Patent ID: 7722797

Claim:
A method of producing a ceramic substrate comprised of a base that comprises layers in a stack, each layer in the stack comprising a non-sintered ceramic material and a binder, the method comprising: debinding the layers in a temperature interval of T E1 to T E3 , where T E1 is a minimum debinding temperature and T E3 >T E1 ; and sintering the layers at a temperature T S , where T S ≧T E3 ; wherein debinding and sintering are performed in a same furnace; wherein a temperature T of the base does not fall below T E1 during debinding and sintering; wherein debinding begins at a temperature between T E1 and T E2 that increases at an increasing rate, where T E1 <T E2 <T E3 , whereafter T decreases to a value of T E1′ , where T E1 <T E1′ <T E2 ; wherein a first part of debinding is performed in an atmosphere that is inert; and wherein, during debinding, an atmosphere in the furnace changes from an inert atmosphere to an air atmosphere in accordance with a reduction in temperature to T E1 ′.