A negative electrode active material for a sodium ion secondary battery is provided, in which the negative electrode active material has a low initial irreversible capacity. The negative electrode active material for a sodium ion secondary battery includes a crystallized glass formed by precipitation of metallic Bi in a matrix containing at least one compound selected from Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 and CuO, and SiO.sub.2.

Provided is a wavelength conversion member which is made of a phosphor powder dispersed in a glass matrix and has an excellent luminous efficiency. A wavelength conversion member is comprising: a phosphor powder dispersed in a glass matrix, wherein the glass matrix has a refractive index (nd) of 1.6 or more and a liquidus temperature of 1070? C. or below.

A conductive paste contains at least a conductive powder, glass frit, and an organic vehicle. The conductive powder contains a noble metal powder such as an Ag powder and a base metal powder containing Cu and/or Ni, and the base metal powder has a specific surface area of less than 0.5 m.sup.2/g. The content of the base metal powder with respect to the total amount of the conductive powder is, in ratio by weight, 0.1 to 0.3 when the base metal powder contains Cu as its main constituent, 0.1 to 0.2 when the base metal powder contains Ni as its main constituent, and 0.1 to 0.25 when the base metal powder contains a mixed powder of Cu and Ni as its main constituent.

A method for laser processing a transparent workpiece includes forming a contour line having defects in the transparent workpiece, which includes directing a pulsed laser beam oriented along a beam pathway through a beam converting element and through a phase modifying optical element such that the portion of the pulsed laser beam directed into the transparent workpiece includes a phase shifted focal line having a cross-sectional phase contour that includes phase contour ridges induced by the phase modifying optical element and extending along phase ridge lines. Moreover, the phase shifted focal line generates an induced absorption within the transparent workpiece to produce a defect within the transparent workpiece including a central defect region and a radial arm that extends outward from the central defect region in a radial defect direction oriented within 20 of the phase ridge lines of the phase shifted focal line.

In a known composite material with a fused silica matrix there are regions of silicon-containing phase embedded. In order to provide a composite material which is suitable for producing components for use in high-temperature processes for heat treatment even when exacting requirements are imposed on impermeability to gas and on purity, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the composite material be impervious to gas, have a closed porosity of less than 0.5% and a specific density of at least 2.19 g/cm.sup.3, and at a temperature of 1000 C. have a spectral emissivity of at least 0.7 for wavelengths between 2 and 8 m.

A photosensitive glass paste contains a photosensitive organic component and an inorganic component containing a glass powder having a high softening point, a glass powder having a low softening point, and a ceramic filler. The ceramic filler has a thermal expansion coefficient of 1010.sup.6/ C. to 1610.sup.6/ C., the inorganic component contains 30% to 50% by volume of the ceramic filler, and the inorganic component contains 0.5% to 10% by volume of the glass powder having a low softening point.

Provided are: a production method for a patterned phosphorescent body capable of producing a patterned phosphorescent body with excellent light emission (phosphorescent) performance through simple and easy production processes; a patterned phosphorescent body, and an evacuation guide sign. A mixture obtained by mixing at least a phosphorescent material and a glass material is filled in a mold and the mixture is press-molded so as to provide a planar part (10), thereby to create a molded body. The molded body is baked and slowly cooled, and then transfer paper of a water transfer type is attached to a surface of the planar part (10) of the baked molded body (4) and re-baking is performed at a temperature lower than a baking temperature of the molded body to impress a pattern (11) on the transfer paper.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a color-graded blank for dental restorations by way of a sedimentation process, to a blank obtained by the process according to the invention and to the use of a suspension for producing a color-graded dental restoration. The method comprises: a) providing a suspension comprising i) a liquid dispersant and ii) a base material and iii) one or more coloring substances; b) partial sedimentation with the formation of a sediment having a color gradient and a suspension supernatant; c) optionally completely or partially removing the suspension supernatant; d) adding a suspension comprising coloring substances, which suspension differs from the suspension in step a); e) sedimentation or partial sedimentation with the formation of a sediment having a color gradient and a suspension supernatant; f) optionally repeating steps c) and d) or step d) one or more times; g) solidifying the sediment with the formation of a color-graded blank.

Embodiments are directed to glass frits containing phosphors that can be used in LED lighting devices and for methods associated therewith for making the phosphor containing glass frit and their use in glass articles, for example, LED devices.

A conversion material for a white or colored light source is provided. The material includes a matrix glass that, as bulk material, for a thickness of about 1 mm, has a pure transmission of greater than 80% in the wavelength region from 350 to 800 nm and in the region in which the primary light source emits light, wherein the sum of transmission and reflection of the sintered matrix glass without luminophore is at least greater than 80% in the spectral region from 350 nm to 800 nm and in the spectral region in which the primary light source emits light.