Abstract: A method of forming a sintered ?-phase tantalum carbide can include assembling a particulate mixture including a tantalum hydride powder and a carbon source powder. The particulate mixture can be sintered to form a tantalum carbide having at least 70 wt. % of a ?-phase with at least about 90% densification. After sintering, the tantalum carbide can be cooled to substantially retain the ?-phase.

Abstract: A method of forming a sintered ?-phase tantalum carbide can include assembling a particulate mixture including a tantalum hydride powder and a carbon source powder. The particulate mixture can be sintered to form a tantalum carbide having at least 70 wt. % of a ?-phase with at least about 90% densification. After sintering, the tantalum carbide can be cooled to substantially retain the ?-phase.

Abstract: A ceramic material having a high toughness can include carbon and a transition metal. The transition metal can have an elemental body centered cubic structure at room temperature. A substantial amount of the ceramic can be of a rhombohedral ? phase of the transition metal and carbon. These materials can have a high thermal shock resistance, high fracture toughness, and good high temperature performance. A particulate mixture of a carbon source and a transition metal source can be assembled (12) and reacted (14) under high pressure and high temperature. The transition metal source can include a transition metal of a metal which has an elemental BCC structure at room temperature. The particulate mixture carbon to transition metal ratio is chosen so as to achieve a zeta phase carbide and processing is affected in order to retain the zeta phase at a substantial weight percent of the material (i.e. greater than about 5 wt %).

Abstract: A ceramic material having a high toughness can include carbon and a transition metal. The transition metal can have an elemental body centered cubic structure at room temperature. A substantial amount of the ceramic can be of a rhombohedral ? phase of the transition metal and carbon. These materials can have a high thermal shock resistance, high fracture toughness, and good high temperature performance. A particulate mixture of a carbon source and a transition metal source can be assembled (12) and reacted (14) under high pressure and high temperature. The transition metal source can include a transition metal of a metal which has an elemental BCC structure at room temperature. The particulate mixture carbon to transition metal ratio is chosen so as to achieve a zeta phase carbide and processing is affected in order to retain the zeta phase at a substantial weight percent of the material (i.e. greater than about 5 wt %).

Abstract: A scheduled price verification system and method which ensure that a scheduled price change has been scheduled for an electronic price label (EPL) associated with an item. The system includes a storage medium for storing an EPL data file and a spool file, and a computer. The computer executes a scheduled price verifier program which reads the EPL data file to obtain identification information for the item associated with the EPL, reads a price file to obtain a new price and a time that the new price is to be effective, reads the spool file after the time to determine whether it contains a record of the one price change to the new price for the EPL, and schedules a price change message containing the new price if the spool file does not contain the record of the one price change to the new price for the EPL.

Abstract: A superhard form of boron suboxide comprises at least about 95% by weight B.sub.6 O and has a KNH.sub.100 value of at least about 3800 kg/mm.sup.2. In a preferred embodiment, the boron suboxide has an average grain size of about 0.1-40 microns. A method for forming the superhard boron suboxide comprises mixing boron oxide (B.sub.2 O.sub.3) and boron powder and subjecting the mixture to a temperature of 1500.degree. C. to about 2,200.degree. C. and a pressure sufficient to produce the superhard boron suboxide. The superhard boron suboxide may be made by this method with or without a sintering aid being present in the mixture of boron and boron oxide.