The phase composition may include an amorphous silicate, quartz and mullite.

A composite material comprising 50 to 95 mass % grains of primary material selected from the group consisting of talc, mica, graphite and hexagonal boron nitride, and 0.01 to 40 mass % fibers having a length of 0.05 to 20 mm, and a ratio of length to diameter of at least 5. The grains of the primary material have a mean size of 3 to 50 microns.

A composite material comprising 50 to 95 mass % grains of primary material selected from the group consisting of talc, mica, graphite and hexagonal boron nitride, and 0.01 to 40 mass % fibers having a length of 0.05 to 20 mm, and a ratio of length to diameter of at least 5. The grains of the primary material have a mean size of 3 to 50 microns.

This invention relates to three-dimensional printing. This invention in particularly relates to a system for drying a paste-based crafting medium during three-dimensional printing and a method thereof. The system can comprise a dual printhead comprising a first dispensing nozzle for depositing the filament material for a mold layer in a flowable fluid form and a second dispensing nozzle for depositing the crafting medium, which is in a paste form. The system also includes a drying means which can be a heating system or a drying apparatus, that in some embodiments can be attached to the printhead. The three-dimensional imaging process for making objects, preferably metal objects or ceramic objects, on a layer-by-layer basis under the control of a data processing system is disclosed. The drying of the object or mold is crucial in the three-dimensional imaging process because it can affect the overall quality of the object. A solution to this problem is achieved in the present invention by using a drying step after finishing each layer of the object (both mold and paste). This is achieved in some embodiments by using a drying apparatus comprising a radiating heater and air circulation fan mounted on to the moving print head. The print head can repeatedly scan the printed layer and apply heat and air circulation to improve drying in a controlled manner. This system and method provides improved evenness in the drying and reduces the risk of cracks developing in the deposited object, and also reduces the risk of further problems during the subsequent processing steps to provide the finished object.

This invention relates to three-dimensional printing. This invention in particularly relates to a method of fabricating a three-dimensional object using a support edifice and also using a mold material with structural additives. The support edifice is fabricated in the same crafting material as the final three-dimensional object in the same manner as the printing of the final three-dimensional object (mold and crafting in a layer by layer manner). This method enables the support edifice to also transform during post processing in the same manner as the final three-dimensional object, thus supporting the object until finished. The system for fabricating the object comprises a dual printhead comprising a first dispensing nozzle for depositing the filament material in a flowable fluid form and a second dispensing nozzle for depositing the crafting medium, which is in a paste form. The printhead can also include a heating system or a drying apparatus. The three-dimensional imaging process for making objects, preferably metal objects or ceramic objects, on a layer-by-layer basis under the control of a data processing system is disclosed. The printing of the three-dimensional object such as heavy objects or an object having different parts having a very thin gap or space. It is important to use different processing steps and/or material to print such three-dimensional objects. The present invention provides a solution by printing a support edifice comprising a special structural additive for the mold, and further the support edifice can be printed simultaneously while printing the mold and crafting-paste material on a layer-by-layer basis. The mold material is mixed with the structural additive. The structural additive is useful for prohibiting either fusing of the object with the support edifice, or in alternative embodiments, the fusing of one part of an object with another part of an object.

The invention relates to a method for producing a ceramic proppant, including a step for preparing an original charge material, involving the grinding of source materials, particularly magnesium-containing materials, and auxiliary materials, thus producing a charge material, granulating the charge material so as to produce granules of a proppant precursor, and firing the granules of proppant precursor, thus producing proppant granules, wherein the method includes a step for pre-firing the magnesium-containing material in a reducing atmosphere. The invention also relates to a ceramic proppant produced via the indicated method.

The invention relates to a method for producing a ceramic proppant, including a step for preparing an original charge material, involving the grinding of source materials, particularly magnesium-containing materials, and auxiliary materials, thus producing a charge material, granulating the charge material so as to produce granules of a proppant precursor, and firing the granules of proppant precursor, thus producing proppant granules, wherein the method includes a step for pre-firing the magnesium-containing material in a reducing atmosphere. The invention also relates to a ceramic proppant produced via the indicated method.