A heat insulating material includes an aerogel that has macro-pores and meso-pores. A method for manufacturing a heat insulating material, including: a sol preparation step of adding a gelling agent into sodium silicate such that a molar ratio of the gelling agent relative to NaO.sub.2 is 0.1 to 0.75, and adjusting a sol into which macro-pores are introduced by leaving unreacted Na and non-cross-linked oxygen in a siloxane skeleton; an impregnating and gelling step of impregnating a nonwoven fabric fiber structure with the sol to form a composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber; a hydrophobizating step of mixing the formed composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber with a silylating agent to modify a surface thereof; and a drying step of removing a liquid contained in the surface modified composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber by drying under a temperature and pressure lower than respective critical values.

A heat insulating material includes an aerogel that has macro-pores and meso-pores. A method for manufacturing a heat insulating material, including: a sol preparation step of adding a gelling agent into sodium silicate such that a molar ratio of the gelling agent relative to NaO.sub.2 is 0.1 to 0.75, and adjusting a sol into which macro-pores are introduced by leaving unreacted Na and non-cross-linked oxygen in a siloxane skeleton; an impregnating and gelling step of impregnating a nonwoven fabric fiber structure with the sol to form a composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber; a hydrophobizating step of mixing the formed composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber with a silylating agent to modify a surface thereof; and a drying step of removing a liquid contained in the surface modified composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber by drying under a temperature and pressure lower than respective critical values.

A method for forming an isolating layer of a crucible includes placing a round crucible sideways with a bottom surface of an inside thereof perpendicular to a horizontal plane, and then performing a plurality of spraying processes to form the isolating layer on the bottom surface and a wall surface of the round crucible. Each spraying process includes spraying a slurry on the bottom surface; using an optical positioner to set a spraying range the same as one of a plurality of partial areas divided from the wall surface; aligning one of the plurality of partial areas with the spraying range; fixing the round crucible and spraying the slurry in the spraying range; stopping the spraying; and rotating the round crucible to move another partial area to the spraying range. Then, the steps are repeated until the spraying of all the partial areas is completed.

A method for forming an isolating layer of a crucible includes placing a round crucible sideways with a bottom surface of an inside thereof perpendicular to a horizontal plane, and then performing a plurality of spraying processes to form the isolating layer on the bottom surface and a wall surface of the round crucible. Each spraying process includes spraying a slurry on the bottom surface; using an optical positioner to set a spraying range the same as one of a plurality of partial areas divided from the wall surface; aligning one of the plurality of partial areas with the spraying range; fixing the round crucible and spraying the slurry in the spraying range; stopping the spraying; and rotating the round crucible to move another partial area to the spraying range. Then, the steps are repeated until the spraying of all the partial areas is completed.

A method for making a ceramic matrix composite component includes densifying a fibrous preform of the component with a ceramic matrix to form an intermediate component; infiltrating a hole in the intermediate component with an infiltrate material comprising a solid and a metallic alloy whose reaction forms a carbide, silicide, boride or combination thereof, heating the infiltrate material to a temperature in excess of a melting point of the metallic alloy; and sequentially cooling regions of the hole starting from an interior end of the hole to the outer surface of the intermediate component to form a solidified through-thickness reinforcement element. The hole extends in a through-thickness direction and is open to an exterior surface of the intermediate component.

A method for making a ceramic matrix composite component includes densifying a fibrous preform of the component with a ceramic matrix to form an intermediate component; infiltrating a hole in the intermediate component with an infiltrate material comprising a solid and a metallic alloy whose reaction forms a carbide, silicide, boride or combination thereof, heating the infiltrate material to a temperature in excess of a melting point of the metallic alloy; and sequentially cooling regions of the hole starting from an interior end of the hole to the outer surface of the intermediate component to form a solidified through-thickness reinforcement element. The hole extends in a through-thickness direction and is open to an exterior surface of the intermediate component.

A filter element for a particle filter having a porous filter body made of a ceramic material and including a plurality of flow channels extending fluidically in parallel. The filter body is provided at least in a part of the flow channels with a coating made of a coating material, which is different from the ceramic material and is made up of orthorhombic crystals. A particle filter, a method for producing a filter element, and the use of a coating material for coating a filter element is also provided.

A filter element for a particle filter having a porous filter body made of a ceramic material and including a plurality of flow channels extending fluidically in parallel. The filter body is provided at least in a part of the flow channels with a coating made of a coating material, which is different from the ceramic material and is made up of orthorhombic crystals. A particle filter, a method for producing a filter element, and the use of a coating material for coating a filter element is also provided.

Stone slabs, and systems and methods of forming slabs, are described. Some example slabs include a first pattern defined by a first particulate mineral mix and a second pattern defined by a second particulate mineral mix different from the first particulate mineral mix. The first particulate mix includes greater than 50 weight percent of first metallic particles.

A method of forming a bladder cast ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article including infiltrating a CMC substrate positioned in a cavity of a mold body with a slurry. The CMC substrate includes reinforcement material defining inner spaces. The slurry includes solid particles and a carrier material. During infiltration, the slurry at least partially fills at least a portion of the inner spaces of the CMC substrate. The method also includes inflating at least one bladder that is coupled to the mold body and disposed within the cavity such that a surface of the at least one bladder in an inflated configuration contacts at least one surface of the CMC substrate. The method also includes drying the slurry to remove at least a portion of the carrier material form an infiltrated CMC and deflating the at least one bladder.