A method for coating a carbon fiber for a composite structure may comprise applying a slurry onto a surface of the carbon fiber, wherein the slurry is a sol gel comprising a metal precursor and a carrier fluid, and heating the carbon fiber to a temperature sufficient to form a sol gel-derived layer on the carbon fiber. The slurry may comprise a metal precursor such as a metal salt or a metal alkoxide. The sol gel-derived layer may help prevent the carbon fiber from oxidizing.

Shaded, zirconia ceramic materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in dental applications. Ceramic bodies are made from a zirconia-containing ceramic material and a coloring composition comprising a terbium (Tb)-containing component and a chromium (Cr)-containing component as a coloring agent. The pre-shaded ceramic body is machinable into a dental restoration either as a bisque body or sintered body. A pre-shaded machinable sintered ceramic body may obviate the need for further processing steps, such as shading or sintering, and may be suitable for use in chair-side machining applications, such as in a dentist's office, significantly reducing the time to create a custom finished product.

A complex composite particle is made of a coal dust and binder composite that is pyrolyzed. Constituent portions of the composite react together causing the particles to increase in density and reduce in size during pyrolyzation, yielding a particle suitable for use as a proppant or in a composite structure.

The present disclosure relates to the field of ceramics, and discloses a metal-based aluminum nitride composite material. The composite material includes an aluminum nitride ceramic skeleton and a metal filling at least part of pores of the aluminum nitride ceramic skeleton. The aluminum nitride ceramic skeleton contains aluminum nitride and CuAlO.sub.2, and the aluminum nitride ceramic skeleton has a porosity of 20 to 40 percent. The present disclosure further discloses a method for preparing the metal-based aluminum nitride composite material and the metal-based aluminum nitride composite material obtained by the method. A CuAlO.sub.2 substance is formed in the aluminum nitride ceramic skeleton obtained in the present disclosure.

Silicon anode compositions are provided which include embedded silicon carbide nanofibers. Methods of production and use are further described.

Silicon anode compositions are provided which include embedded silicon carbide nanofibers. Methods of production and use are further described.

A proton conductor is a proton conductor represented by a composition formula of BaZr.sub.1xyY.sub.xIn.sub.yO.sub.3, and x and y in the composition formula satisfy 0<y0.013 and 0<x+y<0.5. A small amount of In is added to the composition in a predetermined range, whereby a resistance of the crystal grain boundary of the proton conductor can be decreased so as to compensate for or even exceed the increase in resistance in the crystal gains of the proton conductor caused by the addition of In, and as a result, the entire resistance can be decreased.

Compositions for use in an anode of a secondary battery, anodes, and lithium ion batteries are provided which include embedded silicon carbide nanofibers. Methods of production and use are further described.

Provided is a magnesium oxide-containing spinel powder capable of producing a ceramic sintered body having high strength and excellent strength stability. In the magnesium oxide-containing spinel powder, a 50% particle diameter (D50) is 0.30 to 10.00 m, a ratio (D90-D50)/(D50-D10) of a difference between a 90% particle diameter (D90) and the 50% particle diameter (D50) and a difference between the 50% particle diameter (D50) and a 10% particle diameter (D10) is 1.0 to 5.0, and a composition ratio of Mg and Al in terms of an oxide equivalent content is 50 to 90% by weight of MgO and 10 to 50% by weight of Al.sub.2O.sub.3.

Use of a composition comprising A) from 55 to 90% by weight of aluminum oxide, B) from 5 to 35% by weight of a sodium compound which at a pH of 7 at 20 C. has a solubility in water of 300 g/l and can be converted by thermal means virtually exclusively into sodium oxide as only solid, C) from 0 to 15% by weight of a magnesium compound and/or a lithium compound selected from the group consisting of: magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium nitrate, lithium oxide, lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate and D) from 0 to 30% by weight of zirconium dioxide
for producing a shaped ceramic body by extrusion.