Inventive manufacture of CrB.sub.2—Al.sub.2O.sub.3 composites is based on pressureless sintering. According to typical inventive practice, CrB.sub.2 powder and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 powder are mixed together in selected volumetric proportions so that the volume of the CrB.sub.2 does not exceed 50% of the overall volume of the CrB.sub.2—Al.sub.2O.sub.3 mixture. The CrB.sub.2—Al.sub.2O.sub.3 mixture is shaped into a green body. The green body is pressureless sintered in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a firing temperature in the approximate range between 1600° C. and 2050° C. The present invention succeeds in preparing, via pressureless sintering, a proportionality-associated range of compositions in the CrB.sub.2—Al.sub.2O.sub.3 system, which is a potentially “advanced” ceramic system. A typical inventively fabricated CrB.sub.2—Al.sub.2O.sub.3 composite is inventively configured in a complex shape, and has “advanced” material (e.g., mechanical) properties that are favorable for a contemplated application. Inventive manufacture of ceramic-ceramic composites is thus dually attributed, and uncommonly so, with complex shape-ability and advanced capability.

Disclosed is a faucet valve including: a first valve body including a first slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body; and a second valve body including a second slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body, the first and second slide surfaces at least partially being in contact with each other with water in between. At least part of the second slide body is formed from a first amorphous carbon layer. The hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is equal to or less than that of the alumina-based sintered body forming the first valve body. In the first amorphous carbon layer, a ratio (ID/IG) of a D peak to a G peak, measured by Raman spectroscopy, is greater than 0.5 but less than 1.9.

Disclosed is a faucet valve including: a first valve body including a first slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body; and a second valve body including a second slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body, the first and second slide surfaces at least partially being in contact with each other with water in between. At least part of the second slide body is formed from a first amorphous carbon layer. The hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is equal to or less than that of the alumina-based sintered body forming the first valve body. In the first amorphous carbon layer, a ratio (ID/IG) of a D peak to a G peak, measured by Raman spectroscopy, is greater than 0.5 but less than 1.9.

A carbon material for bearings includes a porous carbon base material and an impregnation material. The impregnation material is made of resin or metal, and with which the carbon base material is impregnated. The carbon material for bearings includes a plurality of pores. When a pore distribution in the carbon material for bearings is measured by a mercury penetration method using a mercury porosity meter, a cumulative pore volume of pores having a diameter larger than 0.1 m is not more than 8 mm.sup.3/g.

An apparatus for the manufacture of at least substantially hydrogen-free ta-C layers on substrates, which includes a vacuum chamber, which is connectable to an inert gas source and a vacuum pump, a support device in the vacuum chamber, at least one graphite cathode having an associated magnet arrangement forming a magnetron that serves as a source of carbon material, a bias power supply for applying a negative bias voltage to the substrates on the support device, at least one cathode power supply for the cathode, which is connectable to the at least one graphite cathode and to an associated anode and which is designed to transmit high power pulse sequences spaced at intervals of time, with each high power pulse sequence comprising a series of high frequency DC pulses adapted to be supplied, optionally after a build-up phase, to the at least one graphite cathode.

The invention relates to a slide ring of a mechanical seal arrangement, produced from a graphene-containing material.