Patent ID: 6274853
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: C04B,F23Q,H05B

Abstract:
A ceramic heater comprising a substrate and a heating resistor embedded in the substrate, said heating resistor is formed of a silicon nitride ceramic containing silicon nitride in a predominant amount, a conductive component, and a rare earth element (RE), whereinthe rare earth element is contained in an amount of 1-6 mol % as reduced to RE.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;the mole ratio of residual oxygen to RE.sub.2 O.sub.3 is 1-5, the amount of residual oxygen being expressed on a silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2) basis and being obtained by subtracting the amount of oxygen contained in a rare earth element oxide from the total amount of oxygen contained in the heating resistor; anda predominant phase of the heating resistor other than conductive component and the silicon nitride is melilite (RE.sub.2 O.sub.3.Si.sub.3 N.sub.4).