An intermediate member is a member which is directly or indirectly sandwiched between a first object and a second object. The intermediate member includes a plate-like supporting member having a lower surface which is one main surface opposed to the first object and a plurality of ceramic blocks fixed on an upper surface which is the other main surface of the supporting member in a state of being separated from one another. Thus, in a state where the plurality of ceramic blocks are collectively held by the supporting member having relatively high shape retention, by disposing the intermediate member between the objects, it is possible to easily arrange the plurality of ceramic blocks between the objects with high positioning accuracy.

A method for manufacturing a nanoscale object from a structure including a strained elastic layer on a foundation in a solid state present at a surface of a rigid substrate, the method reiterating: melting the foundation for a duration higher than or equal to 50 ns, thickness of the foundation being at least 20 nm and lower than a predetermined thickness corresponding to a theoretical peak-to-peak amplitude of wrinkles, the melting generating a simultaneous deformation of the elastic layer and of the foundation and a localized contact between the elastic layer and the rigid substrate insulating the regions from the foundation; solidifying the foundation to bring the foundation back to the solid state; until the foundation reaches yield point of the elastic layer.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to a wave-absorbing material that includes a main composition, an auxiliary composition, and a sintering additive. The main composition includes at least one of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MnO, ZnO, and MgO. The auxiliary composition includes at least one of CeO.sub.2 and P.sub.2O.sub.5. The molar ratio of CeO.sub.2 to P.sub.2O.sub.5 ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1. A method for preparing the wave-absorbing material is also provided.

A gas sensor element that includes a composite ceramic layer including a plate-shaped insulating portion which contains an insulating ceramic and has a through-hole, and an electrolyte portion which contains a solid electrolyte ceramic, and a portion disposed in the through-hole where the electrolyte portion is thicker than the insulating portion. A first conductor layer is formed over a first insulating surface of the insulating portion and a first electrolyte surface of the electrolyte portion. The electrolyte portion has an extending portion which is overlaid on the first insulating surface and extends toward the outside of the through-hole. The thickness of the extending portion is decreased toward an outer periphery of the extending portion, and the outer periphery of the extending portion is continuously connected to the first insulating surface. A first extending surface of the extending portion continuously connects the first insulating surface and the first electrolyte surface.

A housing for a portable electronic device includes a radio frequency transparent polycrystalline ceramic portion comprising a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface. The radio frequency transparent polycrystalline ceramic portion comprises a macro-texture on at least a portion of the first surface, and a predetermined micro-texture is disposed on at least a portion of the macro-texture. A method for manufacturing a housing for a portable electronic device includes forming a green ceramic article comprising a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface, embossing at least a portion of the first surface of the green ceramic article with a macro-texture, and sintering the green ceramic article comprising the macro-texture to form a sintered ceramic article. A predetermined micro-texture is disposed on at least a portion of the macro-texture.

A method forming an elastic undulated layer locally lying on a substrate from a structure including a strained elastic layer on a foundation in a solid state present at a surface of a rigid substrate, the method including: melting a foundation for a duration of at least 50 ns, the foundation thickness being at least 20 nm and lower than a predetermined thickness corresponding to a theoretical peak-to-peak amplitude of wrinkles, the melting generating a simultaneous deformation, by forming wrinkles, of the elastic layer and the foundation and accompanied by localized adherent contact between the elastic layer and the rigid substrate in zones separating regions of the foundation; solidifying the foundation to bring it back to the solid state; removing the foundation brought back to the solid state to suspend a layer above the substrate outside the zones of localized adherent contact, the suspended layer being undulated in accordance with the wrinkles.

Various methods and assemblies are provided for producing composite components having formed in features. For example, a method may comprise depositing a composite material on a base tool; bringing a feature forming tool into contact with the composite material; and processing the composite material with the feature forming tool in contact with the composite material. The processed composite material forms a green state composite component. The feature forming tool comprises a sheet having one or more elements for interacting with one or more elements of the base tool to form one or more features of the composite component. In some embodiments, the method also may comprise sealing a bag around the feature forming tool and the composite material after bringing the tool into contact with the composite material and removing the bag and the feature forming tool from the green state composite component after processing.

A pressure-sensitive sensor including a substrate supporting a piezoelectric layer of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric layer includes surface undulations as wrinkles on which pressure is exerted upon use of the sensor. The piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between two electrodes for collecting charges generated by deformation of the piezoelectric layer.

A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric material is provided. According to the method, a first shaped body is formed from a thermoelectric powder, of which a crystal has a layer structure. An extruded body is formed by extruding the first shaped body. A plurality of cut-off pieces are formed by cutting the extruded body along a cross-section perpendicular to an extrusion direction. A second shaped body is formed by stacking and pressing the cut-off pieces along a direction perpendicular to the extrusion direction. According to the above, a thermoelectric ability of a thermoelectric material and an efficiency for manufacturing a thermoelectric module may be improved

An equal channel angular extrusion tool comprising a punch assembly, a die set assembly, a base assembly, and a bottom slider assembly. The punch assembly comprises a punch, a punch nose, and a punch trolley. The die set assembly comprises an inlet channel and a removable core. The base assembly comprises a lifting mechanism which further comprises a die lift cylinder and a hold down ram. The bottom slider assembly comprises an ejection ram. The tool also includes a billet. The billet may be disposed in the bottom slider assembly. Severe plastic deformation is applied to the billet in the bottom slider assembly.