The embodiments described herein relate to forming white appearing metal oxide films by forming cracks within the metal oxide films. In some embodiments, the methods involve directing a laser beam at a metal oxide film causing portions of the metal oxide film to melt, cool, contract, and crack. The cracks have irregular surfaces that can diffusely reflect visible light incident a top surface of the metal oxide film, thereby imparting a white appearance to the metal oxide film. In some embodiments, the cracks are formed beneath a top surface of a metal oxide film, thereby leaving a continuous and uninterrupted metal oxide film top surface.

A pliable bentwood laminate with an intermediate layer (2) forming a central layer, having first and second surface sides, a first outer timber layer (3) on the first surface side, and a second outer timber layer (4) one the second surface side, wherein the distance between the outer surface of the first and second outer timber layers (3, 4) is at least 8 mm, wherein the first and the second outer timber layers (3, 4) are formed from rotary cut balsawood veneer, wherein density of the first and second outer timber layers (3, 4), with a residual moisture content of 12% by weight with respect to the timber mass, is less than 200 kg/m.sup.3, wherein the first and second outer timber layers (3, 4) have lathe checks (5) on one surface side, wherein the first and second outer timber layers (3, 4) are arranged with the surface side having the lathe checks (5) faces away from the intermediate layer (2), wherein the bentwood laminate can be and/or is curved with an inner bending radius of between 100 mm and 250 mm, wherein the intermediate layer is a directional timber layer, a natural axis of the bentwood laminate runs in the intermediate layer, and wood grain of the directional intermediate layer runs at right-angles to longitudinal extent of the lathe checks (5).

A method for fabricating thermal barrier coatings. The thermal barrier coatings are produced with a fine grain size by reverse co-precipitation of fine powders. The powders are then sprayed by a solution plasma spray that partially melts the fine powders while producing a fine grain size with dense vertical cracking. The coatings comprise at least one of 45%-65% Yb.sub.2O.sub.3 the balance zirconia (zirconium oxide), Yb/Y/Hf/Ta the balance zirconia (zirconium oxide) and 2.3-7.8% La, 1.4-5.1% Y and the balance zirconia (zirconium oxide) and are characterized by a thermal conductivity that is about 25-50% lower than that of thermal barrier coatings comprising YSZ. The thermal barrier coatings also are characterized by at least one of excellent erosion resistance, fracture toughness and abrasion resistance.

A method for the laser-based machining of a sheet-like substrate, in order to separate the substrate into multiple portions, in which the laser beam of a laser for machining the substrate is directed onto the latter, is characterized in that, with an optical arrangement positioned in the path of rays of the laser, an extended laser beam focal line, seen along the direction of the beam, is formed on the beam output side of the optical arrangement from the laser beam directed onto the latter, the substrate being positioned in relation to the laser beam focal line such that an induced absorption is produced in the material of the substrate in the interior of the substrate along an extended portion, seen in the direction of the beam, of the laser beam focal line, such that a material modification takes place in the material of the substrate along this extended portion.

A method for manufacturing a coating includes dissolving at least one salt in a mixture of water and ethanol to form a precursor solution, adding an additive to the precursor solution to form a fuel solution, and injecting the fuel solution into a plasma flame. The additive includes at least one of urea or ammonium acetate. The additive functions as a fuel to increase a temperature of the plasma flame. The method further includes manufacturing the coating on a substrate. The coating includes a garnet structure including a predetermined amount of yttrium-aluminum, one or more first cracks extending completely through a thickness of the coating, and a porosity greater than ten volume percent.

A high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder wherein a purity of the zirconia is at least 99.5 weight percent purity and with a maximum amount of specified oxide impurities.

A high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder wherein a purity of the zirconia is at least 99.5 weight percent purity and with a maximum amount of specified oxide impurities.

A method for laser-based machining of a flat substrate, to separate the substrate into a plurality of sections, in which the laser beam of a laser is directed at the substrate using an optical arrangement, which is positioned in the beam path of the laser. The optical arrangement forms a laser beam focal line that is extended as viewed along the beam direction and the substrate is positioned relative to the laser beam focal line such that an induced absorption is produced in the material of the substrate along a section of the laser beam focal line that is extended as viewed in the beam direction.

The embodiments described herein relate to forming anodized films that have a white appearance. In some embodiments, an anodized film having pores with light diffusing pore walls created by varying the current density during an anodizing process is described. In some embodiments, an anodized film having light diffusing micro-cracks created by a laser cracking procedure is described. In some embodiments, a sputtered layer of light diffusing aluminum is provided below an anodized film. In some embodiments, light diffusing particles are infused within openings of an anodized layer.

A thermal barrier coating includes a highly porous layer and a dense layer. The highly porous layer is formed on a heat-resistant base, is made of ceramic, has pores, has a layer thickness of equal to or larger than 0.3 mm and equal to or smaller than 1.0 mm, and has a pore ratio of equal to or higher than 1 vol % and equal to or lower than 30 vol %. The dense layer is formed on the highly porous layer, is made of ceramic, has a pore ratio of equal to or lower than 0.9 vol % that is equal to or lower than the pore ratio of the highly porous layer, and has a layer thickness of equal to or smaller than 0.05 mm.