Systems and methods for forming an oxidation protection system on a composite structure are provided. In various embodiments, an oxidation protection system disposed on a substrate may comprise a boron-silicon-glass layer formed directly on the composite structure. The boron-silicon-glass layer may comprise a boron compound, a silicon compound, and a glass compound.

A method and system to dry crack-free and high strength skin including an inorganic binder of an average particle size (D.sub.50) in a range between 10 nm and 700 nm on a porous ceramic body. The method includes supporting the honeycomb body on an end face such that axial channels and outer periphery are substantially vertical. A gas is flowed past the honeycomb body substantially parallel to the axial channel direction, substantially equally around the outer periphery of the skin, to uniformly dry the skin to form a partially dried skin under mild conditions. Then the partially dried skin may be dried more severely resulting in rapidly dried crack-free and high strength skin.

A method and system to dry crack-free and high strength skin including an inorganic binder of an average particle size (D.sub.50) in a range between 10 nm and 700 nm on a porous ceramic body. The method includes supporting the honeycomb body on an end face such that axial channels and outer periphery are substantially vertical. A gas is flowed past the honeycomb body substantially parallel to the axial channel direction, substantially equally around the outer periphery of the skin, to uniformly dry the skin to form a partially dried skin under mild conditions. Then the partially dried skin may be dried more severely resulting in rapidly dried crack-free and high strength skin.

Methods of forming structures including a substrate (e.g., ceramic) and an interface layer comprising a metal are disclosed. Structures and electrochemical cells and batteries are also disclosed. Exemplary methods include flash sintering of metal and ceramic materials. Various structures may be suitable for use as solid electrolytes in solid-state electrochemical cells, as well as for many other applications.

Methods of forming structures including a substrate (e.g., ceramic) and an interface layer comprising a metal are disclosed. Structures and electrochemical cells and batteries are also disclosed. Exemplary methods include flash sintering of metal and ceramic materials. Various structures may be suitable for use as solid electrolytes in solid-state electrochemical cells, as well as for many other applications.

Methods for improving the wear performance of silicon nitride and/or other ceramic materials, particularly to make them more suitable for use in manufacturing biomedical implants.

Methods for improving the wear performance of silicon nitride and/or other ceramic materials, particularly to make them more suitable for use in manufacturing biomedical implants.

Process for the production of a hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding is brought into contact with a hydrophobizing agent in vapour form with formation of a thermal-insulation moulding coated with hydrophobizing agent, and this is then subjected to a press process and during the press process and/or after the press process is reacted with the hydrophobizing agent with formation of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a) the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding after the press process and after the reaction with the hydrophobizing agent is from 100 to 250 kg/m.sup.3, and b) the density of the hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding on contact with the hydrophobizing agent is from 50% to less than 100% of the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding.

Process for the production of a hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding is brought into contact with a hydrophobizing agent in vapour form with formation of a thermal-insulation moulding coated with hydrophobizing agent, and this is then subjected to a press process and during the press process and/or after the press process is reacted with the hydrophobizing agent with formation of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a) the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding after the press process and after the reaction with the hydrophobizing agent is from 100 to 250 kg/m.sup.3, and b) the density of the hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding on contact with the hydrophobizing agent is from 50% to less than 100% of the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding.

The purpose of the present invention is to achieve an in-situ observation of structural change in a shear field of slurry, i.e. an evaluation of a rheology property of slurry containing raw materials of a ceramic as a fluid sample, together with an in-situ observation of internal structure of the fluid sample in an evaluation process, and a clarification of internal structural change. An observation of an internal structure of a fluid sample 1 in an evaluation process of a rheology property by a rheometer 10 is achieved by generating an optical coherence tomographic image by performing an optical coherence tomography by irradiating a light in infrared region from outside of the rheometer 10 to the fluid sample 1, by inclining an optical axis of light in infrared region irradiating the fluid sample 1 for a predetermined angle within an angular range of 1 to 10 degrees with respect to a normal direction of an observation surface 1A of the fluid sample 1 by the optical coherence tomography imaging device 20, together with an evaluation of a rheology property of the fluid sample 1 containing components different in a refractive index by the rheometer 10.