A force-transmitting assembly includes a metal shaft having at least two longitudinally-extending grooves defined in an outer surface, and a metal hub having at least two longitudinally-extending grooves defined in an inner surface that surrounds the outer surface of the shaft. A plurality of discrete parts is disposed in the at least two longitudinally-extending grooves of the shaft and the hub in an interference-fit manner so as to transmit a torque from the shaft to the hub. Each of the discrete parts is composed of at least 50 mass % of technical ceramic selected from Si.sub.3N.sub.4, SiAlON, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, or a mixture of two or more of Si.sub.3N.sub.4, SiAlON, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and ZrO.sub.2.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

A method of making a β-SiAlON is described in involves mixing nanoparticles of AlN, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2 with particles of Si.sub.3N.sub.4 and spark plasma sintering the mixture. The sintering may be at a temperature of 1450-1600° C. or about 1500° C. The particles of Si.sub.3N.sub.4 may be nanoparticles comprising amorphous Si.sub.3N.sub.4, or 25-55 μm diameter microparticles comprising β-Si.sub.3N.sub.4.

A method of making a β-SiAlON is described in involves mixing nanoparticles of AlN, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2 with particles of Si.sub.3N.sub.4 and spark plasma sintering the mixture. The sintering may be at a temperature of 1450-1600° C. or about 1500° C. The particles of Si.sub.3N.sub.4 may be nanoparticles comprising amorphous Si.sub.3N.sub.4, or 25-55 μm diameter microparticles comprising β-Si.sub.3N.sub.4.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a transparent ceramic material. The method comprises providing a compact comprising a metal oxide and, during sintering, exposing the compact to a vapor comprising one of or both fluorine ions and lithium ions to form a transparent ceramic material comprising at least 90% of a theoretical transparency.

Antiballistic armour plate includes a ceramic body including a hard material, provided, on its inner face, with a back energy-dissipating coating. The ceramic body is monolithic. The constituent material of the ceramic body includes grains of ceramic material having a Vickers hardness that is higher than 15 GPa, and a matrix binding the grains, the matrix including a silicon nitride phase and/or a silicon oxynitride phase, the matrix representing between 5 and 40% by weight of the constituent material of the ceramic body. The maximum equivalent diameter of the grains of ceramic material is smaller than or equal to 800 micrometres. The constituent material of the ceramic body has an open porosity that is higher than 5% and lower than 14%. The metallic silicon content in the material, expressed per mm of thickness of the body, is lower than 0.5% by weight.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to nanocomposite radome materials incorporating boron nitride materials in a polymer derived ceramic matrix. In another aspect, the nanocomposite radome materials have superior electrochemical performance, excellent mechanical strength and stability, corrosion resistance and transparency to electromagnetic radiation, methods of making the same, and articles and components incorporating the same. In one aspect, the nanocomposite radome materials retain functionality in the presence of significant amounts of moisture. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A sintered body includes a crystal grain containing silicon nitride, and a grain boundary phase. If dielectric losses of the sintered body are measured while applying an alternating voltage to the sintered body and continuously changing a frequency of the alternating voltage from 50 Hz to 1 MHz, an average value ε.sub.A of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 800 kHz to 1 MHz and an average value ε.sub.B of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 100 Hz to 200 Hz satisfy an expression |ε.sub.A−ε.sub.B|≤0.1.

A sintered body includes a crystal grain containing silicon nitride, and a grain boundary phase. If dielectric losses of the sintered body are measured while applying an alternating voltage to the sintered body and continuously changing a frequency of the alternating voltage from 50 Hz to 1 MHz, an average value ε.sub.A of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 800 kHz to 1 MHz and an average value ε.sub.B of dielectric losses of the sintered body in a frequency band from 100 Hz to 200 Hz satisfy an expression |ε.sub.A−ε.sub.B|≤0.1.