A refractory object can include at least 10 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3. In an embodiment, the refractory object can further include a dopant including an oxide of a rare earth element, Ta, Nb, Hf, or any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the refractory object may have a property such that the averaged grain size does not increase more than 500% during sintering, an aspect ratio less than approximately 4.0, a creep rate less than approximately 1.010.sup.5 m/(mhr), or any combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the refractory object can be in the form of a refractory block or a glass overflow forming block. The glass overflow forming block can be useful in forming an AlSiMg glass sheet. In a particular embodiment, a layer including MgAl oxide can initially form along exposed surfaces of the glass overflow forming block when forming the AlSiMg glass sheet.

A lithium-lanthanum-titanium oxide sintered material has a lithium ion conductivity 3.010.sup.4 Scm.sup.1 or more at a measuring temperature of 27 C., the material is described by one of general formulas (1a)La.sub.xLi.sub.2-3xTiO.sub.3-aSrTiO.sub.3, (1a)La.sub.xLi.sub.2-3xTiO.sub.3-aLa.sub.0.5K.sub.0.5TiO.sub.3, La.sub.xLi.sub.2-3xTi.sub.1-aM.sub.aO.sub.3-a, Sr.sub.x-1.5aLa.sub.aLi.sub.1.5-2xTi.sub.0.5Ta.sub.0.5O.sub.3 (0.55x0.59, 0a0.2, M=at least one of Fe or Ga), amount of Al contained is 0.35 mass % or less as Al.sub.2O.sub.3, amount of Si contained is 0.1 mass % or less as SiO.sub.2, and average particle diameter is 18 m or more.

A cBN sintered body contains cBN particles whose proportion is 85-97% by volume, and a binding phase whose proportion is 3-15% by volume. The cBN sintered body contains Al whose ratio to the entirety of the cBN sintered body is 0.1-5% by mass, and Co whose mass ratio to the Al is 3 to 40, and includes Al.sub.3B.sub.6Co.sub.20.

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 transparent, tape casted, spinel article, as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of method of making the tape casted, transparent spinel, and laminates of the tape casted, transparent spinel, as defined herein.

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.

Articles and methods in which an electric field is used to actuate a material are generally described. Provided in one embodiment is a method including applying an electric field to a ceramic material. Applying the electric field to the ceramic material can transform the ceramic material from a first solid phase to a second distinct solid phase. The applied electric field is less than a breakdown electric field of the ceramic material, according to certain embodiments.

A handle substrate is composed of a translucent alumina sintered body containing a sintering aid including at least magnesium. A concentration of magnesium at a bonding face of the handle substrate to a donor substrate is half or less of an average concentration of magnesium of the handle substrate.

A composite material and a method of using the composite material. The composite material consists of at least 65 volume percent cubic boron nitride (cBN) grains dispersed in a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising a plurality of microstructures bonded to the cBN grains and a plurality of intermediate regions between the cBN grains; the microstructures comprising nitride or boron compound of a metal; and the intermediate regions including a silicide phase containing the metal chemically bonded with silicon; in which the content of the silicide phase is 2 to 6 weight percent of the composite material, and in which the cBN grains have a mean size of 0.2 to 20 m.

A material for a thermoelectric element and a method for producing a material for a thermoelectric element are disclosed. In an embodiment the thermoelectric element includes a material comprising calcium manganese oxide that is partially doped with Fe atoms in positions of Mn atoms.