A highly oriented nanometer MAX phase ceramic and a preparation method for a MAX phase in-situ autogenous oxide nanocomposite ceramic. The raw materials comprise a MAX phase ceramic nano-lamellar powder body or a blank body formed by the nano-lamellar powder body, wherein MAX phase ceramic nano-lamellar particles in the powder body or the blank meet the particle size being between 20-400 nm, and the oxygen content is between 0.0001%-20% by mass; MAX phase grains in the ceramic obtained after the raw materials are sintered are lamellar or spindle-shaped, the lamellar structure having a high degree of orientation. Utilizing special properties of the nano-lamellar MAX powder body, orientation occurs during compression and deformation to obtain a lamellar structure similar to that in a natural pearl shell, and such a structure has a high bearing capacity and resistance to external loads and crack propagation, just like a brick used in a building.

Provided is a zinc oxide-based sputtering target capable of improving the film formation rate while suppressing arcing in the formation of a zinc oxide-based transparent conductive film by sputtering. This zinc oxide-based sputtering target includes a zinc oxide-based sintered body mainly including zinc oxide crystal grains, and has a degree of (002) orientation of 50% or greater at a sputtering surface and a density of 5.30 g/cm.sup.3 or greater.

There is provided a thermoelectric conversion material which is characterized by being composed of a sintered body of plate-like crystals of a composite oxide represented by general formula (2) Bi.sub.fCa.sub.gM.sup.3.sub.hCo.sub.iM.sup.4.sub.jO.sub.k, and by having a density of 4.0-5.1 g/cm.sup.3. This thermoelectric conversion material is also characterized in that: when observed by SEM, the ratio of the plate-like crystals of a composite oxide represented by general formula (2) having an inclination in the major axis direction within 020 relative to the surface of the thermoelectric conversion material is 60% or more on the number basis; the average length of the lengths of the plate-like crystals of a composite oxide represented by general formula (2) is 20 m or more; and the aspect ratio of the plate-like crystals of a composite oxide represented by general formula (2) is 20 or more.

An alumina sintered body according to the present invention includes a surface having a degree of c-plane orientation of 5% or more, the degree of c-plane orientation being determined by a Lotgering method using an X-ray diffraction profile obtained through X-ray irradiation at 2=20 to 70. The alumina sintered body contains Mg and F, a Mg/F mass ratio is 0.05 to 3500, and a Mg content is 30 to 3500 ppm by mass. The alumina sintered body has a crystal grain size of 15 to 200 m. When a field of view of 370.0 m long372.0 m wide is photographed with a 1000-fold magnification and the photograph is visually observed, a number of pores having a diameter of 0.2 to 0.6 m is 250 or less.

There is provided an oxide sintered material containing indium, tungsten, and zinc, the oxide sintered material including: a first crystal phase that is a main component of the oxide sintered material and includes a bixbyite type crystal phase; and a second crystal phase having a content of the zinc higher than a content of the zinc in the first crystal phase, the second crystal phase including particles having an average major axis size of not less than 3 m and not more than 50 m and having an average aspect ratio of not less than 4 and not more than 50.

A Co.sub.2Z hexaferrite composition is provided containing molybdenum and one or both of barium and strontium, having the formula (Ba.sub.2Sr.sub.(3-Z)Co.sub.(2+X))Mo.sub.xFe.sub.(y-2x)O.sub.41 where x=0.01 to 0.20; y=20 to 24; and z=0 to 3. The composition can exhibit high permeabilities and equal or substantially equal values of permeability and permittivity while retaining low magnetic and dielectric loss tangents and loss factors. The composition is suitable for high frequency applications such as ultrahigh frequency and microwave antennas and other devices.

A CaSiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties and a method employing micron-sized and submicron precursors to form the CaSiAlON ceramic. The CaSiAlON ceramic comprises not more than 42 wt % silicon, relative to the total weight of the CaSiAlON ceramic. The method employs submicron particles and also allows for substituting a portion of aluminum nitride with aluminum to form the CaSiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties.

A CaSiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties and a method employing micron-sized and submicron precursors to form the CaSiAlON ceramic. The CaSiAlON ceramic comprises not more than 42 wt % silicon, relative to the total weight of the CaSiAlON ceramic. The method employs submicron particles and also allows for substituting a portion of aluminum nitride with aluminum to form the CaSiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties.

A corrosion-resistant component configured for use with a semiconductor processing reactor, the corrosion-resistant component comprising: a) a ceramic insulating substrate; and, b) a white corrosion-resistant non-porous outer layer associated with the ceramic insulating substrate, the white corrosion-resistant non-porous outer layer having a thickness of at least 50 m, a porosity of at most 1%, and a composition comprising at least 15% by weight of a rare earth compound based on total weight of the corrosion-resistant non-porous layer; and, c) an L* value of at least 90 as measured on a planar surface of the white corrosion-resistant non-porous outer layer. Methods of making are also disclosed.

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.