The present invention relates to a bismuth-based solid solution ceramic material, as well as a process for preparing the ceramic material and uses thereof, particularly in an actuator component employed, for example, in a droplet deposition apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a ceramic material having a general chemical formula (I): (I): x(Bi.sub.0.5Na.sub.0.5)TiO.sub.3-y(Bi.sub.0.5K.sub.0.5)TiO.sub.3-z.sub.1SrHfO.sub.3-z.sub.2SrZrO.sub.3, wherein x+y+Z.sub.1+Z.sub.2=1; y, (z.sub.1+z.sub.2)0; x0. In embodiments, the present invention also relates to a ceramic material having a general chemical formula (II): x(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-y(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-y(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-ZiSrHfO3-z2SrZrO3, wherein x+y +z-i+z2=1; x, y, fa+z2)0; as well as a ceramic material of general formula (III): y(Bi.sub.0.5K.sub.0.5)TiO.sub.3-z.sub.1SrHfO.sub.3-z.sub.2SrZrO.sub.3, wherein y+z.sub.1,+z.sub.2=1; y, (z.sub.1+z.sub.2)0.

Known cylindrical sputtering targets comprise a substrate and a target material that forms a layer on the substrate, said layer has a thickness d, wherein the target material comprises TiOx as the main component, and x is within a range of 1<x<2. Starting therefrom and in order to provide large-sized cylindrical sputtering targets with a thick target layer comprising sub-stoichiometric TiO.sub.2 it is proposed that x is within a range of 1.45<x<1.7 that allows a target layer thickness d which is larger than 10 mm.

Method for manufacturing porous products consisting essentially of titanium suboxide(s) of general formula TiOx, the value of x being between 1.6 and 1.9, the method including a) mixing the raw materials including at least one source of titanium dioxide, a reducing agent comprising carbon, b) forming the product, c) optionally, in particular when organic products are used during step a), thermal treatment under air or an oxidizing atmosphere, d) sintering, for example at a temperature above 1150 C. but not exceeding 1430 C., under a neutral or reducing atmosphere, in which the source of titanium dioxide consists of at least 55 wt % of anatase.

The light shielding member of the present disclosure includes an aluminum oxide ceramics including an oxide of titanium whose composition formula is shown as TiO.sub.2-x (1?x<2), and a total content of Fe, Ni, Co, Mn and Cr is 260 mass ppm or less.

In a method for forming an abradable material (36), the abradable material has at least 20% by volume rutile titania (44) and hBN (46). The method includes: blending a first titania powder having an oxygen debit of at least 5.0% with a second titania powder having an oxygen debit, if any, of less than 1.0%. The blend is thermal sprayed. The sprayed blend is then oxidized.

Proposed are a metal-substituted titanium oxide which has a composition other than conventional Ti.sub.3O.sub.5 while having a property of being able to undergo phase transition from a crystal structure in a paramagnetic metal state to a crystal structure of a nonmagnetic semiconductor upon application of pressure or light and which can also be used in fields other than conventional technical fields, and a method for producing a metal-substituted titanium oxide sintered body. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a metal-substituted titanium oxide having a crystal structure which does not undergo phase transition to a crystal structure having the properties of a nonmagnetic semiconductor even at 460 [K] or lower but maintains a paramagnetic metal state over the entire temperature range of 0 to 800 [K] and which undergoes phase transition to a crystal structure of a nonmagnetic semiconductor upon application of pressure or light, the metal-substituted titanium oxide having a composition in which some of Ti sites of Ti.sub.3O.sub.5 are substituted with any one of Mg, Mn, Al, V and Nb.

A micro-agglomerate of fines of a material that is predominantly titanium dioxide in which the fines are bound in the micro-agglomerate by a polysaccharide gum or cellulose derivative and in which the micro-agglomerate has been heated in the temperature range 250-600 C. so that the polysaccharide gum or cellulose derivative is an effective primary binder of the fines when the micro-agglomerate is subjected to high temperature gas flow conditions equivalent to those in the Chloride Process. Also disclosed is a method of agglomerating fines of a material that is predominantly titanium dioxide.

Molten grains include titanium suboxides of the formulation Ti.sub.nO.sub.2n-1, in which the phases are principally Ti.sub.5O.sub.9 or Ti.sub.6O.sub.11 or a mixture of these two phases, the phases Ti.sub.5O.sub.9 and/or Ti.sub.6O.sub.11 representing, in total, more than 60% of the weight of the grains, the grains further including less than 30% by weight of Ti.sub.4O.sub.7.

In a method for forming an abradable material (36), the abradable material has at least 20% by volume rutile titania (44) and hBN (46). The method includes: blending a first titania powder having an oxygen debit of at least 5.0% with a second titania powder having an oxygen debit, if any, of less than 1.0%. The blend is thermal sprayed. The sprayed blend is then oxidized.

In a method for forming an abradable material (36), the abradable material has at least 20% by volume rutile titania (44) and hBN (46). The method includes: blending a first titania powder having an oxygen debit of at least 5.0% with a second titania powder having an oxygen debit, if any, of less than 1.0%. The blend is thermal sprayed. The sprayed blend is then oxidized.