Patent ID: 8853112

Claim:
A sintered bead to serve in microgrinding or microdispersion applications, said bead being obtained by sintering of a mixture comprising a source of zirconia, a source of CeO 2 , and a source of alumina, said bead presenting the following chemical analysis, in percentages by weight and for a total of 100%: ZrO 2 +HfO 2 : ≧78% CeO 2 : ≧15%; Al 2 O 2 : >0.1%; additive: >0.1% and <0.8%; additive/Al 2 O 2 between 0.5 and 2; and impurities: <1%; the additive being selected from the group consisting of MnO, MnO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , CuO, Sb 2 O 3 , ZnO, and mixtures thereof.