Methods and systems of analyzing and quantifying a surface acidity on a low surface area sample are disclosed. The methods include analyzing a quantity of an effluent molecular probe desorption from a temperature programmed desorption (TPD) process and system, by employing a mass spectroscopy (MS) system. The molecular probe is chemically adsorbed on a clean surface of the sample before the TPD process. The sample has a surface area to mass ratio of less than 5 m.sup.2/g. In some embodiments, the total surface area analyzed in the method can be as low as 3 m.sup.2.

A variety of methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one embodiment, a settable composition comprising: water; and a cementitious component having a calculated reactive index.

The disclosure describes techniques for detecting a crack or defect in a material. The technique may include applying an electrical signal to a first electrode pair electrically coupled to the material. The technique also may include, while applying the electrical signal to the first electrode pair, determining a measured voltage between a second, different electrode pair. At least one electrode of the second, different electrode pair is electrically coupled to the material. The technique may further include determining a corrected measured voltage by suppressing a thermally induced voltage from the measured voltage and determining whether the material includes a crack or other defect based on the corrected measured voltage.

Measurement methods are known for determining the concentration of an ingredient in a body of ceramic or glassy material, in which the optical path length or the signal propagation time of a measurement wave penetrating the body of ceramic or glassy material in a measurement direction is determined and evaluated. Starting therefrom, in order to indicate a non-destructive method for determining a concentration of an ingredient in a body of ceramic or glassy material, which is also suitable for measurement in the production process of the body concerned, it is suggested according to one embodiment that modulated gigahertz radiation is used as the measurement wave.

The disclosure describes techniques for detecting a crack or defect in a material. The technique may include applying an electrical signal to a first electrode pair electrically coupled to the material. The technique also may include, while applying the electrical signal to the first electrode pair, determining a measured voltage between a second, different electrode pair. At least one electrode of the second, different electrode pair is electrically coupled to the material. The technique may further include determining a corrected measured voltage by suppressing a thermally induced voltage from the measured voltage and determining whether the material includes a crack or other defect based on the corrected measured voltage.

A method of detecting conversion quality includes the steps of providing an article having a green material and a semiconductor material, processing the green material and the semiconductor material to produce a matrix composite, and detecting a matrix composite conversion quality with the semiconductor material.

The invention relates to a method for quantitatively determining Al.sub.4C.sub.3 and a device for carrying out the method.

A method for estimating characteristics of a ceramic fired body, the method including: preparing a ceramic fired body by firing a formed green body; measuring a color of the ceramic fired body; and with use of a correlation between the color and at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of a porosity, a pore diameter, and a thermal expansion coefficient previously determined for a ceramic fired body having a same composition as that of the ceramic fired body, estimating the at least one characteristic of the ceramic fired body from the color of the ceramic fired body, measured in the previous step.

The present disclosure relates to bendable and/or foldable articles and uses thereof and to a method of providing bendable and/or foldable articles. The articles are of translucent and brittle material, such as glass, glass ceramic, ceramic or crystals. The articles may be used as a display cover such as a protecting cover in displays in, for example, smartphones, tablet computers, or TV devices. The articles may also be used as a substrate for electronic components, such as OLEDs or LEDs.

An apparatus and method to strength test porous ceramic honeycomb bodies. The apparatus includes an interlayer between at least one platen and a surface of the high porosity honeycomb body to be tested. The method includes disposing at least one interlayer between at least one platen and an end face of the body, applying a force to the high porosity ceramic honeycomb body and monitoring a result of applying the force. The interlayer comprises a surface weight of about 350 g/m.sup.2 and a thickness in a direction N between facing surfaces load platens of at least about 20 mm. Axial and radial localized stamping tests also strength test porous ceramic honeycomb bodies.