The present invention relates to a novel multi-layered zirconia dental blank comprising at least two reverse layers. Further, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of such a multi-layered zirconia dental blank. The invention also relates to the use of such a multi-layered zirconia dental blank for the production of a dental article. Preferred dental articles are artificial teeth, inlays, onlays, bridges, crowns, veneers, facings, crown frameworks, bridged frameworks, implants, abutments, copings or orthodontic appliances. Moreover, the invention relates to a process for producing a dental article out of such a multi-layered zirconia dental blank.

A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition mainly includes a first crystal phase (KNN phase) and a second crystal phase (NTK phase). In the first crystal phase (KNN phase), a plurality of crystal grains formed of an alkali niobate/tantalate perovskite oxide having piezoelectric characteristics is bound to each other in a deposited state. The second crystal phase (NTK phase) is formed of a compound containing titanium (Ti) and fills spaces between the crystal grains in the first crystal phase.

Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell having a service life of approximately 90,000 hours, a level required to encourage the widespread use of SOFC. The solid oxide fuel cell is provided with a solid electrolyte layer, an oxygen electrode layer provided on one side of the solid electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode layer provided on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer. The oxygen electrode layer is made from a material containing iron or manganese, and the solid electrolyte layer contains an yttria-stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte material having a lanthanoid oxide dissolved therein.

There is provided a dielectric ceramic composition including a base powder, wherein the base powder includes: a first major component represented by BaTiO.sub.3, a second major component represented by (Na, K)NbO.sub.3, and a third major component represented by (Bi, Na)TiO.sub.3. The base powder is represented by xBaTiO.sub.3-y(Na, K)NbO.sub.3-z(Bi, Na)TiO.sub.3, where x+y+z=1, and x, y, and z are represented by mol, and x, y and z satisfy 0.5≦x≦0.97, 0.01≦y≦0.48, and 0.02≦z≦0.2, respectively. In certain embodiments, the base powder is be represented by xBaTiO.sub.3-y(Na.sub.0.5K.sub.0.5)NbO.sub.3-z(Bi.sub.0.5Na.sub.0.5)TiO.sub.3.

Provided are: a MnZn-based ferrite which allows to have a low magnetic core loss and to suppress a time-dependent change of magnetic property under a high-temperature environment by a control of ambient oxygen concentration and an increase of the magnetic core loss, and a method for manufacturing the same. The MnZn-based ferrite is characterized in that Fe ranges from 53.25 mol % or more to 54.00 mol % or less on the basis of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, Zn ranges from 2.50 mol % or more to 8.50 mol % or less on the basis of ZnO and Mn is the remainder on the basis of MnO, Si ranges from more than 0.001 mass % to less than 0.02 mass % on the basis of SiO.sub.2, Ca ranges from more than 0.04 mass % to less than 0.4 mass % on the basis of CaCO.sub.3, Co is less than 0.5 mass % on the basis of Co.sub.3O.sub.4, Bi is less than 0.05 mass % on the basis of Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, Ta is less than 0.05 mass % on the basis of Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, Nb is less than 0.05 mass % on the basis of Nb.sub.2O.sub.5, Ti is less than 0.3 mass % on the basis of TiO.sub.2, and Sn is less than 0.3 mass % on the basis of SnO.sub.2, and note that the converted total amount of Ta.sub.2O.sub.5 and Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 is less than 0.05 mass % and the converted total amount of TiO.sub.2 and SnO.sub.2 is less than 0.3 mass %.

Electronic devices are produced from dielectric compositions comprising a mixture of precursor materials that, upon firing, forms a dielectric material comprising a barium-strontium-titanium-tungsten-silicon oxide.

A manufacturing method of ceramic powder includes mixing a barium carbonate having a specific surface are of 15 m.sup.2/g or more, a titanium dioxide having a specific surface area of 20 m.sup.2/g or more, a first compound of a donor element having a larger valence than Ti, and a second compound of an acceptor element having a smaller valence than Ti and having a larger ion radium than Ti and the donor element, and synthesizing barium titanate powder by calcining the barium carbonate, the titanium dioxide, the first compound and the second compound until a specific surface area of the barium titanate powder becomes 4 m.sup.2/g or more and 25 m.sup.2/g or less.

A method for preparing an infrared radiation ceramic material includes mixing and ball milling raw materials of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MnO.sub.2 and CuO in a mass ratio to obtain a mixed powder; pressing the mixed powder; adjusting laser spot, laser power and laser sintering time of a laser; irradiating or sintering by a first laser the pressed mixed powder in a crucible for a high-temperature solid-phase reaction to obtain an AB.sub.2O.sub.4 type ferrite powder; obtaining a first mixture by mixing the AB.sub.2O.sub.4 type ferrite powder and a cordierite powder in a mass ratio; adding a sintering aid and a nucleating agent for ball milling; obtaining a second mixture by mixing the first mixture and a binder for aging; pressing the second mixture; and irradiating or sintering the pressed second mixture by a second laser to obtain the infrared radiation ceramic material.

A piezoelectric composition including copper and a complex oxide having a perovskite structure represented by a general formula ABO.sub.3, in which an A site element in the ABO.sub.3 is potassium or potassium and sodium, a B site element in the ABO.sub.3 is niobium or niobium and tantalum, the copper is included in n mol % in terms of a copper element with respect to 1 mol of the complex oxide, and n satisfies 0.100≤n≤1.000.

A ceramic substrate and a method for production thereof are provided, in which the ceramic substrate includes a composite of : a first ceramic layer including Sr anorthite and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 or an oxide dielectric with a dielectric constant higher than that of Al.sub.2O.sub.3; and a second ceramic layer including Sr anorthite and cordierite and having a dielectric constant lower than that of the first ceramic layer.