Abstract:
A phase-insensitive ultrasonic transducer has a zinc oxide single crystal as a piezoelectric semiconducting acoustoelectric element, providing high sensitivity and operable over a range of wavelengths of the ultrasonic waves. The electrical conductivity of said zinc oxide single crystal may be selected in the range 10.sup.-8 to 10.sup.-2 .OMEGA..sup.-1.cm.sup.-1. The single crystal can have an attenuation rate for ultrasonic waves of 10 MHz of at least 0.8 cm.sup.-1.
Abstract:
A solid oxide fuel cell including a flat plate-shaped solid oxide fuel cell element. The cell element is composed of an ion-conductive ceramic plate formed with ribs connected with each other in a plane, an air electrode formed on one main surface of the ion-conductive ceramic plate, and a fuel electrode formed on the other main surface of the ion-conductive ceramic plate. In producing the fuel cell, a flat plate-shaped green sheet made of an ion-conductive ceramic molding material is press contacted with a rib-forming green sheet made of a material of the same kind and having a unitary shape formed by connecting elongated portions to each other. The contacted green sheets are sintered together to form an ion-conductive ceramic plate. In an alternative, a flat plate-shaped green sheet and a rib-forming green sheet may be separately sintered and then bonded with each other to form an ion-conductive ceramic plate. The ion-conductive ceramic plate is formed with an air electrode surface and a fuel electrode on opposite main surfaces, respectively.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a metal-ceramic composite body having a ceramic member with a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion which are formed by providing a ceramic member with a projection and a metallic member with a recessed portion or through hole. The ceramic member and the metallic member are bonded together by inserting the small diameter portion into the recessed portion or through hole such that a space being not less than the diameter of the small diameter portion is provided between the edge surface of the metallic member on the side of the ceramic member at the bonding portion and the back surface of the large diameter portion of the ceramic member. The thickness of the edge portion of the metallic member is gradually reduced toward the ceramic member at a radius of curvature of not smaller than 0.4 times as large as the diameter of the small diameter portion. A method of producing the metal-ceramic composite body is also disclosed herein.
Abstract:
A PTC composite material including a matrix of ceramic material having one of a cristobalite crystal structure and a tridymite crystal structure, each doped with an oxide of at least one of Be, B, Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge and W, and a conductive phase dispersed throughout the matrix. The conductive phase includes at least one of a metal, silicide, nitride, carbide and boride.
Abstract:
A conductive composite sintered body exhibiting PTC behavior, including a high electrical resistance matrix and 20 vol %-40 vol % electrically conductive particles dispersed in the matrix to form an electrically conducting three-dimensional network therethrough. The electrically conductive particles are selected from bismuth, gallium, or alloys thereof, and an average distance between the particles, when viewed in an arbitrary cross-section through the sintered body, is no more than 8 times the average particle diameter of the particles. The resistivity of the sintered body is low at temperatures below the melting point of the electrically conductive material and increases substantially at or above the melting point.
Abstract:
In a metal-ceramic combination wherein a monobloc ceramic member comprising a base, a protrusion integrally formed on the base and an easement portion on and around the root of the protrusion, is combined with a metallic member, an improved combination having an excellent strength in total is obtained by fitting the protrusion tightly into a recession or conduit of the metallic member, leaving clearance of 0.5 mm or more between the easement portion and a defined edge of joint interface of the said two members. The combination of the invention is particularly useful for engine parts to be subjected to high temperatures and repeated stresses such as a turbocharger rotor, piston, tappet, rocker arm, exhaust valve, cam and the like.
Abstract:
A method for continuous thermogravimetric analysis of coal, or other materials rich in carbon, for volatile matter and ash content, including the steps of exposing a coal sample to an atmosphere consisting essentially of about 1 to 5% by volume of oxygen and the remainder being nitrogen and inevitable impurities at a first specified temperature for a first given time, weighing the coal sample to determine a first weight loss during the first given time, the first weight loss corresponding to the amount of volatile matter in the coal sample, burning the coal sample under an oxygen atmosphere having a higher than normal oxygen concentration for a second given time at a temperature sufficient to burn carbon containing materials in the coal sample, and weighing the coal sample to determine a second weight loss during the first given time and the second given time, the second weight loss corresponding to the amount of volatile matter and the amount of ash content in the coal sample.
Abstract:
A ceramic valve seat is disclosed herein. A face portion of the valve seat at which the valve seat is to contact with a valve is made of a ceramic material. At least edge portions of the valve-contacting face portion of the valve seat are rounded. By so constructing, impact force due to contact between the valve and the valve seat and stress concentration can be mitigated.
Abstract:
An inorganic-metal composite body exhibiting PTC behavior at a trip point temperature ranging from 40° C.-300° C., including an electrically insulating inorganic matrix having a room temperature resistivity of at least 1×106 &OHgr;·cm, and electrically conductive particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix and forming a three-dimensional conductive network extending from a first surface of said body to an opposed second surface thereof, wherein the composite body has a room temperature resistivity of no more than 10 &OHgr;·cm and a high temperature resistivity of at least 100 &OHgr;·cm. Preferably, the electrically conductive particles are made of a Bi-based alloy containing at least 50 wt % Bi, and have an average diameter, &phgr;ave, of 5-50 &mgr;m and a 3&sgr; particle size distribution of 0.5 &phgr;ave-2.0 &phgr;ave. Also disclosed is an inorganic PTC device including an intermediate electrode layer to insure adhesion of outer termination electrodes to the PTC composite body, and a method of forming the composite body, which method effectively deals with the volatility of the electrically conductive particles.
Abstract:
An inorganic-metal composite body exhibiting PTC behavior at a trip point temperature ranging from 40° C.-300° C., including an electrically insulating inorganic matrix having a room temperature resistivity of at least 1×106 &OHgr;·cm, and electrically conductive particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix and forming a three-dimensional conductive network extending from a first surface of said body to an opposed second surface thereof, wherein the composite body has a room temperature resistivity of no more than 10 &OHgr;·cm and a high temperature resistivity of at least 100 &OHgr;·cm. Preferably, the electrically conductive particles are made of a Bi-based alloy containing at least 50 wt % Bi, and have an average diameter, &phgr;ave, of 5-50 &mgr;m and a 3&sgr; particle size distribution of 0.5 &phgr;ave−2.0 &phgr;ave. Also disclosed is an inorganic PTC device including an intermediate electrode layer to insure adhesion of outer termination electrodes to the PTC composite body, and a method of forming the composite body, which method effectively deals with the volatility of the electrically conductive particles.