Abstract: A nanostructured tungsten carbide bulk material, sintered from tungsten carbide and metal such as cobalt nano-powders, comprises a tungsten carbide and a metallic binder such as cobalt phases. The tungsten carbide phase has nanostructures comprising a plurality of dislocations, twins, stacking faults, dislocation cells, nano-subgrains with preferred orientation or texture, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a concept of using porous materials on ceramic substrate planarization. This planarized substrate comprises a ceramic substrate, a buffer layer, and a nanostructure layer. The ceramic substrate can enhance the structural strength and surface-mount capability. The buffer layer provides the adhesion between a substrate and a nanostructure layer. Nanostructure layer provides the required surface smoothness of the ceramic substrates for performing thin-film processing techniques and enhancing adhesion for metallization and electronic materials. This layer also provides required properties for integrating electronic such as thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, dielectric, etc.

Abstract: A thin-film optical recording medium and compatible materials is disclosed. When the transparent layer and the reflecting layer of the present invention are exposed to a light beam, the two layers react to form a semi-transparent reflective alloy/compound area. The presence of such area (1) decreases the effective optical thickness of the transparent layer and/or (2) forms a region of changed optical n & k and/or (3) changes the optical polarization angle. At least one of the above three effects produces an optical contrast before and after the recording from which the signal modulation required for reading the optical media can be derived. The present invention allows high-density, high-resolution, high-speed recording of data that is highly compatible with the full visible-light spectrum.