A method of forming a three dimensional fiber structure is disclosed which comprises the steps of a) providing a starting material which comprises liquid carrier, fibers and binder; b) passing the starting material over a substrate so as to deposit fibers onto the substrate; c) forming a three dimensional fiber matrix; and d) curing the binder. The flow of material onto the substrate may be controlled such that the flow of a starting material over the substrate is chaotic and fibers are laid down in a three dimensional structure containing a high proportion of voids. The preform may be pressurized while moist and is cured under pressure. The fibers may comprise carbon fibers; recycled carbon fiber has been found to be particularly useful. The resulting preform may be stochastic and is suitable for use in ablative and braking applications.

A functional ceramic material made from a raw material mixture which includes 0.1-0.5 wt % iron powder, 20-25 wt % bentonite, and a remainder of sludge (based on dry weight) which contains bacteria. To make the functional ceramic material, the raw material mixture is calcined at low temperature and anaerobic conditions. Use of the material for purifying a medium is also provided.

The invention relates to a method for producing a raw material for the production of refractory ceramic products, a raw material produced by said method, and a raw material for producing refractory ceramic products.

Disclosed are systems and methods for refractory recycling that result in refined individual refractory components from a network of aggregate refractory components based on a fragmentation process. In one embodiment, a network of refractory aggregates is crushed and deposited into a refiner machine. The refiner machine includes a blast chamber that houses a projecting mechanism. The deposited aggregate material is propelled from the projecting mechanism at a critical velocity. Upon impact with an inner lining of material within the blast chamber, contaminant particles can fracture apart from the deposited aggregate material, leaving a refined individual refractory component.

A mixture comprising a linear copolymer comprising acrylic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, water and one or more metal oxide ceramic nanoparticles with a mean particle size of up to 100 nanometers, preferably up to 60 nanometers, more preferably within the range between 20 nanometers and 60 nanometers, e.g., 40 nm. The mixture can be used in formation of doughs which are suitable for green machining. Molar ratio between acrylic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid in the copolymer can optionally be within the range between 0.8:1 and 1:0.8. In the mixture, the linear copolymer can be present at a concentration within an optional range between 1 wt. % and 2 wt. % based on total solid content. In the mixture, the one or more metal oxide ceramic nanoparticles can be present at a concentration within an optional range between 60 wt. % and 70 wt. %.

A multicolor light-storing ceramic for fire-protection indication and a preparation method thereof are provided. The preparation method includes: adding a glass based raw material, a light-storing powder, a dispersant and an alumina powder into a granulator, adding water mixed with a pore-forming agent and then mechanically stirring for granulation; adding a plasticizer after the stirring of 4?8 h, and continuing the stirring for 1?3 h to thereby obtain a mixture; packing the mixture into a mold and performing tableting; demolding and obtaining a light-storing self-luminous quartz ceramic by drying and firing using a kiln; printing a pattern onto a surface of the ceramic and then curing to obtain a light-storing ceramic for indication sign. Using an industrial waste glass has advantages of low sintering temperature and green environmental protection; dispersed pores and alumina introduced as scattering sources improves light absorption efficiency, fluorescence output phase ratio and light transmission of the ceramic.

Provided is a method for efficiently producing tungsten carbide from a raw material mixture comprising at least one valuable containing tungsten. The present invention relates to a method for producing tungsten carbide, comprising the steps of subjecting a raw material mixture comprising at least one valuable containing tungsten to electrolysis using an organic electrolytic solution to dissolve tungsten in the electrolytic solution; and calcining the electrolytic solution containing dissolved tungsten at a temperature of 800 C. or more to obtain tungsten carbide.

Ceramic particles for use in a solar power tower and methods for making and using the ceramic particles are disclosed. The ceramic particle can include a sintered ceramic material formed from a mixture of a ceramic raw material and a darkening component comprising MnO as Mn.sup.2+. The ceramic particle can have a size from about 8 mesh to about 170 mesh and a density of less than 4 g/cc.

A method of making a glass-ceramic article includes synthesizing a feedstock gel that includes a base oxide network comprising Na.sub.2O, CaO, and SiO.sub.2, in which a molar ratio of Na.sub.2O:CaO:SiO.sub.2 in the gel is 1:2:3, and then converting the feedstock gel into a glass-ceramic article such as a container or a partially-formed container. The conversion of the feedstock gel into a glass-ceramic container may be performed at a temperature that does not exceed 900 C. and may include the steps of pressing the feedstock gel into a compressed solid green-body, sintering the green-body into a solid monolithic body of a glass-ceramic material, deforming the solid monolithic glass-ceramic body into a glass-ceramic preform, and cooling the preform. A glass-ceramic article having a glass-ceramic material that has a molar ratio of Na.sub.2O:CaO:SiO.sub.2 that is 1:2:3 is also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides a preparation method of a fly ash-based ceramic membrane support, including the following steps: 1) subjecting fly ash to alkali washing and acid washing to obtain pretreated fly ash; 2) blending a raw material including the pretreated fly ash, and then conducting aging and extrusion molding to obtain a green body; and 3) spraying a surface water-retaining agent (including glycerol, tung oil, a diol, and polyethylene glycol) on a surface of the green body to allow static curing in a constant-temperature and constant-humidity environment, and then conducting drying and sintering after the curing is completed. The preparation method can effectively improve molding and sintering performances of the fly ash to obtain a fly ash-based ceramic membrane support with a qualified performance.