A method for producing a lithium-transition metal composite oxide, including steps of: preparing a mixture including a lithium-containing compound and a transition metal compound; obtaining a molded body of the mixture; and sintering the molded bodies in a container having at least one vent hole, to obtain sintered bodies.

A heat insulating protective member including an inorganic fiber formed body having a hollow cylindrical shape or a split hollow cylindrical shape, wherein the inorganic fiber formed body has an inner circumferential surface (c) facing a hollow and an outer circumferential surface (a) constituting an outer circumference, and the bulk density of the inorganic fiber formed body increases toward the outer circumferential surface (a).

A synthesis method for producing a refractory oxide-ceramic material of CaZrO.sub.3, in particular in the form of a refractory granular material that is preferably mechanically comminuted, in particular crushed and/or ground, as well as to a batch and a coarse ceramic, shaped or unshaped, refractory product containing at least one pre-synthesized refractory calcium zirconate-containing granular material.

Systems and methods for fabrication of ceramics from celestial materials using microwave sintering and mechanical compression for space mining applications are disclosed. In one aspect, a chamber for sintering loose mineral material into solid ceramic shapes includes a plurality of zirconia insulting plates configured to clamp the mineral material and forming a cavity in which the mineral loose material is contained, and at least one dipole array configured to generate microwave energy and apply the microwave energy to the mineral material.

A method of producing a graphite-containing refractory within which carbon fiber bundles are placed, the graphite constituting 1% to 80% by mass, the method including a bundling step of bundling carbon fibers to form the carbon fiber bundles; a mixing step of mixing a refractory raw material with graphite to prepare a graphite-containing refractory raw material; a pressing step of pressing the graphite-containing refractory raw material in which the carbon fiber bundles are placed to prepare a formed product; and a drying step of drying the pressed product, wherein the bundling step includes bundling 1000 to 300000 of the carbon fibers with a fiber diameter of 1 to 45 μm/fiber to form carbon fiber bundles 100 mm or more in length.

An ingot mold for curing fused and melted material is provided. The ingot mold includes a steel box, a foamed carbon layer, and a graphite block layer. The foamed carbon layer is formed inside the steel box. The graphite block layer is formed inside the steel box.

Disclosed is a coating material for coating a surface of a kiln for preparing an active material, the coating material being represented by the following Formula 1:

Ni.sub.aX.sub.z  (1) wherein an equation of a+z=1 is satisfied, with the proviso that 0.2≤a<1.0 and 0<z≤0.8 are satisfied, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of W, Cr, Co, Fe, Cu, Na, Al, Mg, Si, Zn, K, Ti, Mo, N, B, P, C, Ta, Nb, O, Mn, Sn, Ag and Zr, or an alloy or compound of two or more elements selected therefrom.

A ladle bottom being part of a metallurgical ladle for treating a metal melt as well as a corresponding metallurgical ladle.

A hearth for a metallurgical furnace, in particular for a blast furnace, the hearth including a wall lining and a bottom lining of refractory material for containing a molten metal bath, the bottom lining including a lower region and an upper region that is arranged to cover the top of the lower region and that is built of ceramic elements, the ceramic elements of the upper region being made of microporous ceramic material including a granular phase made of a silico-aluminous high alumina content granular material and a binding phase for binding grains of said granular material, said microporous ceramic material having thus an maintaining permanently a thermal conductivity lower than 7 W/m.° K.

A direct current plasma arc furnace includes a tank having a crucible delimiting a chamber to receive material to be melted and/or treated; refractory walls surrounding the crucible outer surface; a metallic frame covering the refractory walls; and a heating system for heating the received material. The heating system includes two electrodes acting as cathode and anode, respectively, wherein the first electrode is a movable electrode to project vertically into the chamber. The crucible is part of an anode system also having the second electrode and at least one part connecting the crucible and second electrode. The crucible receives and holds material to be melted and/or treated and provides electric conduction for the flow of current to heat the material, such that the voltage potential difference between the cathode and any point of the crucible surface defined to be in contact with the material is the same.