Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A composition suitable for use in the manufacture of a ceramic material comprising free-flowing substantially non-aggregated non-sintered particulate zirconia at least 60% by weight of which is in the tetragonal crystalline form, and containing within the particles thereof alumina in an amount of 1.0% to 10% by weight expressed as A1 on weight of ZrO 2 , wherein the amount of silica is not greater than 0.1% by weight as Si on ZrO 2 and at least 85% of said particulate zirconia has a diameter of less than 1 micron.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A composition suitable for use in the manufacture of a ceramic material comprising free-flowing substantially non-aggregated non-sintered particulate zirconia at least 60% by weight of which is in the tetragonal crystalline form, and containing within the particles thereof alumina in an amount of 1.0% to 10% by weight expressed as A1 on weight of ZrO 2 , wherein the amount of silica is not greater than 0.1% by weight as Si on ZrO 2 and at least 85% of said particulate zirconia has a diameter of less than 1 micron.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition according to claim 1 in which the amount of alumina is greater than 1.5% and less than 8% by weight as A1 on ZrO 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition according to claim 1 in which the proportion is at least 80% by weight of the zirconia.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition according to claim 1 in which the amount of sodium is less than 300 ppm by weight as Na.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition according to claim 1 in which said particulate zirconia has a mean size of from 0.01 to 0.2 micron.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition according to claim 1 in which at least 85% of any aggregated particles present have a size less than 1 micron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A composition according to claim 1 in which a stabilising agent is present with said particulate zirconia.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A composition according to claim 7 in which said stabilising agent is selected from the class of compounds consisting of compounds of yttrium, calcium, magnesium, barium, strontium and cerium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A composition according to claim 8 in which said stabilising agent is present as an oxide or hydrous oxide in the form of a coating on said particulate zirconia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
A composition suitable for use in the manufacture of a ceramic material comprising free-flowing particulate zirconia in which at least 85% by weight of any particles which are aggregated have a size less than 1 micron, in which at least 60% by weight of said particulate zirconia is present in the tetragonal crystalline phase, in which any silica present does not exceed 0.1% by weight as Si on ZrO 2 and which contains alumina within said particles in an amount of from 1.0% to 10% by weight expressed as A1 on weight of ZrO 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A composition suitable for use in the manufacture of a ceramic material comprising free-flowing particulate zirconia in which at least 85% by weight of any particles which are aggregated have a size less than 1 micron, in which at least 60% by weight of said particulate zirconia is present in the tetragonal crystalline phase, in which any silica present does not exceed 0.1% by weight as Si on ZrO 2 and which contains alumina within said particles in an amount of from 1.0% to 10% by weight expressed as A1 on weight of ZrO 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A process for the production of a composition for use in the manufacture of a ceramic material comprising oxidising in the vapour phase an oxidisable compound of zirconium with oxygen to form a predominant amount of tetragonal zirconia in the presence of an oxidisable aluminum compound in an amount sufficient to produce alumina in an amount of from 1.0% to 10% by weight expressed as A1 on weight of ZrO 2 produced and in the substantial absence of oxidisable silicon compound such that the amount of silica is not greater than 0.1% by weight as Si on ZrO 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A process for the production of a composition for use in the manufacture of a ceramic material comprising oxidising in the vapour phase an oxidisable compound of zirconium with oxygen to form a predominant amount of tetragonal zirconia in the presence of an oxidisable aluminum compound in an amount sufficient to produce alumina in an amount of from 1.0% to 10% by weight expressed as A1 on weight of ZrO 2 produced and in the substantial absence of oxidisable silicon compound such that the amount of silica is not greater than 0.1% by weight as Si on ZrO 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 11 in which the oxidisable compound of zirconium is a zirconium halide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 11 or 12 in which the oxidisable aluminium compound is an aluminium halide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 11 in which the oxidation is carried out at a minimum equilibrium temperature of at least 1500K.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 11 in which an electrical plasma heating system is used to supply any necessary heat to effect the oxidation.