A thermal formation sintering compound containing a binder, a sinterable powder material and a pore formation material, for formation into a predetermined shape in a thermal formation step, removal of the binder in a degreasing step, and sintering of the powder material in a sintering step is provided. The binder contains a low-temperature draining component which melts in the thermal formation step, begins draining at a temperature lower than a draining temperature of the pore formation material, and drains at a temperature lower than a temperature at which the pore formation material drains; and a high-temperature draining component which melts in the thermal formation step, begins draining after the pore formation material begins draining, and drains at a temperature higher than does the pore formation material.

A thermal formation sintering compound containing a binder, a sinterable powder material and a pore formation material, for formation into a predetermined shape in a thermal formation step, removal of the binder in a degreasing step, and sintering of the powder material in a sintering step is provided. The binder contains a low-temperature draining component which melts in the thermal formation step, begins draining at a temperature lower than a draining temperature of the pore formation material, and drains at a temperature lower than a temperature at which the pore formation material drains; and a high-temperature draining component which melts in the thermal formation step, begins draining after the pore formation material begins draining, and drains at a temperature higher than does the pore formation material.

A method of preparing a boron nitride material, such as boron nitride (BN) or boron carbonitride (BCN), is provided. The method may include providing a substrate, and sublimating an amine borane complex onto the substrate to obtain the boron nitride material. The amine borane complex may include, but is not limited to, borazine, amino borane, trimethylamine borane and triethylamine borane. In addition, the temperature at which the sublimating is carried out may be varied to control composition of the boron nitride material formed. In addition, various morphologies can be obtained by using the present method, namely films, nanotubes and porous foam.

A method of preparing a boron nitride material, such as boron nitride (BN) or boron carbonitride (BCN), is provided. The method may include providing a substrate, and sublimating an amine borane complex onto the substrate to obtain the boron nitride material. The amine borane complex may include, but is not limited to, borazine, amino borane, trimethylamine borane and triethylamine borane. In addition, the temperature at which the sublimating is carried out may be varied to control composition of the boron nitride material formed. In addition, various morphologies can be obtained by using the present method, namely films, nanotubes and porous foam.

A porous material includes aggregate particles and a binding material. In the aggregate particles, oxide films containing cristobalite are provided on surfaces of particle bodies that are silicon carbide particles or silicon nitride particles. The binding material binds the aggregate particles together in a state where pores are provided therein. The porous material contains at least one of copper, calcium, and nickel as an ancillary component.

A porous material includes aggregate particles and a binding material. In the aggregate particles, oxide films containing cristobalite are provided on surfaces of particle bodies that are silicon carbide particles or silicon nitride particles. The binding material binds the aggregate particles together in a state where pores are provided therein. The porous material contains at least one of copper, calcium, and nickel as an ancillary component.

A ceramic honeycomb structure comprising porous cell walls defining large numbers of flow paths, the cell walls having (a) porosity of 55% or more and less than 65%, and (b) 35,000/mm.sup.3 or more of substrate branches, wherein the number of substrate branches is defined by the number of branch points (including connecting points of 3 or more branches and connecting points of different-width branches) per a unit volume, in a network structure obtained by the skeletonization of the three-dimensional structure of cell wall substrates determined by X-ray CT.

The present disclosure provides a phase inversion pore-forming agent and a pore-forming method for a fly ash-based ceramic flat membrane support. The phase inversion pore-forming agent includes poly(oxyphenylene sulfone) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), and is used in a preparation process of the fly ash-based ceramic flat membrane support. Pores can be formed through phase inversion, forming straight-through pores with gradient distribution inside the ceramic flat membrane support, thus avoiding a low porosity, a poor water flux, and uneven pore formation of the existing fly ash-based ceramic flat membrane support.

The present disclosure provides a phase inversion pore-forming agent and a pore-forming method for a fly ash-based ceramic flat membrane support. The phase inversion pore-forming agent includes poly(oxyphenylene sulfone) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), and is used in a preparation process of the fly ash-based ceramic flat membrane support. Pores can be formed through phase inversion, forming straight-through pores with gradient distribution inside the ceramic flat membrane support, thus avoiding a low porosity, a poor water flux, and uneven pore formation of the existing fly ash-based ceramic flat membrane support.

A method of making a ceramic fiber tow and the system regarding the same may be included. The method may include commingling a plurality of ceramic fibers with a fugitive fiber to form a single ceramic fiber tow. The fugitive fiber may be positioned between at least two ceramic fibers included in the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include forming a porous ceramic preform including at least the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include removing the fugitive fiber from the ceramic fiber tow leaving a space between at least two ceramic fibers of the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include replacing the spaces between ceramic fibers included in the ceramic fiber tows with a ceramic matrix.