A sintered bead and an associated method. The sintered bead has the following chemical composition, as mass percentages on the basis of the oxides: ZrO.sub.2+HfO.sub.2+Y.sub.2O.sub.3+CeO.sub.2: remainder to 100%; 0%≤Al.sub.2O.sub.3≤1.5%; CaO≤2%; oxides other than ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, Y.sub.2O.sub.3, CeO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and CaO: ≤5%. The contents of Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and CeO.sub.2, as molar percentages on the basis of the sum of ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and CeO.sub.2, being such that 1.8%≤Y.sub.2O.sub.3≤2.5% and 0.1%≤CeO.sub.2≤0.9%. The sintered bead has following crystalline phases, as mass percentages on the basis of the crystalline phases and for a total of 100%: stabilized zirconia: remainder to 100%; monoclinic zirconia: ≤10%; crystalline phases other than stabilized zirconia and monoclinic zirconia: <7%.

A particle mixture having: ZrO.sub.2+HfO.sub.2+Y.sub.2O.sub.3+CeO.sub.2; 0%≤Al.sub.2O.sub.3≤1.5%; other oxides than ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, Y.sub.2O.sub.3, CeO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2O.sub.3: between 0.5% and 12%. The contents of Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and CeO.sub.2, on the basis of the sum of ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and CeO.sub.2, being such that 1.8%≤Y.sub.2O.sub.3≤3% and 0.1%≤CeO.sub.2≤0.9%. The mixture includes between 0.5% and 10% of particles of an oxide pigment. The content of other oxides and which are not included in the oxide pigment being less than 2%. The particles of the oxide pigment including, for more than 95%, of a material chosen from: oxide(s) of perovskite structure or equivalent of precursor(s) of these oxides, oxides of spinal structure or an equivalent amount of precursor(s) of these oxides, and oxides of hematite structure E.sub.2O.sub.3, oxides of rutile structure FO.sub.2, with “E” and “F” being chosen.

A method can be used for producing a powdery precursor material for an optoelectronic component having a first phase of the following general composition (Ca.sub.1-a-b-c-d-eZn.sub.dMg.sub.eSr.sub.cBa.sub.bX.sub.a).sub.2Si.sub.5N.sub.8, wherein X is an activator that is selected from the group of the lanthanoids and wherein the following applies: 0<a<1 and 0≦b≦1 and 0≦c≦ and 0≦d≦1 and 0≦e≦1. The method includes producing a powdery mixture of starting materials. The starting materials comprise ions of the aforementioned composition. At least silicon nitride having a specific surface area greater than or equal to 9 m/g is selected as a starting material and wherein the silicon nitride comprises alpha silicon nitride or is amorphous. The method also includes heat-treating the mixture under a protective gas atmosphere.

There is provided synthetic proppants, and in particular polysilocarb derived ceramic proppants. There is further provided hydraulic fracturing treatments utilizing these proppants, and methods of enhance hydrocarbon recovery.

A method includes forming a ceramic matrix composite component by infiltrating an array of ceramic-based fibers with a ceramic-based matrix; forming a plurality of cooling holes in the ceramic matrix composite component; applying a slurry of particles in a carrier fluid to the ceramic matrix composite component such that the slurry passes through the cooling holes and wicks into the ceramic matrix composite material; and processing the ceramic matrix composite component to remove the carrier fluid, thereby leaving a filler at a wall surface of the plurality of cooling holes. A component is also disclosed.

A method for producing a porous element is presented. A powdery metal-ceramic composite material is produced. The composite material has a metal matrix and a ceramic portion amounting to less than 25 percent by volume. The metal matrix is at least partially oxidized to obtain a metal oxide. The metal-ceramic composite material is grinded and mixed with powdery ceramic supporting particles to obtain a metal-ceramic/ceramic mixture. The metal-ceramic/ceramic mixture is shaped into the porous element. The porous element can be used as an energy storage medium in a battery.

A MgF.sub.2—CaF.sub.2 binary system sintered body for a radiation moderator having a compact polycrystalline structure excellent in radiation moderation performance, especially neutron moderation performance, comprises MgF.sub.2 containing CaF.sub.2 from 0.2% by weight to 90% by weight inclusive, having a bulk density of 2.96 g/cm.sup.3 or more, and a bending strength of 15 MPa or more and a Vickers hardness of 90 or more as regards mechanical strengths.

Ceramic matrix composite articles include, for example, a plurality of unidirectional arrays of fiber tows in a matrix having a monomodal pore size distribution, and a fiber volume fraction between about 15 percent and about 35 percent. The articles may be formed by, for example, providing a shaped preform comprising a prepreg tape layup of unidirectional arrays of fiber tows, a matrix precursor, and a pore former, curing the shaped preform to pyrolyze the matrix precursor and burnout the pore former so that the shaped preform comprises the unidirectional arrays of fiber tows and a porous matrix having a monomodal pore size distribution, and subjecting the cured shaped preform to chemical vapor infiltration to densify the porous matrix so that the ceramic matrix composite article has a fiber volume fraction between about 15 percent and about 35 percent.

Methods for making printed articles from carbon powder are described. Three-dimensional binder jet printing is used to make a printed article from the carbon powder. Methods are also provided for the production of near net shaped carbonized printed articles and graphitized printed articles.

A powder material for additive manufacturing providing an improved microstructure and shape of a product including particles, wherein at most 25 wt.-% of the particles provide a particle size differing more than 20% from the D.sub.50 based on the value of the D.sub.50. A method of additive manufacturing includes the step of manufacturing a product from this powder material or repairing a product utilizing this powder material.