Provided are a MnZnWO sputtering target having excellent crack resistance and a production method therefor. The MnZnWO sputtering target has a chemical composition containing Mn, Zn, W, and O. From an X-ray diffraction pattern of the MnZnWO sputtering target, a ratio P.sub.MnO/P.sub.W of a maximum peak intensity P.sub.MnO of a peak due to a manganese oxide composed only of Mn and O to a maximum peak intensity P.sub.W of a peak due to W is 0.027 or less.

A ceramic member comprising a compound oxide of La, E and Mn, wherein AE is (i) Ca, or (ii) contains Ca and at least one of Sr and Ba with a total amount of Sr and Ba to a total of Ca, Sr and Ba of not more than 5 mol %, and a crystal system in a surface of the ceramic member is a monoclinic system.

Vessels such as crucibles, pans, open cups and saggars, containing a monolithic ceramic material, and a ceramic matrix composite, wherein the monolithic ceramic material is an inner part. A method for making oxide materials that can be utilized in the contact with corrosive materials and that allows for higher conversions in a given heating process.

A ceramic member comprising a compound oxide of La, E and Mn, wherein AE is (i) Ca, or (ii) contains Ca and at least one of Sr and Ba with a total amount of Sr and Ba to a total of Ca, Sr and Ba of not more than 5 mol %, and a crystal system in a surface of the ceramic member is a monoclinic system.

Provided are a black mixed oxide that contains chromium per se of any valency as a main component, and fails to contain cobalt as the main component material, and has a high safety, an excellent color tone and economical efficiency, and a method for producing the same, and various products using the black mixed oxide material. The mixed oxides comprise oxides containing La, Mn and Cu as main components but containing neither Cr nor Co as a main component, wherein the contents of La, Mn and Cu in the mixed oxides satisfy the following ratios, as oxide equivalent amount with respect to 100% by weight of the oxide equivalent amount: the La content as La.sub.2O.sub.3 being 35-70 wt %; the Mn content as MnO.sub.2 being 25-60 wt %; and the Cu content as CuO being 0.5-10 wt %.

A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.

A method for manufacturing a sintered body, the method including heating a mixture that contains a plurality of particles of a metal oxide having a spinel-type structure, and a metal acetylacetonate under pressure at a temperature of from a melting point or higher of the metal acetylacetonate to 600 C. or lower, to form a sintered body that contains the metal oxide having the spinel-type structure.

A method for manufacturing a sintered body, the method including heating a mixture that contains a plurality of particles of a metal oxide having a spinel-type structure, and a metal acetylacetonate under pressure at a temperature of from a melting point or higher of the metal acetylacetonate to 600 C. or lower, to form a sintered body that contains the metal oxide having the spinel-type structure.

A ceramic material, a component, and a method for producing a component are disclosed. In an embodiment a ceramic material includes a structure based on a system selected from the group consisting of NiCoMnO, NiMnO and CoMnO, and at least one dopant selected from lanthanides, wherein the ceramic material has a negative temperature coefficient of an electrical resistance.

Provided are a black mixed oxide that contains chromium per se of any valency as a main component, and fails to contain cobalt as the main component material, and has a high safety, an excellent color tone and economical efficiency, and a method for producing the same, and various products using the black mixed oxide material. The mixed oxides comprise oxides containing La, Mn and Cu as main components but containing neither Cr nor Co as a main component, wherein the contents of La, Mn and Cu in the mixed oxides satisfy the following ratios, as oxide equivalent amount with respect to 100% by weight of the oxide equivalent amount: the La content as La.sub.2O.sub.3 being 35-70 wt %; the Mn content as MnO.sub.2 being 25-60 wt %; and the Cu content as CuO being 0.5-10 wt %.