Disclosed herein is a dual density disc comprising a dense outer tube comprising alumina having a purity of greater than 99%; and a porous core comprising alumina of a lower density than a density of the dense outer tube; wherein the porous core has an alumina purity of greater than 99%. Disclosed herein too is method comprising disposing in a dense outer tube a slurry comprising alumina powder and a pore former; heating the dense outer tube with the slurry disposed therein to a temperature of 300 to 600° C. to activate the pore former; creating a porous core in the dense outer tube; and sintering the dense outer tube with the porous core at a temperature of 800 to 2000° C. in one or more stages.

Disclosed herein is a dual density disc comprising a dense outer tube comprising alumina having a purity of greater than 99%; and a porous core comprising alumina of a lower density than a density of the dense outer tube; wherein the porous core has an alumina purity of greater than 99%. Disclosed herein too is method comprising disposing in a dense outer tube a slurry comprising alumina powder and a pore former; heating the dense outer tube with the slurry disposed therein to a temperature of 300 to 600° C. to activate the pore former; creating a porous core in the dense outer tube; and sintering the dense outer tube with the porous core at a temperature of 800 to 2000° C. in one or more stages.

An article includes a body having a first phase comprising alpha silicon carbide and pores contained in the body; the pores having a mean spacing distance of at least 205 microns and not greater than 300. The body can have a ballistic.

An article includes a body having a first phase comprising alpha silicon carbide and pores contained in the body; the pores having a mean spacing distance of at least 205 microns and not greater than 300. The body can have a ballistic.

What are described are a process for producing an insulating product for the construction materials industry or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and a corresponding insulating material/insulating product. Also described are the use of a matrix encapsulation method for production of composite particles in the production of an insulating product for the construction materials industry or of an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and the corresponding use of the composite particles producible by means of a matrix encapsulation method.

A method of providing an article having a set of directional channels, including a first directional channel, therein is described. The method comprises preparing a mixture including particles comprising a first material and a first binding agent. The method comprises providing an article precursor by surrounding a pattern comprising a second material with the mixture. The method comprises heating the article precursor thereby coalescing the particles to provide the article. The method comprises removing the pattern by reacting the second material to form a gaseous product, thereby providing the set of directional channels in the article, wherein the set of directional channels corresponds with the removed pattern. Such an article is also described.

A method of providing an article having a set of directional channels, including a first directional channel, therein is described. The method comprises preparing a mixture including particles comprising a first material and a first binding agent. The method comprises providing an article precursor by surrounding a pattern comprising a second material with the mixture. The method comprises heating the article precursor thereby coalescing the particles to provide the article. The method comprises removing the pattern by reacting the second material to form a gaseous product, thereby providing the set of directional channels in the article, wherein the set of directional channels corresponds with the removed pattern. Such an article is also described.

A method of preparing a ceramic fabric for use in a ceramic matrix composite includes arranging a plurality of ceramic tows, each comprising a plurality of filaments, introducing a superabsorbent polymer to the plurality of ceramic tows such that an amount of the superabsorbent polymer surrounds at least a subset of the plurality of filaments within each of the plurality of ceramic tows, and introducing water to the plurality of ceramic tows to cause the superabsorbent polymer to expand and force apart adjacent ones of the subset of the plurality of filaments within each of the plurality of ceramic tows. Expansion of the superabsorbent polymer within one of the plurality of ceramic tows reduces a filament packing density of the one of the plurality of ceramic tows.

A method of preparing a ceramic fabric for use in a ceramic matrix composite includes arranging a plurality of ceramic tows, each comprising a plurality of filaments, introducing a superabsorbent polymer to the plurality of ceramic tows such that an amount of the superabsorbent polymer surrounds at least a subset of the plurality of filaments within each of the plurality of ceramic tows, and introducing water to the plurality of ceramic tows to cause the superabsorbent polymer to expand and force apart adjacent ones of the subset of the plurality of filaments within each of the plurality of ceramic tows. Expansion of the superabsorbent polymer within one of the plurality of ceramic tows reduces a filament packing density of the one of the plurality of ceramic tows.

Disclosed herein is a dual density disc comprising a dense outer tube comprising a metal oxide having a purity of greater than 92%; and a porous core comprising a metal oxide of a lower density than a density of the dense outer tube; wherein the porous core has a metal oxide purity of greater than 99%; where the dense outer tube has an inner tapered surface.