Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A sintered body of ceramics, comprising 0.1 to 10% by weight of yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ); 0.1 to 10% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ); 0.1 to 10% by weight of aluminum nitride (AlN); 0.1 to 5% by weight of at least one first oxide selected from the group consisting of lithium oxide (Li 2 O), beryllium oxide (BeO), calcium oxide (CaO), vanadium oxide (V 2 O 5 ), manganese oxide (MnO 2 ), molybdenum oxide (MoO 3 ) and tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) or a combination of at least one of these first oxides with at least one second oxide selected from the group consisting of boron oxide (B 2 O 3 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), titanium oxide (TiO 2 ), chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ), cobalt oxide (CoO), nickel oxide (NiO), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ), niobium oxide (Nb 2 O 5 ), hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ) and tantalum oxide (Ta 2 O 5 ); and the balance being silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A sintered body of ceramics, comprising 0.1 to 10% by weight of yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ); 0.1 to 10% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ); 0.1 to 10% by weight of aluminum nitride (AlN); 0.1 to 5% by weight of at least one first oxide selected from the group consisting of lithium oxide (Li 2 O), beryllium oxide (BeO), calcium oxide (CaO), vanadium oxide (V 2 O 5 ), manganese oxide (MnO 2 ), molybdenum oxide (MoO 3 ) and tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) or a combination of at least one of these first oxides with at least one second oxide selected from the group consisting of boron oxide (B 2 O 3 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), titanium oxide (TiO 2 ), chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ), cobalt oxide (CoO), nickel oxide (NiO), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ), niobium oxide (Nb 2 O 5 ), hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ) and tantalum oxide (Ta 2 O 5 ); and the balance being silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, wherein said sintered body comprises 0.5 to 8% by weight of yttrium oxide; 0.5 to 8% by weight of aluminum oxide; 0.5 to 8% by weight of aluminum nitride; 0.25 to 3% by weight of at least one first oxide selected from the group consisting of lithium oxide, beryllium oxide, calcium oxide, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide, molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide or a combination of at least one of these first oxides with at least one second oxide selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, cobalt oxide, nickel oxide, zirconium oxide, niobium oxide, hafnium oxide and tantalum oxide; and the balance being silicon nitride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
221 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, produced by the process comprising the steps of: molding a powder mixture comprising 0.1 to 10% by weight of yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ) powders; 0.1 to 10% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) powders; 0.1 to 10% by weight of aluminum nitride (AlN) powders; 0.1 to 5% by weight of at least one first powdery oxide selected from the group consisting of lithium oxide (Li 2 O), beryllium oxide (BeO), calcium oxide (CaO), vanadium oxide (V 2 O 5 ), manganese oxide (MnO 2 ), molybdenum oxide (MoO 3 ) and tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) or a combination of at least one of these first powdery oxides with at least one second powdery oxide selected from the group consisting of boron oxide (B 2 O 3 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), titanium oxide (TiO 2 ), chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ), cobalt oxide (CoO), nickel oxide (NiO), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ), niobium oxide (Nb 2 O 5 ), hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ) and tantalum oxide (Ta 2 O 5 ), and the balance of silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) powders; and sintering the resultant compact in a non-oxidative atmosphere at a temperature between about 1500° C. and 1900° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 2, produced by the process comprising the steps of: molding a powder mixture comprising 0.5 to 8% by weight of yttrium oxide powders; 0.5 to 8% by weight of aluminum oxide powders; 0.5 to 8% by weight of aluminum nitride powders; 0.25 to 3% by weight of at least one first powdery oxide selected from the group consisting of lithium oxide, beryllium oxide, calcium oxide, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide, molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide or a combination of at least one of these first powdery oxides with at least one second powdery oxide selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, cobalt oxide, nickel oxide, zirconium oxide, niobium oxide, hafnium oxide and tantalum oxide; and the balance of silicon nitride powders; and sintering the resultant compact in a non-oxidative atmosphere at a temperature of between about 1500° C. and 1900° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, wherein the first oxide comprises lithium oxide, beryllium oxide or vanadium oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 2, wherein the first oxide comprises lithium oxide, beryllium oxide or vanadium oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, wherein the silicon nitride comprises at least about 70% by weight of the ceramic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, wherein the silicon nitride comprises between about 80 and 90% by weight of the ceramic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, wherein the silicon nitride compises a major proportion of alpha-phase silicon nitride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, wherein the combined content of the yttrium oxide and aluminum oxide is between about 3 and 15% by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 10, wherein the combined content of the yttrium oxide and aluminum oxide is between about 4 and 10% by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sintered body of ceramics according to claim 1, having a relative density of at least about 95% relative to the theoretical density, a flexural strength of at least about 80 kg/cm 2 and an impact resistance ΔT of at least about 700° C.