A fluidic module includes a monolithic closed-porosity ceramic body that has a first region and a second region with the first region disposed between the second region. The first and second regions are configured to differ from one another with respect to a common attribute of a ceramic material of the ceramic body. The common attribute can differ by forming the first and second regions from ceramic particles that differ with respect their particle sizes. The fluidic module further includes a tortuous fluid passage that extends through the ceramic body. The fluid passage is surrounded by the first region such that the fluid passage is separated entirely from the second region at least within a planar region of the ceramic body. The fluid passage has an interior surface with a surface roughness of less than or equal to 5 m Ra. A method for forming the fluidic module is disclosed.

Carbon opals, a form of colloidal crystal, are composed of ordered two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrays of Monodispersed Starburst Carbon Spheres (MSCS). Methods for producing such carbon opals include oxidizing as-synthesized MSCS, for example by heating in air, to increase surface charge. Such oxidation is believed to decrease settling rates of a colloidal suspension, enabling formation of an ordered colloidal crystal. Inverse opals, composed of any of a wide variety of materials, and based on a carbon opal template, have a reciprocal structure to a carbon opal. Inverse opals are formed by methods including: forming a carbon opal as described, impregnating a desired material into pores in the carbon opal to produce a hybrid structure, and removing the carbon portion from the hybrid structure.

Carbon opals, a form of colloidal crystal, are composed of ordered two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrays of Monodispersed Starburst Carbon Spheres (MSCS). Methods for producing such carbon opals include oxidizing as-synthesized MSCS, for example by heating in air, to increase surface charge. Such oxidation is believed to decrease settling rates of a colloidal suspension, enabling formation of an ordered colloidal crystal. Inverse opals, composed of any of a wide variety of materials, and based on a carbon opal template, have a reciprocal structure to a carbon opal. Inverse opals are formed by methods including: forming a carbon opal as described, impregnating a desired material into pores in the carbon opal to produce a hybrid structure, and removing the carbon portion from the hybrid structure.

A self-assembled carbon structure such as a carbon opal is disclosed herein. The structure is composed of hydrophilic carbon spheres oriented in a periodic colloidal crystal structure, wherein the carbon spheres have a porous surface, wherein the carbons spheres have an average particle diameter less than 3000 nm. Also disclosed is an inverse opal structure that includes a plurality of voids in the structural material. The voids are regularly arranged in an ordered periodic structure, the voids having a spherical shape. The inverse opal structure has a specific surface area greater than 100 m.sup.2/g and method for making the same together with materials that employ the same.

A self-assembled carbon structure such as a carbon opal is disclosed herein. The structure is composed of hydrophilic carbon spheres oriented in a periodic colloidal crystal structure, wherein the carbon spheres have a porous surface, wherein the carbons spheres have an average particle diameter less than 3000 nm. Also disclosed is an inverse opal structure that includes a plurality of voids in the structural material. The voids are regularly arranged in an ordered periodic structure, the voids having a spherical shape. The inverse opal structure has a specific surface area greater than 100 m.sup.2/g and method for making the same together with materials that employ the same.

The present invention relates to a method for one-step regulation of a pore structure and surface properties of a silicon carbide (SiC) membrane. The method comprises: first, fully mixing SiC powder with a sintering aid, and then synergistically regulating a pore structure and surface wetting properties of a SiC membrane by controlling a molding pressure and a sintering condition. The amount of SiO.sub.2 generated by oxidation of SiC is controlled, and in situ reaction of SiO.sub.2 and the sintering aid is prompted to generate a neck connection, such that a sintering temperature of the SiC membrane can be reduced, and the strength and corrosion resistance properties of the SiC membrane can also be improved. The degree of sintering of the SiC membrane is effectively controlled by means of the regulation of the molding pressure and the sintering temperature. It is a simple method for one-step regulation of a pore structure and surface properties of a SiC membrane. The SiC membrane prepared has porosity adjustable in a range of 13% to 48% and a pore size adjustable in a range of 0.17 m to 1 m; and the SiC membrane has an initial dynamic water contact angle in a range of 12.01 to 66.8 and an underwater oil contact angle adjustable in a range of 120.3 to 155.1. The SiC membrane prepared has high bending strength and pure water permeation properties and show a broad application prospect in the field of oil-water separation and emulsion preparation.

A porous refractory cast material contains a closed refractory aggregate fraction having a minimum particle size and a maximum particle size; the ratio of maximum particle size to minimum particle size is 10:1 or less. This closed refractory aggregate fraction comprises all of the porous refractory cast material having a particle diameter greater than 0.1 mm. The porous refractory cast material also contains a binder phase containing refractory selected from calcium aluminate cement, alumina phosphate, hydratable alumina, colloidal silica and combinations thereof. Also disclosed is a metallurgical vessel with an interior lining incorporating the porous refractory cast material.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for preparing silicon carbide membrane supports using activated coke fly ash. Using activated coke fly ash as a pore-forming agent, micro-sized silicon carbide powder as the primary aggregate, nano-zirconia, alumina, and/or magnesia as sintering aids, and polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution as a binder. The components are uniformly mixed to obtain a premixed material. The premixed material is extruded via mechanical extrusion to form support green bodies, which are then dried at a constant temperature in a drying oven. Finally, the dried green bodies undergo programmed sintering in a muffle furnace to produce the silicon carbide membrane supports.

A filter for the filtration of a fluid, such as a liquid, includes or is constituted by a support element made from a porous ceramic material, at least a portion of the surface of the support element being covered with a porous membrane separating layer, the membrane separating layer being constituted essentially of silicon carbide (SiC), its porosity being between 10% and 70% by volume, the median diameter of its pores being between 50 nanometers and 500 nanometers, its mean thickness being between 1 micrometer and 30 micrometers, and its tortuosity being less than 1.7.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for preparing silicon carbide membrane supports using activated coke fly ash. Using activated coke fly ash as a pore-forming agent, micro-sized silicon carbide powder as the primary aggregate, nano-zirconia, alumina, and/or magnesia as sintering aids, and polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution as a binder. The components are uniformly mixed to obtain a premixed material. The premixed material is extruded via mechanical extrusion to form support green bodies, which are then dried at a constant temperature in a drying oven. Finally, the dried green bodies undergo programmed sintering in a muffle furnace to produce the silicon carbide membrane supports.