A ceramic body is provided that is suitable for use in dental applications to provide a natural aesthetic appearance. A colorized ceramic body is formed that has at least one color region and a color gradient region. A ceramic body is formed having at least two color regions and a color gradient that forms a transition region between two color regions. A method for making the colorized ceramic body includes unidirectional infiltration of a coloring composition into the ceramic body.

A method for etching a light absorbing material permits directly writing a pattern of etching of silicon nitride and other light absorbing materials, without the need of a lithographic mask, and allows the creation of etched features of less than one micron in size. The method can be used for etching deposited silicon nitride films, freestanding silicon nitride membranes, and other light absorbing materials, with control over the thickness achieved by optical feedback. The etching is promoted by solvents including electron donor species, such as chloride ions. The method provides the ability to etch silicon nitride and other light absorbing materials, with fine spatial and etch rate control, in mild conditions, including in a biocompatible environment. The method can be used to create nanopores and nanopore arrays.

A method for etching a light absorbing material permits directly writing a pattern of etching of silicon nitride and other light absorbing materials, without the need of a lithographic mask, and allows the creation of etched features of less than one micron in size. The method can be used for etching deposited silicon nitride films, freestanding silicon nitride membranes, and other light absorbing materials, with control over the thickness achieved by optical feedback. The etching is promoted by solvents including electron donor species, such as chloride ions. The method provides the ability to etch silicon nitride and other light absorbing materials, with fine spatial and etch rate control, in mild conditions, including in a biocompatible environment. The method can be used to create nanopores and nanopore arrays.

A method for masking the appearance of a support structure underlying a highly translucent ceramic dental restoration s provided. The porous form of a zirconia ceramic dental restoration is treated with a liquid masking composition comprising 0.4 wt % to 50 wt % of one or more masking agents. The masking composition is applied to the internal surface of a restoration and a region of the facial surface of the restoration that is opposite the internal surface. After application of the masking compositions, treated zirconia restoration is sintered to greater than 98% theoretical density.

A method for masking the appearance of a support structure underlying a highly translucent ceramic dental restoration s provided. The porous form of a zirconia ceramic dental restoration is treated with a liquid masking composition comprising 0.4 wt % to 50 wt % of one or more masking agents. The masking composition is applied to the internal surface of a restoration and a region of the facial surface of the restoration that is opposite the internal surface. After application of the masking compositions, treated zirconia restoration is sintered to greater than 98% theoretical density.

The present disclosure provides a method for coating a composite structure, comprising forming a first slurry by combining a first pre-slurry composition with a first carrier fluid, applying the first slurry on a surface of the composite structure, and heating the composite structure to a temperature sufficient to form a base layer on the composite structure. The first pre-slurry composition may comprise a first phosphate glass composition and a low coefficient of thermal expansion material, wherein the low coefficient of thermal expansion material is a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10×10.sup.−6° C.

The present disclosure provides a method for coating a composite structure, comprising forming a first slurry by combining a first pre-slurry composition with a first carrier fluid, applying the first slurry on a surface of the composite structure, and heating the composite structure to a temperature sufficient to form a base layer on the composite structure. The first pre-slurry composition may comprise a first phosphate glass composition and a low coefficient of thermal expansion material, wherein the low coefficient of thermal expansion material is a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10×10.sup.−6° C.

The present disclosure provides a method for coating a composite structure, comprising forming a first slurry by combining a first pre-slurry composition with a first carrier fluid, applying the first slurry on a surface of the composite structure, and heating the composite structure to a temperature sufficient to form a base layer on the composite structure. The first pre-slurry composition may comprise a first phosphate glass composition and a low coefficient of thermal expansion material, wherein the low coefficient of thermal expansion material is a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10×10.sup.−6° C.

The present disclosure provides a method for coating a composite structure, comprising forming a first slurry by combining a first pre-slurry composition with a first carrier fluid, applying the first slurry on a surface of the composite structure, and heating the composite structure to a temperature sufficient to form a base layer on the composite structure. The first pre-slurry composition may comprise a first phosphate glass composition and a low coefficient of thermal expansion material, wherein the low coefficient of thermal expansion material is a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10×10.sup.−6° C.

The present invention relates to a method for impregnating concrete with a non-aqueous electrolyte characterized in that an electric field is applied between electrodes mounted on the concrete surface and/or embedded in the concrete such that the non-aqueous electrolyte migrates into the concrete. Preferably, lithium ions are dissolved in the non-aqueous electrolyte.