A tubular member for an exhaust gas treatment device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: a tubular main body made of a metal; and an insulating layer formed at least on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular main body. The insulating layer contains glass containing a crystalline substance, and the glass contains silicon, boron, and magnesium.

A ceramic composition includes an antimicrobial glass composition that includes components harmless to the human body and maintains an antimicrobial function semi-permanently. Specifically, the ceramic composition includes a novel antimicrobial glass composition that includes a glass former SiO.sub.2 as a main component, and ZnO and SnO as antimicrobial components.

A ceramic composition includes an antimicrobial glass composition that includes components harmless to the human body and maintains an antimicrobial function semi-permanently. Specifically, the ceramic composition includes a novel antimicrobial glass composition that includes a glass former SiO.sub.2 as a main component, and ZnO and SnO as antimicrobial components.

A glass ceramic seal is formed from a precursor material that includes from 80 mol % to 100 mol % of a primary component containing, on an oxide basis, from 25 mol % to 55 mol % SiO.sub.2, from 20 mol % to 45 mol % CaO, from 5 mol % to 30 mol % MgO, and from 0 mol % to 15 mol % Al.sub.2O.sub.3.

A glass ceramic seal is formed from a precursor material that includes from 80 mol % to 100 mol % of a primary component containing, on an oxide basis, from 25 mol % to 55 mol % SiO.sub.2, from 20 mol % to 45 mol % CaO, from 5 mol % to 30 mol % MgO, and from 0 mol % to 15 mol % Al.sub.2O.sub.3.

A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

A glass ceramic seal contains by weight, on an oxide basis 40-60% of SiO.sub.2, 25-28% of BaO, 10-20% of B.sub.2O.sub.3, 8-12% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0-2% of ZrO.sub.2, 0-1% of Y.sub.2O.sub.3, 0-1% of CaO, and 0-1% of MgO.

A glass ceramic seal contains by weight, on an oxide basis 40-60% of SiO.sub.2, 25-28% of BaO, 10-20% of B.sub.2O.sub.3, 8-12% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0-2% of ZrO.sub.2, 0-1% of Y.sub.2O.sub.3, 0-1% of CaO, and 0-1% of MgO.

There is provided a gas trapping material and vacuum heat insulation equipment where the gas trapping material can be activated in a sealing step of the vacuum heat insulation equipment, and production efficiency can be enhanced by maintaining a high gas trapping characteristic even when a gas is released in a baking step or in a sealing step under an air atmosphere. The gas trapping material contains porous metal oxide and silver particles having an average particle size of 0.5 nm to 100 nm inclusive.