The present invention concerns a method for modifying the properties of the surface (F) of a material. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a first layer (12; 12) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of a cathode, a second layer (14) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of an anode and an intermediate layer (16) suited to become impregnated with an electrolyte in the liquid phase or to regulate its flow between said cathode and said anode; associating an electrolyte in the liquid phase with one or more of said layers (12, 14, 16); positioning the anode or the cathode on the surface (F) to be treated; supplying power to the cathode and the anode in order to activate the electrochemical process of the electrolyte in the liquid phase for a predetermined time interval.

The present invention concerns a method for modifying the properties of the surface (F) of a material. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a first layer (12; 12) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of a cathode, a second layer (14) comprising an electrically conductive material suited to serve the function of an anode and an intermediate layer (16) suited to become impregnated with an electrolyte in the liquid phase or to regulate its flow between said cathode and said anode; associating an electrolyte in the liquid phase with one or more of said layers (12, 14, 16); positioning the anode or the cathode on the surface (F) to be treated; supplying power to the cathode and the anode in order to activate the electrochemical process of the electrolyte in the liquid phase for a predetermined time interval.

To provide a sliding member having improved wear resistance, and a method of manufacturing the sliding member. A femoral head ball according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a composite ceramic containing alumina and at least one oxide other than alumina. A surface roughness Ra of the sliding surface when the femoral head ball slides against a constituent member constituting an artificial joint is not more than 0.01 μm. The sliding surface includes a plurality of recessed portions each having an opening diameter of not more than 2 μm.

In one aspect, an article comprises a substrate that comprises a ceramic matrix composite; and a metal oxide layer disposed on the substrate; where the metal oxide layer has a marking etched into the metal oxide via laser ablation. The markings include alphabets, numbers, symbols, bar codes, matrix bar codes, quick response codes, or a combination thereof. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising disposing upon a ceramic matrix composite a metal oxide layer; and laser ablating the metal oxide layer to etch the metal oxide layer. The etchings produce markings that comprise alphabets, numbers, symbols, bar codes, matrix bar codes, quick response codes, or a combination thereof.

In one aspect, an article comprises a substrate that comprises a ceramic matrix composite; and a metal oxide layer disposed on the substrate; where the metal oxide layer has a marking etched into the metal oxide via laser ablation. The markings include alphabets, numbers, symbols, bar codes, matrix bar codes, quick response codes, or a combination thereof. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising disposing upon a ceramic matrix composite a metal oxide layer; and laser ablating the metal oxide layer to etch the metal oxide layer. The etchings produce markings that comprise alphabets, numbers, symbols, bar codes, matrix bar codes, quick response codes, or a combination thereof.

A preparation method includes the following steps: Step (1): pressing and then drying body powder to form a green brick; Step (2): applying a ground coat on the surface of the green brick; Step (3): inkjet-printing a pattern on the surface of the green brick having the ground coat, and applying an isolation glaze; Step (4): applying a fully polished glaze on the surface of the green brick having the isolation glaze; and Step (5): drying, firing, and polishing the green brick having the fully polished glaze to obtain a hard wear-resistant polished glazed ceramic tile. The phase composition of the fired fully polished glaze is as follows: 10 to 20 percent by weight of corundum, 20 to 30 percent by weight of hyalophane, 0.5 to 1.0 percent by weight of hematite, and 50 to 68 percent by weight of amorphous phase.

A preparation method includes the following steps: Step (1): pressing and then drying body powder to form a green brick; Step (2): applying a ground coat on the surface of the green brick; Step (3): inkjet-printing a pattern on the surface of the green brick having the ground coat, and applying an isolation glaze; Step (4): applying a fully polished glaze on the surface of the green brick having the isolation glaze; and Step (5): drying, firing, and polishing the green brick having the fully polished glaze to obtain a hard wear-resistant polished glazed ceramic tile. The phase composition of the fired fully polished glaze is as follows: 10 to 20 percent by weight of corundum, 20 to 30 percent by weight of hyalophane, 0.5 to 1.0 percent by weight of hematite, and 50 to 68 percent by weight of amorphous phase.

A sacrificial ceramic CO.sub.2 sequestration architectural product comprising a sintered/heat-treated mixture that comprises: one or more reactive solid phases, wherein each reactive solid phase comprises one or more weathering materials capable of enhanced mineralization, and one or more particle-bridging phases that bridge the one or more reactive solid phases, and an open porosity that is in a range from about 15 vol% to about 30 vol%.

Technical fields of building external wall decoration and material manufacturing, providing a mildewproof and antirot high-strength cement particle board and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method includes: (1) sequentially carbonizing and water-washing a shaving, and mixing the obtained carbonized shaving with a cement gelling agent, a curing agent aqueous solution and water to obtain a mixture; (2) molding the mixture to obtain a pre-molded material; and (3) sequentially curing and drying the pre-molded material to obtain the mildewproof and antirot high-strength cement particle board. Compared to ordinary cement particle board, which is not subjected to carbonization treatment and water-washing, the cement particle board of the present invention can effectively avoid mildew and rot, and can significantly improve the mechanical strength and durability thereof, helping to extend the service life of the cement particle board.

A method to produce a ceramic matrix composite with controlled surface characteristics includes: applying a scrim ply to a surface of a fiber preform, where the fiber preform includes silicon carbide fibers coated with boron nitride; infiltrating the fiber preform and the scrim ply with a slurry, thereby forming an impregnated ply on an impregnated fiber preform; infiltrating the impregnated fiber preform and the impregnated ply with a melt comprising silicon, and then cooling, thereby forming a ceramic matrix composite having a ceramic surface layer thereon, where the ceramic surface layer has a predetermined thickness and is devoid of boron; machining or grit blasting the ceramic surface layer to form an intermediate layer suitable for coating; and depositing an environmental barrier coating on the intermediate layer. Thus, a ceramic matrix composite coated with the environmental barrier coating is formed with the intermediate layer in between.