The invention relates to a process for fabricating complex mechanical shapes from metal or ceramic, and in particular to fabricating complex mechanical shapes using a pressure-assisted sintering technique to address problems relating to variations in specimen thickness and tooling, or densification gradients, by 3-D printing of a sacrificial, self-destructing powder mold is created using e.g. alumina and swellable binders such as polysaccharides. The binder-free sintering powder that forms the manufactured item is injected into the mold, and high pressure is applied. The powder assembly can then be sintered by any pressure assisted technique to full densification and the self-destructing mold allows the release of the fully densified complex manufactured item.

This document describes processes for preparing ceramics, especially lithium-based ceramics. The ceramics produced by this process and their use in electrochemical applications are also described as well as electrode materials, electrodes, electrolyte compositions, and electrochemical cells comprising them.

This document describes processes for preparing ceramics, especially lithium-based ceramics. The ceramics produced by this process and their use in electrochemical applications are also described as well as electrode materials, electrodes, electrolyte compositions, and electrochemical cells comprising them.

A method of selectively removing at least part of a first phase from a surface of a nanocomposite includes at least a first phase and a second phase, each phase having a respective threshold fluence under a given number of applied laser pulses for removal of the phase by laser ablation. The threshold fluence of the first phase is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase. The method includes irradiating the surface of the nanocomposite with a laser beam having a laser beam diameter, a laser pulse duration, and a laser pulse energy during the irradiation. The laser fluence during the irradiation is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase and greater than the threshold fluence of the first phase. The laser beam diameter is greater than an average grain size of the first phase at the surface of the nanocomposite.

A method of selectively removing at least part of a first phase from a surface of a nanocomposite includes at least a first phase and a second phase, each phase having a respective threshold fluence under a given number of applied laser pulses for removal of the phase by laser ablation. The threshold fluence of the first phase is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase. The method includes irradiating the surface of the nanocomposite with a laser beam having a laser beam diameter, a laser pulse duration, and a laser pulse energy during the irradiation. The laser fluence during the irradiation is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase and greater than the threshold fluence of the first phase. The laser beam diameter is greater than an average grain size of the first phase at the surface of the nanocomposite.

A method for manufacturing microfibrillated cellulose, a particulate grinding medium suitable for use in said method, a material which wears rough, and a method for making said particulate grinding medium.

A method for manufacturing microfibrillated cellulose, a particulate grinding medium suitable for use in said method, a material which wears rough, and a method for making said particulate grinding medium.

A method of treating a ceramic body in a glass making process includes delivering a molten glass to a heated ceramic body, the ceramic body including a ceramic phase and an intergranular glass phase, the molten glass being in contact with a surface of the ceramic body. The method further includes contacting the ceramic body with a first electrode and contacting the molten glass with a second electrode. The method further includes applying an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode to create an electric potential difference across the ceramic body between the first and second electrodes, the electric potential difference being less than an electrolysis threshold of the ceramic phase and the intergranular glass phase. The intergranular glass phase demixes under driven diffusion in the applied electric field and mobile cations in the intergranular glass phase enrich proximate one of the first and second electrode.

Provided is an inorganic structure including a plurality of inorganic particles; and a binding part that covers a surface of each of the inorganic particles and binds the inorganic particles together, wherein the binding part contains: an amorphous compound containing silicon, oxygen, and one or more metallic elements; and fine particles having an average particle size of 100 nm or less. Also provided is a method for producing an inorganic structure including: a step for obtaining a mixture by mixing a plurality of inorganic particles, a plurality of amorphous silicon dioxide particles, and an aqueous solution containing a metallic element; and a step for pressurizing and heating the mixture under conditions of a pressure of 10 to 600 MPa and a temperature of 50 to 300° C.

Provided is an inorganic structure including a plurality of inorganic particles; and a binding part that covers a surface of each of the inorganic particles and binds the inorganic particles together, wherein the binding part contains: an amorphous compound containing silicon, oxygen, and one or more metallic elements; and fine particles having an average particle size of 100 nm or less. Also provided is a method for producing an inorganic structure including: a step for obtaining a mixture by mixing a plurality of inorganic particles, a plurality of amorphous silicon dioxide particles, and an aqueous solution containing a metallic element; and a step for pressurizing and heating the mixture under conditions of a pressure of 10 to 600 MPa and a temperature of 50 to 300° C.