Silicon nitride ceramic-based filters for pumps, processing machines, material handling machines, grinding machines, probing machines, dicing machines, molding machines, stacking machines, tractors, balers, combines, plows, mowers, planters and sprayers in the automobile industry, energy production industry, environmental preservation industry, semiconductor industry, information and communication industry, and agriculture industry; structural parts made from silicon nitride ceramics for use as components in machines for manufacturing of bioreactors, incinerators, and turbines; structural parts made from silicon nitride ceramics for use as components in machines for manufacturing semiconductors, fuel cells and computers and parts of the foregoing sold as integral components for the parts; ball bearings for use in machines, namely, lawn mowers, manufacturing machinery, agricultural machines, medical machines, oil and gas industrial machines, food and beverage machines, compressors, moving walkways, conveyors, washing machines, dishwashers, electric mixers; turbochargers for machines; dispensing valves being machine parts; machines and machine tools for the cutting and forming of materials; machine tools, namely, powered machines for cutting or shaping or finishing metals or other material; structural parts made from silicon nitride ceramics for use as components in machines for manufacturing automobiles, and parts of all the foregoing sold together as integral components; ball bearings for use in hard disk drives, video game machines, and media players; ball bearings for use in electric hair dryers, and clothes dryers.