Ngk Spark Plug Company, Limited

Ken-ichi Mizuno

Yoshihiro Yamamoto

Toru Shimamori

Katsura Matsubara

Yo Tajima

Kazuhisa Itakura

Iazuhisa Itakura

A homogeneous alumina-based sintered material having excellent grindability, low porosity and high flexural strength, and which is free of color unevenness and fluctuations in density. Predetermined amounts of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder, MgO powder, CaCO.sub.3 powder and SiO.sub.2 powder are measured out, and then mixed with stirring in a ball mill. The mixture is granulated using a spray dryer, and then hydrostatically pressed to obtain a molded product having a predetermined shape. Subsequently, the molded product is stored and sintered at a temperature of 1,550.degree. C. to 1,650.degree. C., particularly 1,600.degree. C. to 1,650.degree. C. under atmospheric pressure for 2 hours. As a result, an alumina-based sintered material having a 50 percent cumulative grain size distribution in diameter of from 4 to 15 .mu.m, a 90 percent grain diameter of two to three times the 50 percent grain diameter, and a porosity of not more than 5% can be obtained. The alumina-based sintered material thus obtained exhibits a maximum load current during grinding of not more than 1.0 A/mm, particularly not more than 0.5 A/mm, and a four-point flexural strength of not less than 300 MPa, thus providing excellent grindability as well as high strength.

Alumina-based sintered material

Disclosed is an alumina-based sintered material comprising a magnesium component, a calcium component, a silicon component, and a lithium component, wherein the content of the lithium component in terms of oxide amount is from 0.002 to 0.04% by weight based on the alumina-based sintered material.

Alumina-based sintered materials and process for producing the same

A silicon nitride sintered product for use in cutting tools and the like which has silicon nitride as a predominant phase, and comprises 0.1 to 1% by weight of Al as calculated on the basis of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, the total amount of sintering aid constituents other than Al being 6% by weight or less on the oxide basis, the content of the grain boundary glassy phase being 8% by volume or less. The silicon nitride sintered product preferably has a relative density of 99% or more.

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Nagoya, Japan

Ken-ichi Mizuno