A module and process for forming a ceramic fluidic module (300) that includes a unified closed-porosity ceramic body (200) and a tortuous fluid passage (P) that extends through the body (200). The body (200) has a first mean density within a first layer (222) that is greater than a second mean density within a second layer (226). The first and second layers (222, 226) are axially serially arranged between opposed major surfaces (228, 229) of the body (200). The fluid passage (P) adjoins the first layer (222) of the body (200). The process includes pressing a first volume of ceramic powder (120) to form a pre-pressed body (150). A passage mold (130) is then positioned on the pre-pressed body (150). The pre-pressed body (150) and the passage mold (130) are then covered with a second volume of ceramic powder (125). The body (150), the mold (130), and the second volume of ceramic powder (125) are then pressed to form a pressed body (160). The pressed body (160) is heated and sintered to form the ceramic fluidic module (300).

An apparatus including a first device which moves a first portion of a soft, damp, slightly pressed slab out of alignment with a majority of the slab and thus introduces a first crack in the slab; and a device for spraying a first colored material into the first crack of the slab. The first device which moves the first portion of the slab out of alignment with the rest of the slab may include a first cylinder. The device for spraying the first colored material in the first crack of the slab may include a robotic apparatus. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus may also include a second device which moves a second portion of the slab out of alignment with the majority of the slab and thereby introduces a second crack in the slab.

An apparatus including a first device which moves a first portion of a soft, damp, slightly pressed slab out of alignment with a majority of the slab and thus introduces a first crack in the slab; and a device for spraying a first colored material into the first crack of the slab. The first device which moves the first portion of the slab out of alignment with the rest of the slab may include a first cylinder. The device for spraying the first colored material in the first crack of the slab may include a robotic apparatus. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus may also include a second device which moves a second portion of the slab out of alignment with the majority of the slab and thereby introduces a second crack in the slab.

A product leveling device mounted to the front of a feeder box of a tile machine. The device includes a scraper mechanism with a plate having an edge to manufacture tile products of predetermined dimensions from material contained in a lower mold. A production board cooperates with the lower mold to receive the material. The thickness of the tile product can be selectively reduced without affecting the structure of the tile machine. Optionally, fingers can be added to the edge to form longitudinally channels in the material. Shoes are mounted to the end of the tamper head that coact with the material, including any channels, to produce a uniform pressure to the material.

A method for preparing a shell-bionic ceramic tool and a shell-bionic ceramic tool, wherein the shell-bionic ceramic tool includes alternating stacks of ceramic powders with different components, pressing a ceramic green body using a cold briquetting method, carrying out pre-pressing once using a graphite indenter on a working surface thereof after each layer of the ceramic powder being loaded, and pressing a last layer using a graphite rod, and then pressing a whole ceramic green body with a certain pressure to promote a bonding of the layers of ceramic powder, which in turn gives a complex shape to an interface between the layers, increases a bonding area between the layers, and plays the role of hindering crack expansion, extending the crack expansion path, and improving the bonding strength of the interface; after then, hot-pressed sintering is used to densify the ceramic green body to obtain the shell-bionic ceramic tool.

The invention relates to a method for producing a metal or ceramic component, wherein powder or a pre-sintered component is used, and the component is produced via a pressure-supported compacting and sintering step by means of at least one ram. According to the invention, a ram is used, the contact surface of which has an outer flat region and at least one inner region with a concave recess, whereby a component with regions of different porosities is produced during the compacting and sintering step at a maximum temperature (T.sub.1) and a predetermined force. With said method, it is possible to produce a metal or ceramic component in two method steps or preferably in only one method step, in such a way that the component has an outer flat region and at least one inner region with a convex elevation, and wherein the porosity of the outer flat region is significantly lower than the porosity of the inner region. A component of this type can be used preferably as a substrate/carrier for a membrane in a gas separation device or in a fuel or electrolytic cell.

A block, block system and method of making a wall block. A block with multiple embodiments of a visually exposed surface having three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints that can be used to construct a patio, wall, fence or the like; the multiple embodiments creating a more random and natural appearance. A mold box having a moveable liner and a stripper shoe that impart three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints onto an exposed surface of a block. The moveable liner and stripper shoe also impart a parting line onto the exposed surface of the block.

A compression shoe for use on a concrete products forming machine comprises a main body and a plated layer overlaid on the main body. The main body is configured to be slidingly received within a mold cavity of a concrete products mold. The plated layer overlaid on the main body of the compression shoe comprises a uniform electroless nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nano dispersion coating to effect enhanced material release characteristics by preventing the build-up of material on the compression shoes and enhancing their wear characteristics.

Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.

A retaining wall having a plurality of courses of retaining wall blocks including a first upper course and a second lower course. Each retaining wall block has opposed front and rear faces, opposed first and second side surfaces, and opposed and substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, and at least one weight bearing pad extends from one of the upper and lower surfaces. The at least one weight bearing pad extends substantially from the rear face to the front face of the block. The weight bearing pads are the only areas of contact between the blocks in the first upper course and the blocks in the second lower course.