A method of providing a particulate material from an at least substantially metallic and/or ceramic starting material, comprising the following steps:

(a) generating the particulate material from the starting material by vaporizing the starting material by introducing energy, preferably radiation energy, in particular by means of at least one laser, into the starting material and subsequently at least partially condensing the vaporized starting material,

b) collecting the particulate material in at least one receiving and/or transporting device, in particular at least one container,

c) receiving, in particular storing, and/or transporting the particulate material in the receiving and/or transporting device and/or in a further receiving and/or transporting device such that it can be used for a subsequent process, in particular in a state of at least non-permanent passivation, and

d) providing the particulate material for the subsequent process.

A method of making a ceramic device with a controlled roughness includes using a defocused laser beam to roughen a surface of a ceramic substrate, and removing one or more portions of the roughened surface without removing all of the roughened surface. If desired, the ceramic device may include reaction-bonded silicon carbide, and an opening may be formed in the device so that the device can be used to apply a clamping suction to a wafer surface. A ceramic surface with a controlled roughness is also disclosed. The defocused laser beam may be used to make the surface rough enough to prevent it from sticking to a mating element, and to have adequate wear resistance, but not so rough as to prevent the formation of sufficient suction to clamp the surface to a mating element.

The method for shaping a carrier sheet of high hardness, in particular a gres sheet, comprises the steps of providing a solid carrier sheet of high hardness having a thickness of at least 6 mm; covering a front surface of the carrier sheet with a removable vibration-absorbing protective layer; providing the surface of the protective layer remote from the carrier sheet with a glass sheet; on the back surface of the carrier sheet opposite the front surface thereof, forming a plurality of cavities according to a predetermined pattern. The step of forming comprises forming the cavities by milling so that in each cavity the remaining thickness of the carrier sheet along the front surface is at least 3 mm and at most 5 mm; during milling, at least one physical property of the vibration of the carrier sheet is continuously measured on the front surface of the carrier sheet by means of at least one sensor; on the basis of at the least one physical property measured by the sensor, adjusting the operation of the milling tool so that the vibration properties of the carrier sheet do not exceed predetermined threshold values; by applying a first optical method, taking a first 3D image of the surface roughness of the milled cavities; further reducing the surface roughness of the cavities by shot blasting, wherein during the shot blasting, the operation of the shot blasting tool is controlled using parameters determined on the basis of the first 3D image taken during the first scanning; by applying a second 3D scanning, taking a second 3D image of the surface roughness of the cavities treated by shot blasting; and by applying laser beam milling, further reducing the surface roughness of the cavities, wherein the operation of the laser beam milling tool is controlled on the basis of the second 3D image taken after the laser beam milling by the second 3D scanning so that the surface roughness of the cavities falls in the submicron range.

Systems for and methods for improving mechanical properties of ceramic material are provided. The system comprises a heat source for heating the ceramic material to a temperature greater than a brittle-to-ductile transition temperature of the ceramic material; a probe for mounting the ceramic material and configured to extend the ceramic material into the heat source; a plasma-confining medium and a sacrificial layer disposed between the ceramic material and the plasma-confining medium; and an energy pulse generator such as a laser pulse generator. The sacrificial layer is utilized to form plasma between the ceramic material and the plasma-confining medium. The method comprises heating ceramic material to a temperature greater than a brittle-to-ductile transition temperature of the ceramic material and subjecting the ceramic material to energy pulses via a sacrificial layer and a plasma-confining medium whereby a plasma of the sacrificial coating forms between the ceramic material and a plasma-confining medium.

Fluorescent rare earth glass frits are suitable for laser marking. A marking composition including fluorescent glass frits is disclosed that is capable of emitting fluorescence under irradiation of ultraviolet rays. A method of forming marks or indicia on a substrate using the fluorescent rare earth glass frits is also disclosed.

Fluorescent rare earth glass frits are suitable for laser marking. A marking composition including fluorescent glass frits is disclosed that is capable of emitting fluorescence under irradiation of ultraviolet rays. A method of forming marks or indicia on a substrate using the fluorescent rare earth glass frits is also disclosed.

A ceramic spinner and a method of making the same is provided. The ceramic spinner includes: a top portion with a first opening, the first opening having a first diameter; a base portion with a second opening, the second opening having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; a cylindrical portion extending between the top portion and the base portion, the cylindrical portion including a peripheral outer wall, a peripheral inner wall, and a plurality of through holes extending between the peripheral outer wall and the peripheral inner wall. The cylindrical portion may include a material having a module of rupture (MOR) exceeding 100 MPa, a Mohs hardness exceeding 8, or a Young's Modulus exceeding 250 GPa, or any combinations thereof.

A method of providing a particulate material from an at least substantially metallic and/or ceramic starting material, comprising the following steps: (a) generating the particulate material from the starting material by vaporizing the starting material by introducing energy, preferably radiation energy, in particular by means of at least one laser, into the starting material and subsequently at least partially condensing the vaporized starting material, b) collecting the particulate material in at least one receiving and/or transporting device, in particular at least one container, c) receiving, in particular storing, and/or transporting the particulate material in the receiving and/or transporting device and/or in a further receiving and/or transporting device such that it can be used for a subsequent process, in particular in a state of at least non-permanent passivation, and d) providing the particulate material for the subsequent process.

An inkjet printhead, a system including an inject printhead, and a method for applying primer to a target area on an outer surface of a ceramic body. The inkjet printhead comprises an ink chamber comprising the primer therein. The primer comprises a pigment, a binder, and a solvent. The primer also comprises a surface tension of at least about 40 mN/m. A spray nozzle is connected to the ink chamber and comprises an exit opening that comprises an area of less than about 20,000 square microns. The spray nozzle is configured to eject droplets of the primer from the exit opening at an average exit velocity of less than about 4 m/s.

An inkjet printhead, a system including an inject printhead, and a method for applying primer to a target area on an outer surface of a ceramic body. The inkjet printhead comprises an ink chamber comprising the primer therein. The primer comprises a pigment, a binder, and a solvent. The primer also comprises a surface tension of at least about 40 mN/m. A spray nozzle is connected to the ink chamber and comprises an exit opening that comprises an area of less than about 20,000 square microns. The spray nozzle is configured to eject droplets of the primer from the exit opening at an average exit velocity of less than about 4 m/s.