Methods and apparatus are provided for pressure casting ceramic bodies. Methods and apparatus are provided for rapid ejection of cast ceramic bodies from a mold. A mold is described that has an impermeable cavity surface to provide dry release of the cast body. Ceramic bodies produced by the methods and apparatus have smooth, non-tacky surfaces after ejection from the mold.

Methods and apparatus are provided for increasing the rate of casting ceramic bodies from a slurry or suspension. Methods and apparatus are successfully used for casting ceramic bodies from micron-sized zirconia ceramic at an accelerated rate. Methods described herein may also be used for casting ceramic bodies from nano-sized zirconia ceramic. The casting apparatus may be configured for use in a plurality of operational modes. Ceramic bodies produced by the methods and apparatus are suitable for use in dental applications.

A process for manufacturing a composite part includes arranging a fibrous preform in a mold including an impregnation chamber which includes in its lower part a filter by making a first face of the preform rest on the filter, the impregnation chamber being closed by a flexible membrane placed opposite a second face of the preform, the membrane separating the impregnation chamber from a compaction chamber. The process further includes injecting a compression fluid into the compaction chamber so as to apply a first pressure on the membrane and injecting a slurry including ceramic particles into the impregnation chamber with a second pressure while maintaining the injection of the compression fluid, the second injection pressure of the slurry being lower than the first pressure on the membrane.

A process for manufacturing a composite part includes arranging a fibrous preform in a mold including an impregnation chamber which includes in its lower part a filter by making a first face of the preform rest on the filter, the impregnation chamber being closed by a flexible membrane placed opposite a second face of the preform, the membrane separating the impregnation chamber from a compaction chamber. The process further includes injecting a compression fluid into the compaction chamber so as to apply a first pressure on the membrane and injecting a slurry including ceramic particles into the impregnation chamber with a second pressure while maintaining the injection of the compression fluid, the second injection pressure of the slurry being lower than the first pressure on the membrane.

The invention relates to the making, on a support plate (34), of an annular space (76) in a ceramic paste covering this plate, in order, by successive deposits and firing of layers of said ceramic paste, to create a base of a ceramic shell (40) for the moulding of parts, the base having said annular space (76). For this purpose, between two deposits of said ceramic paste, and on the plate, said deformable annular element (82) will be deformed in order to break the ceramic layer.

Methods and apparatus are provided for pressure casting ceramic bodies. Methods and apparatus are provided for rapid ejection of cast ceramic bodies from a mold. A mold is described that has an impermeable cavity surface to provide dry release of the cast body. Ceramic bodies produced by the methods and apparatus have smooth, non-tacky surfaces after ejection from the mold

A process for manufacturing a composite material part includes formation of a fibrous texture from refractory ceramic fibres, placement of the fibrous texture in a mould with interposition of a filtration layer between the fibrous texture and a discharge port, the filtration layer including a partially densified fibrous structure, pressure injection of a slurry containing a powder of refractory ceramic particles into the fibrous texture, drainage by the filtration layer of the slurry solvent having passed through the fibrous texture and retention of the powder of refractory ceramic particles within the texture by the filtration layer to obtain a fibrous preform including the fibrous texture filled with refractory ceramic particles and the filtration layer, heat treatment of the refractory ceramic particles present in the fibrous texture of the preform to form a composite material part including the fibrous texture densified by a refractory ceramic matrix and the filtration layer.

A moulded part (1) for a mould (100). The moulded part (1) comprises at least one shell (11) for casting a product. A flange (12) is arranged on a frame of the moulded part (1) for sealing against abutment a sealing surface (13). The shell (11) has a first permeability for a fluid and the flange (12) has a second permeability for the fluid. The second permeability is less than the first permeability.

A process for producing a molded insulating part, a molded insulating part and a casting tool for the production of an inorganic pulp composed of water, glass fibers and/or mineral fibers and sheet silicate, introduction of the pulp into a cavity of a casting tool whose wall is at least partially water-permeable, which cavity has on at least one side the negative shape of the molded insulating part to be produced, removal of the aqueous fraction present in the pulp, opening of the casting tool and subsequent taking-out of the molded insulating part produced. The pulp produced using water for producing the molded insulating part comprised a glass fiber/sheet silicate mixture or mineral fiber/sheet silicate mixture has a proportion of exclusively synthetic sheet silicate (5) in the range from 0.5% to 2.5% and a proportion of glass fibers and/or mineral fibers (4) of from 0.3 to 1.5%.

The invention relates to the making, on a support plate (34), of an annular space (76) in a ceramic paste covering this plate, in order, by successive deposits and firing of layers of said ceramic paste, to create a base of a ceramic shell (40) for the moulding of parts, the base having said annular space (76). For this purpose, between two deposits of said ceramic paste, and on the plate, said deformable annular element (82) will be deformed in order to break the ceramic layer.