A dielectric ceramic composition contains dielectric particles containing a main component represented by a composition formula (Ba.sub.1-x-ySr.sub.xCa.sub.y).sub.m(Ti.sub.1-zZr.sub.z)O.sub.3 and grain boundaries present between the dielectric particles. The values of m, x, y, and z in the composition formula are all molar ratios. In the composition formula, 0.9≤m≤1.4, 0≤x<1.0, 0<y≤1.0, 0.9≤(x+y)≤1.0, and 0.9≤z≤1.0 are satisfied. The dielectric particles contain specific structural particles having a predetermined intragranular structure, and each of the specific structural particles intragranularly includes a first region and a second region having different Ca concentrations from each other. C2/C1 is less than 0.8 in which C1 is an average value of the Ca concentration in the first region and C2 is an average value of the Ca concentration in the second 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.

Sintered bead that has a crystalline composition, as percentages by weight based on the total weight of the crystalline phases: zircon<25%; 50%≤cubic zirconia+tetragonal zirconia≤95%, the cubic zirconia content being greater than 50%, the cubic zirconia content being the (cubic zirconia/(cubic zirconia+tetragonal zirconia) ratio by weight); 0≤monoclinic zirconia≤(10−0.2*tetragonal zirconia) %; 5%≤corundum≤50%; crystalline phases other than zircon, cubic zirconia, tetragonal zirconia, monoclinic zirconia and corundum<10%; and the following chemical composition, as percentages by weight based on the oxides: 34%≤ZrO.sub.2+HfO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2+HfO.sub.2 being the remainder to 100%; HfO.sub.2≤4.0%; 0.5%≤SiO.sub.2≤14.1%; 4.5%≤Al.sub.2O.sub.3≤49.6%; 2.75%≤Y.sub.2O.sub.3≤22.8%; MgO≤5%; CaO≤2%; oxides other than ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, CaO and Y.sub.2O.sub.3<5.0%.

The present invention relates to a ferrite particle, containing a crystal phase component containing a perovskite crystal represented by the compositional formula:

RZrO.sub.3 (provided that R represents an alkaline earth metal element), and having an apparent density in a range represented by the following formula:

1.90≤Y≤2.45

provided that Y in the formula is the apparent density (g/cm.sup.3) of the ferrite particle.

A composition comprising a rare earth solid solution, at least one of HfO.sub.2 and CaZrO.sub.3/MgZrO.sub.3; and balance ZrO.sub.2. The rare earth solid solution may include Gd.sub.2O.sub.3 and Lu.sub.2O.sub.3. In another example, the rare earth solid solution may include Gd.sub.2O.sub.3, Lu.sub.2O.sub.3, and at least one of Yb.sub.2O.sub.3 and Sm.sub.2O.sub.3.

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 sintered composite ceramic, including: a lithium-garnet major phase; and a lithium-rich minor phase, such that the lithium-rich minor phase comprises Li.sub.xZrO.sub.(x+4)/2, with 2≤x≤10.

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.

The method for manufacturing a solid electrolyte using an LLZ material for a lithium-ion battery comprises the steps of: providing a starting material in which lanthanum nitrate [La(NO.sub.3).sub.3.6H.sub.2O] and zirconium nitrate [ZrO(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O] are mixed at a mole ratio of 3:2; forming an aqueous solution by dissolving the starting material; forming a precipitate by putting ammonia, which is a complex agent, and sodium hydroxide, which adjusts the pH of a reactor, into the aqueous solution, mixing the same, and then co-precipitating the mixture; forming a primary precursor powder by cleaning, drying and pulverizing the precipitate; forming a secondary precursor powder by mixing lithium powder [LiOH.H2O] with the primary precursor powder and ball-milling the mixture so as to solidify the lithium; and forming a solid electrolyte powder by heat-treating the secondary precursor powder.

A dental block for producing a dental prosthesis comprises a green body including zirconia and having a chemical composition including increasing amounts of yttria through a thickness of the green body. The green body is substantially opaque with a substantially consistent optical characteristic of non-translucency with respect to visible light across the thickness, and is subsequently millable and sinterable to form the dental prosthesis with an optical characteristic of increasing translucency through a thickness of the dental prosthesis.