A moldable green-body composite includes milling silicon nitride powder with a solvent and adding a surface modifier to the milled slurry to modify a surface of the silicon nitride particles. A polysiloxane in a solvent and a binder are also added to create a green body slurry. The solvents may be polar or non-polar solvents. A sintering aid, such as yttria-alumina, may be added to the slurry as well. A reduced density silicon nitride ceramic is made from the moldable green-body composite by molding the moldable green-body composite in a mold and curing at a curing temperature to convert the moldable green-body composite to a converted composite. The converted composite can then be sintered to form a reduced density silicon nitride ceramic that has a smooth surface finish and requires no post machining or polishing. The reduced density silicon nitride ceramic may also have very good dielectric properties.

A manufacturing line includes a tape of green material that is directed through a furnace so that the furnace burns off organic binder material and then partially sinters the tape without the use of a setter board. Sintered articles resulting from the manufacturing line may be thin with relatively large surface areas; and, while substantially unpolished, have few sintering-induced surface defects. Tension may be applied to the partially sintered tape as it passes through a second furnace on the manufacturing line to shape resulting sintered articles.

A zirconia blank produced by introducing a zirconia suspension into a porous mould and demoulding the blank formed as well as the use of the optionally presintered blank formed for the preparation of a dental restoration using a very short dense-sintering process.

A fluoride sintered body suitable for a moderator which moderates high-energy neutrons so as to generate neutrons for medical care with which an affected part of the deep part of the body is irradiated to make a tumor extinct comprises MgF.sub.2 of a compact polycrystalline structure having a bulk density of 2.90 g/cm.sup.3 or more and as regards mechanical strengths, a bending strength of 10 MPa or more and a Vickers hardness of 71 or more.

A SiC based sinterable powder mixture comprising, by dried weight of said powder: a) a mineral content comprisingsilicon carbide (SiC) particles, -mineral boron compound particles, the powder comprising at least 50% by weight of SiC and the total mineral content of the powder being at least 90% by weight, b) at least a water insoluble carbon-containing source, in particular a carbon containing resin, the powder comprising at least 1% by weight, and preferably less than 10% by weight,of said water insoluble carbon-containing source, wherein the average particle size of said sinterable powder is comprised between 0.5 to 2.0 micrometers.

The disclosure relates to microchemical (or microfluidic) apparatus as well as related methods for making the same. The methods generally include partial sintering of sintering powder (e.g., binderless or otherwise free-flowing sintering powder) that encloses a fugitive phase material having a shape corresponding to a desired cavity structure in the formed apparatus. Partial sintering removes the fugitive phase and produces a porous compact, which can then be machined if desired and then further fully sintered to form the final apparatus. The process can produce apparatus with small, controllable cavities shaped as desired for various microchemical or microfluidic unit operations, with a generally smooth interior cavity finish, and with materials (e.g., ceramics) able to withstand harsh environments for such unit operations.

An inorganic fiber containing a fiberization product of a compound comprising at least one alkaline earth silicate, at least one compound containing an element from group VII and/or IX of the periodic table, and optionally alumina and/or boria. The inclusion of a suitable amount of at least one compound containing an element from group VII and/or IX of the periodic table of elements to an alkaline-earth silicate inorganic fiber reduces fiber shrinkage, decreases biopersistence in physiological solutions, and enhances mechanical strength beyond that of alkaline earth silicate fibers without the presence of the at least one compound containing an element from group VII and/or IX. Also provided are methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from the inorganic fibers.

A zirconia sintered body that includes a transparent zirconia portion and an opaque zirconia portion has a biaxial bending strength of 300 MPa or more. In addition, the opaque zirconia portion is configured by an opaque zirconia sintered body that is any one of a dark-colored zirconia sintered body, a medium-light-colored zirconia sintered body, and a light-colored zirconia sintered body.

A method of making a refractory article is provided. The method includes: a) mixing a binder system, a refractory charge, and a second colloidal binder to form an aqueous slurry; b) casting the aqueous slurry into a mold; c) subjecting the mold containing the aqueous slurry to a temperature that is lower than a slurry casting temperature for a time sufficient to form a green strength article; and d) firing the green strength article at a temperature of at least 450 C. for a time sufficient to achieve thermal homogeneity, thereby forming a refractory article. Refractory articles made in accordance with the method have a unique combination of pore structure and mechanical properties.

A manufacturing line includes a tape of green material that is directed through a furnace so that the furnace burns off organic binder material and then partially sinters the tape without the use of a setter board. Sintered articles resulting from the manufacturing line may be thin with relatively large surface areas; and, while substantially unpolished, have few sintering-induced surface defects. Tension may be applied to the partially sintered tape as it passes through a second furnace on the manufacturing line to shape resulting sintered articles.