Disclosed is a microcracked ceramic body, comprising a predominant phase (greater than 50 wt %) of zirconium tin titanate and a dilatometric coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) from 25 to 1000 C of not more than 4010.sup.7 C..sup.1 as measured by dilatometry and methods for the manufacture of the same.

A sintered rare earth oxyfluoride compact is composed of Ln.sub.aO.sub.bF.sub.c (wherein Ln is a rare earth element; and a, b, and c each independently represent a positive number, provided that they are not equal to each other) or Ca-stabilized LnOF as a primary phase and LnOF unstabilized with Ca as a secondary phase. The intensity ratio of the XRD peak of the (018) or (110) plane of the unstabilized LnOF to the highest XRD peak of Ln.sub.aO.sub.bF.sub.c is preferably 0.5% to 30%.

A lead-free lithium doped potassium sodium niobate piezoelectric ceramic material in powdered form and having a single crystalline phase and uses thereof are described. Methods of making the said piezoelectric ceramic material are also described.

The composite sintered body includes Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and MgAl.sub.2O.sub.4. The content of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in the composite sintered body is not less than 95.5% by weight. The average sintered grain size of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in the composite sintered body is not less than 2 m and not greater than 4 m. The standard deviation of sintered grain size distribution of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in the composite sintered body is not greater than 0.35. The bulk density of the composite sintered body is not less than 3.94 g/cm.sup.3 and not greater than 3.98 g/cm.sup.3. In the composite sintered body, the ratio of amount of crystal phase of MgAl.sub.2O.sub.4 to that of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 is not less than 0.003 and not greater than 0.01.

Supports for supporting mould parts and/or cores in investment casting, comprise support material comprising: a mechanically supportive continuous matrix phase comprising alumina; at least one second phase interpenetrating the matrix phase and providing a pathway for leachants to penetrate into the material; wherein the support material comprises: in the range of 1 wt % and 12 wt % of the second phase; and less than 15 vol % voids.

Disclosed herein is a ceramic article or coating useful in semiconductor processing, which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas. The ceramic article or coating is formed from a combination of yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide.

A method for producing an alumina sintered body, including: a step of applying an alkaline earth metal compound onto a surface of an alumina raw material which is an unsintered alumina compact or an alumina sintered body; and a step of subjecting the alumina raw material to which the alkaline earth metal compound has been applied to heat treatment at a temperature of 1200 C. or more for 5 minutes or more and 300 minutes or less.

A composite ceramic with improved mechanical performance and a preparation method therefor. The composite ceramic comprises fluorescent powder, a ceramic matrix, and an optional sintering aid. The weight ratio of the fluorescent powder to the ceramic matrix is from 3:17 to 9:1, and the relative density of the composite ceramic is greater than 95%. The preparation method comprises using core shell-structured coated fluorescent powder as a raw material, and ball-milling and sintering the raw material to obtain the composite ceramic.

A ceramic electronic component includes: a ceramic body that includes internal electrodes; and an external electrode that includes a plurality of crystal particles containing Ba, Zn, Si, and O, the external electrode being formed on a surface of the ceramic body and connected to the internal electrodes.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.