Disclosed is a sintered body comprising (a) a matrix material comprising at least one selected from ZnS and ZnSe, (b) an oxide that is present in a form of islands in the matrix material, comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba, and (c) pores that are present in a form of islands in the matrix material. The sintered body has sufficient strength and an infrared stealth effect in an infrared region such as a MWIR and LWIR region.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

A process for the manufacture of a refractory block including more than 80% zirconia, in percentage by weight based on the oxides. The process includes the following successive stages: melting, under reducing conditions, of a charge including more than 50% zircon, in percentage by weight, such as to reduce the zircon and obtain a molten material, application of oxidizing conditions to the molten material, casting of the molten material, and cooling until at least partial solidification of the molten material in the form of a block. Also, the process can include heat treatment of the block.

A refractory object may include a zircon body that is intentionally doped with a dopant including an alkaline earth element and aluminum. The refractory object can have an improved creep deformation rate. In an embodiment, the refractory object can have a creep deformation rate of not greater than about 1.8 E-5 h.sup.−1 at a temperature of 1350° C. and a stress of 2 MPa. In another embodiment, the zircon body may include an amorphous phase including an alkaline earth metal element.

The present disclosure provides a high-temperature nano-composite coating and a preparation method thereof, and a small bag flexible packaging coating. The high-temperature nano-composite coating provided by the present disclosure controls the fiber length. Moreover, high-temperature reinforcing filler and high-temperature expansion filler are introduced, to make the coating have ultra-high strength at high temperature without cracks caused by shrinkage at high-temperature. In addition, nanopowder, high-temperature skeleton filler and other additives are introduced to make the coating be uniform and stable and reach a slurry state similar to toothpaste. There is no precipitation and stratification during the placement process. Small packaging can be realized to facilitate construction and operation. Besides, the coating has a good bonding to furnace lining, and will not fall off from the furnace lining, thereby prolonging the service life of the furnace lining.

A sintered composite ceramic includes a lithium-garnet major phase; and a lithium dendrite growth inhibitor minor phase, such that the lithium dendrite growth inhibitor minor phase comprises lithium tungstate. A method includes sintering a metal oxide component and a garnet component at a temperature in a range of 750° C. to 1500° C. to form a sintered composite ceramic.

A zirconia sintered body comprises zirconia and multiple different areas, including at least one upper area and at least one lower area having a different chemical composition and a different strength. The sintered body has a translucency and a strength with an inverse relationship. The translucency increases in one direction across the multiple different areas and the strength decreasing in the same direction across the multiple different areas. At least part of the sintered body has a total light transmittance of at least 35% and less than 53% to light with a wavelength at least at a point between 400 nm and 600 nm, and at least 51% and less than 57% to light with a wavelength at least at a point between 600 nm and 800 nm, at a thickness of 0.6 mm. At least a part of the sintered body has a strength of at least 925 Mpa.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

The disclosure relates to sintered ceramic grains comprising 3-55 wt. % alumina, 40-95 wt. % zirconia and 1-30 wt. % of one or more other inorganic components. The invention further relates to a method for preparing ceramic grains according to the invention, comprising: making a slurry comprising alumina, zirconia; making droplets of the slurry; introducing the droplets in a liquid gelling-reaction medium wherein the droplets are gellified; drying the gellified deformed droplets.

A refractory object may include a zircon body that may include at least about 0.1 wt. % and not greater than about 5.5 wt. % of an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 containing component for a total weight of the zircon body. The zircon body may further include at least about 25 wt. % and not greater than about 35 wt. % of a SiO.sub.2 component for a total weight of the zircon body.