A method for producing monolithic Zirconium Carbide (ZrC) is described. The method includes raising a pressure applied to a ZrC powder until a final pressure of greater than 40 MPa is reached; and raising a temperature of the ZrC powder until a final temperature of less than 2200 C. is reached.

A nanoparticle containing monoclinic lutetium oxide. A method of: dispersing a lutetium salt solution in a stream of oxygen gas to form droplets, and combusting the droplets to form nanoparticles containing lutetium oxide. The combustion occurs at a temperature sufficient to form monoclinic lutetium oxide in the nanoparticles. An article containing lutetium oxide and having an average grain size of at most 10 microns.

A sintered ferrite magnet comprising metal elements of Ca, La, Fe and Co, whose atomic ratios are represented by the general formula of Ca.sub.1-xLa.sub.xFe.sub.2n-yCo.sub.y, wherein x and y, and n representing a molar ratio meet 0.3x0.6, 0.25y0.5, and 3n6, and further comprising 0.2% to 0.35% by mass of SiO.sub.2.

A light-transmitting bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet-type calcined body expressed by R.sub.3-xBi.sub.xYe.sub.5O.sub.12 and having an average crystal particle diameter of 0.3-10 micrometers, and a magneto-optical device using said calcined body; wherein R is at least one kind of elements selected from a group consisting of Y and lanthanoids, and x is a number from 0.5 to 2.5.

To provide a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high and stable piezoelectric constant in a wide operating temperature range. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite type metal oxide having the general formula (1), Mn, Mg,
(Ba.sub.1-xCa.sub.x).sub.a(Ti.sub.1-y-zSn.sub.yZr.sub.z)O.sub.3(1) (wherein x is in the range of 0.050x0.200, y is in the range of 0.010y0.040, and z is in the range of 0z0.040, provided that x0.375(y+z)+0.050, and a is in the range of 0.9925+ba1.0025+b) wherein the amount b (mol) of Mn on a metal basis per mole of the metal oxide is in the range of 0.0048b0.0400, and the Mg content on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.100 parts by weight or less.

It is provided an insulating substrate including through holes for conductors arranged in the insulating substrate. A thickness of the insulating substrate is 25 to 100 m, and a diameter of the through hole is 20 to 100 m. The insulating substrate includes a main body part and exposed regions exposed to the through holes and is composed an alumina sintered body. A relative density of the alumina sintered body is 99.5 percent or higher. The alumina sintered body has a purity of 99.9 percent or higher, and has an average grain size of 3 to 6 m in said main body part. Alumina grains are plate-shaped in the exposed region and the plate-shaped alumina grains have an average length of 8 to 25 m.

The disclosure herein relates to rechargeable batteries and solid electrolytes therefore which include lithium-stuffed garnet oxides, for example, in a thin film, pellet, or monolith format wherein the density of defects at a surface or surfaces of the solid electrolyte is less than the density of defects in the bulk. In certain disclosed embodiments, the solid-state anolyte, electrolyte, and catholyte thin films, separators, and monoliths consist essentially of an oxide that conducts Li.sup.+ ions. In some examples, the disclosure herein presents new and useful solid electrolytes for solid-state or partially solid-state batteries. In some examples, the disclosure presents new lithium-stuffed garnet solid electrolytes and rechargeable batteries which include these electrolytes as separators between a cathode and a lithium metal anode.

To provide MnZnCobased ferrite with small magnetic losses over a wide frequency range and a wide temperature range. Disclosed is MnZnCobased ferrite containing basic components and auxiliary components, in which the basic components are Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 51.00 mol % or more and less than 58.00 mol %, ZnO:6.00 mol % or more and less than 13.00 mol %, and CoO:more than 0.10 mol % and 0.50 mol % or less, with the balance being MnO, and the auxiliary components are 50 mass ppm to 500 mass ppm of Si in terms of SiO.sub.2, 200 mass ppm to 2000 mass ppm of Ca in terms of CaO, 85 mass ppm to 500 mass ppm of Nb in terms of Nb.sub.2O.sub.5, and 5 mass ppm to 20 mass ppm of K, relative to the basic components.

A silicon nitride sintered body includes a silicon nitride crystal grains and grain boundary phases. Further, when D stands for width of the silicon nitride sintered body before being subjected to surface processing, relations between an average grain diameter dA and an average aspect ratio rA of the silicon nitride crystal grain in a first region from an outermost surface to a depth of 0 to 0.01D and an average grain diameter dB and an average aspect ratio rB of the silicon nitride crystal grain in a second region inside the first region satisfy the inequalities:
0.8dA/dB1.2; and
0.8rA/rB1.2.

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.