An alumina sintered body of the present invention has a degree of c-plane orientation of 5% or more, which is determined by a Lotgering method using an X-ray diffraction profile in a range of 2=20 to 70 obtained under X-ray irradiation, and an XRC half width of 15.0 or less in rocking curve measurement, an F content of less than 0.99 mass ppm when measured by D-SIMS, a crystal grain diameter of 15 to 200 m, and 25 or less pores having a diameter of 0.2 m to 1.0 m when a photograph of a viewing area 370.0 m in a vertical direction and 372.0 m in a horizontal direction taken at a magnification factor of 1000 is visually observed.

The sintered body including boron carbide, wherein the sintered body includes a zone, in which a volume ratio of grains having a grain size of greater than 30 ?m and 60 ?m or less is in a range of 50% to 70% based on a total volume of grains, as observed on a surface of the sintered body, is disclosed.

A lead-free piezoelectric element that stably operates in a wide operating temperature range contains a lead-free piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material that includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by (Ba.sub.1-xCa.sub.x).sub.a(Ti.sub.1-yZr.sub.y)O.sub.3 (1.00a1.01, 0.02x0.30, 0.020y0.095, and yx) as a main component and manganese incorporated in the perovskite-type metal oxide. The manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis.

Setter plates are fabricated from Li-stuffed garnet materials having the same, or substantially similar, compositions as a garnet Li-stuffed solid electrolyte. The Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, reduce the evaporation of Li during a sintering treatment step and/or reduce the loss of Li caused by diffusion out of the sintering electrolyte. Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, maintain compositional control over the solid electrolyte during sintering when, upon heating, lithium is prone to diffuse out of the solid electrolyte.

Provided are a polycrystalline phosphor film applicable to a high-power optical device, a preparation method therefor, and a vehicle lamp device using the same, wherein the polycrystalline phosphor film comprises a plurality of phosphor crystals and pores formed between the phosphor crystals, and the phosphor crystal can be a synthesized product comprising at least one rare earth material and cerium (Ce). In addition, the method for preparing a polycrystalline phosphor film can comprise the steps of: preparing a phosphor powder comprising a plurality of phosphor particles; injecting the phosphor powder into a predetermined mold so as to mold the same into a predetermined shape; generating a sintered body by primarily sintering, at a first temperature, the phosphor powder having the predetermined shape; secondarily sintering the sintered body, having been primarily sintered, at a second temperature lower than the first temperature; and forming a polycrystalline phosphor film by processing the sintered body having been secondarily sintered.

A piezoelectric ceramic speaker includes a piezoelectric element using a vibration sheet formed with piezoelectric ceramic having a primary phase constituted by ceramic grains of perovskite crystal structure containing Pb, Nb, Zn, Ti, and Zr, and a secondary phase constituted by ZnO grains, wherein the primary phase is constituted by ceramic grains expressed by a composition formula Pb {(Zr.sub.(1-a)Ti.sub.a).sub.x.Math.(Ni.sub.1/3Nb.sub.2/3).sub.y.Math.(Zn.sub.1/3Nb.sub.2/3).sub.z}O.sub.3 (where 0<x0.85, 0y<1, 0<z<1, x+y+z=1, and 0.45a0.60); and an enclosure which encloses the piezoelectric element.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

A chamber component for a processing chamber comprises a ceramic body consisting of a sintered ceramic material consisting essentially of one or more phase of Y.sub.2O.sub.3ZrO.sub.2. The ceramic material consists essentially of 55-65 mol % Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and 35-45 mol % ZrO.sub.2.

A refractory object may include a zircon body that may include at least about 0.1 wt. % and not greater than about 5.5 wt. % of an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 containing component for a total weight of the zircon body. The zircon body may further include at least about 25 wt. % and not greater than about 35 wt. % of a SiO.sub.2 component for a total weight of the zircon body.

Refractory composite material based on Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in the form of corundum, SiO.sub.2 in the form of quartz and sodium aluminate having the formula NaAl.sub.11O.sub.17 or Na.sub.2O 11Al.sub.2O.sub.3, method for preparing the same, use thereof for preparing manufactured items, as well as manufactured items made thereby and use thereof.