A ceramic honeycomb structure comprising large numbers of cells partitioned by porous cell walls, the cell walls having (a) porosity of 50-80%, and when measured by mercury porosimetry, (b) a median pore diameter being 25-50 μm, (c) (i) a cumulative pore volume in a pore diameter range of 20 μm or less being 25% or less of the total pore volume, (ii) a cumulative pore volume in a pore diameter range of more than 20 μm and 50 μm or less being 50% or more of the total pore volume, and (iii) a cumulative pore volume in a pore diameter range of more than 50 μm being 12% or more of the total pore volume.

A ceramic precursor batch composition comprising inorganic ceramic-forming ingredients, a binder, an aqueous solvent and a heteroatom polyol agent. The heteroatom polyol agent can be represented by X(R) where X is at least one of S, N, and P, and R is at least two of CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.2(CHOH)CH.sub.3, C(CH.sub.2OH).sub.1-3, CH.sub.2OH, CH(CH.sub.2OH)CHOH, C(O)(CHOH).sub.1-4CH.sub.2OH, and CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OCH.sub.3. The presence of the heteroatom polyol agent provides a composition with a lower viscosity and/or a greater batch stiffening temperature (T.sub.onset) allowing for increased rates of extrusion. Methods for producing a ceramic honeycomb body using this ceramic precursor batch composition are also provided.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional macroporous filament construct having interconnected microporous filaments showing a suitable surface roughness and microporosity. The method includes the steps of: a) preparing a suspension having particles of a predetermined material, a liquid solvent, one or more binders and optionally one or more dispersants, b) depositing the suspension in the form of filaments in a predetermined three-dimensional pattern, preferably in a non-solvent environment, thereby creating a three-dimensional filament-based porous structure, c) inducing phase inversion, whereby said filaments are transformed from a liquid to a solid state, by exposing the filaments during the deposition of the filaments with a non-solvent vapour and to a liquid non-solvent, d) thermally treating the structure of step d) by calcining and sintering the structure. The invention further provides a three-dimensional macroporous filament construct having interconnected microporous filaments showing a specific surface roughness and microporosity. The invention also relates to various uses of the construct, including its use for the manufacture of a biomedical product, such as a synthetic bone implant or bone graft.

Disclosed herein are methods for preparing a titanate compound powder comprising titanate compound particles having a controlled particle size and/or particle size distribution. The methods include mixing at least one first inorganic compound chosen from sources of a first metal or metal oxide, at least one second inorganic compound chosen from sources of titania, and at least one binder to form a mixture; calcining the mixture to form a polycrystalline material comprising a plurality of titanate compound grains and a plurality of micro-cracks; and breaking the polycrystalline material along at least a portion of the microcracks. Also disclosed are titanate compound powders having a controlled particle size distribution, ceramic batch compositions comprising the powders, and ceramic articles prepared from the batch compositions.

A method of forming a structure comprising a continuous fiber material comprises continuously feeding, through a continuous fiber nozzle assembly of an additive manufacturing tool, a feed material comprising a continuous fiber material and a thermoset resin material, heating or cooling the feed material to maintain a temperature of the feed material to a temperature sufficient to tackify the feed material and at least partially cure the feed material and initiate adhesion of the feed material on a build platform or a previously formed portion of a structure, and moving the continuous fiber nozzle assembly in three dimensions while depositing the feed material on the build platform or the previously formed portion of the structure to form the structure comprising the continuous fiber material extending in three dimensions. Related methods of forming a composite structure, and related tools for additively manufacturing a structure are disclosed.

A method for producing a waterproof and ion-conducting flexible membrane intended for protecting a metal electrode. It comprises a synthesis by electrically assisted extrusion of compact fibers forming an ion-conducting fiber array comprising a first material. The fiber array defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Subsequently, the fiber array is impregnated with a polymer of a second material, to form a metal electrode protection membrane. The fiber array forms paths for conducting ions between the first surface and the second surface and through the second material. The first surface is intended to be in contact with the metal electrode.

The honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure body and a pair of electrode members disposed on a side surface of the honeycomb structure body, each of the pair of electrode members is shaped in the form of a band extending in a cell extending direction, and in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of cells, one electrode member is disposed on a side opposite to the other electrode member via a center of the honeycomb structure body, one or more slits opened in the side surface are formed in the honeycomb structure body, the honeycomb structure body has a charging material charged into the at least one slit, the charging material contains aggregates and a neck material, and a ratio (α2/α1) of a thermal expansion coefficient α2 of the charging material to a thermal expansion coefficient α1 of the honeycomb structure body is from 0.6 to 1.5.

Ultra-high temperature carbide (UHTC) foams and methods of fabricating and using the same are provided. The UHTC foams are produced in a three-step process, including UHTC slurry preparation, freeze-drying, and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The fabrication methods allow for the production of any kind of single- or multi-component UHTC foam, while also providing flexibility in the shape and size of the UHTC foams to produce near-net-shape components.

A process for the preparation of a membrane electrode assembly comprising providing, in the following layer order, (I) a green supporting electrode layer comprising a composite of a mixed metal oxide and Ni oxide; (IV) a green mixed metal oxide membrane layer; and (V) a green second electrode layer comprising a composite of a mixed metal oxide and Ni oxide; and sintering all three layers simultaneously.

A honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb segment bonded member including; a plurality of prismatic columnar shaped honeycomb segments; and a bonding layer bonding the segments, wherein one honeycomb segment has a bulge on one side face, extending in an axial direction, another honeycomb segment has a recess on one side face, extending in the axial direction, the one honeycomb segment and the another are disposed adjacent and bonded to each other via the bonding layer with the bulge inserted in the recess, length of the bulge is smaller than length of the one side face of the one honeycomb segment, length of the recess is smaller than length of the one side face of the another honeycomb segment, a base part of the bulge is defined with a bent side face, an angle between an imaginary bottom face and the bent side face of the bulge being 60° or more.