A fiber optic ferrule assembly is provided, which comprises a ferrule and an optical fiber received in the ferrule. The ferrule and the optical fiber are directly joined together, so as to fix the optical fiber in the ferrule. At least a part of the ferrule is directly over-molded on the optical fiber by injection molding or shrunk on the optical fiber. In the embodiments of the present invention, the ferrule is directly over-molded or shrunk on the optical fiber, so that the ferrule and the optical fiber are directly joined together. As a result, the optical fiber is stably fixed in the ferrule.

The honeycomb structure includes a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure body, and a circumferential coating layer disposed to surround a circumference of the honeycomb structure body, and cells which are formed at an outermost circumference of the honeycomb structure body and in which peripheries of the cells are defined by the partition walls without any lacks are defined as outermost circumference complete cells, and in a cross section of the honeycomb structure body which is perpendicular to an extending direction of the cells a minimum distance T (mm) among distances from the outermost circumference complete cells to the surface of the circumferential coating layer and a porosity P (%) of the circumferential coating layer satisfy relations of Equation (1) and Equation (2) as follows:

1.5≧T≧16×(100−P).sup.−1.4; and  Equation (1):

20≦P≦75.  Equation (2):

The honeycomb structure includes a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure body, and a circumferential coating layer disposed to surround a circumference of the honeycomb structure body, and cells which are formed at an outermost circumference of the honeycomb structure body and in which peripheries of the cells are defined by the partition walls without any lacks are defined as outermost circumference complete cells, and in a cross section of the honeycomb structure body which is perpendicular to an extending direction of the cells a minimum distance T (mm) among distances from the outermost circumference complete cells to the surface of the circumferential coating layer and a porosity P (%) of the circumferential coating layer satisfy relations of Equation (1) and Equation (2) as follows:

1.5≧T≧16×(100−P).sup.−1.4; and  Equation (1):

20≦P≦75.  Equation (2):

A sinterable paste formulation usable as cast material in a cast-mold process, in combination with a mold material formulation, is provided. The sinterable paste formulation comprises a power of a sinterable material, in an amount of at least 85% by weight of the total weight of the formulation, a binder as described in the specification, and an aqueous solution which comprises water and a water-miscible organic solvent featuring an evaporation rate in a range of from 0.3 to 0.8 on an n-butyl acetate scale. Methods employing the formulation and objects and products obtained therefrom are also provided.

A sinterable paste formulation usable as cast material in a cast-mold process, in combination with a mold material formulation, is provided. The sinterable paste formulation comprises a power of a sinterable material, in an amount of at least 85% by weight of the total weight of the formulation, a binder as described in the specification, and an aqueous solution which comprises water and a water-miscible organic solvent featuring an evaporation rate in a range of from 0.3 to 0.8 on an n-butyl acetate scale. Methods employing the formulation and objects and products obtained therefrom are also provided.

A ceramic tube contains yttrium oxide as a main component, in which the section height difference (Rδc) of the roughness profile of an inner peripheral surface, which represents a difference between a section level at a load length ratio of 25% in the roughness profile and a section level at load length ratio of 75% in the roughness profile, is 2 μm or less and a coefficient of variation of the section height difference (Rδc) is 0.05 to 0.6.

A disclosed method of forming a ceramic article includes forming a pre-ceramic polymer article within a mold tool, and performing a first pyrolizing step on the initial pre-ceramic polymer article to form a ceramic article. The method further includes performing at least one pre-heat treatment polymer infiltration and pyrolizing (PIP) cycle on the ceramic article and an initial heat treatment cycle of the ceramic article after the at least one pre-heat treatment PIP cycle. Subsequent PIP cycles and heat treatment cycles are performed in combination to form a ceramic article including a desired density.

A disclosed method of forming a ceramic article includes forming a pre-ceramic polymer article within a mold tool, and performing a first pyrolizing step on the initial pre-ceramic polymer article to form a ceramic article. The method further includes performing at least one pre-heat treatment polymer infiltration and pyrolizing (PIP) cycle on the ceramic article and an initial heat treatment cycle of the ceramic article after the at least one pre-heat treatment PIP cycle. Subsequent PIP cycles and heat treatment cycles are performed in combination to form a ceramic article including a desired density.

An item made from cermet and/or ceramic, and in particular a bezel (1) of a timepiece, produced by a method for injecting at least two materials (2, 3) of distinct compositions, the item including a part (4) where the two materials (2, 3) are superimposed and are interleaved one in the other.

An item made from cermet and/or ceramic, and in particular a bezel (1) of a timepiece, produced by a method for injecting at least two materials (2, 3) of distinct compositions, the item including a part (4) where the two materials (2, 3) are superimposed and are interleaved one in the other.