Abstract: Inorganic particulate or whiskers are surface-treated to facilitate receptivity to covalent bonding with a coupling agent. Surface treatment forms reactive groups that enable the inorganic particulate or whiskers to covalently bond to a reactive group of the coupling agent. The coupling agent also contains organofunctional groups, which in some examples may be covalently bonded to a polymer matrix by way of crosslinking or by co-polymerizing the functionalized particulate or whiskers together with polymer precursors. The resulting polymeric materials exhibit markedly improved abrasion resistance as well as other improved properties.

Abstract: A composite material that increases in temperature upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation comprising single crystal silicon carbide whiskers and fibrils in a matrix material. Also, heat-generating objects comprising the composite material, and a method of generating heat.