Abstract: A hard composite composition comprises a binder; and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. In an embodiment, the polymodal blend of matrix powder has at least one local maxima at a particle size of 30 ?m or less, at least one local maxima at a particle size of 200 ?m or more, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 ?m to about 200 ?m that has a value that is less than the local maxima at a particle size of 30 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method of fabricating silicon carbide according to the embodiment comprises the steps of preparing a mixture by mixing a dry silicon source with a carbon source comprising an organic carbon compound; and reacting the mixture, wherein a viscosity of the carbon source is in a range of 20 cps to 1000 cps.

Abstract: A single crystal diamond prepared by CVD and having one or more electronic characteristics; making the diamond suitable for electronic applications. Also provided is a method of making the single crystal CVD diamond.

Abstract: A high-quality nitride crystal can be produced efficiently by charging a nitride crystal starting material that contains tertiary particles having a maximum diameter of from 1 to 120 mm and formed through aggregation of secondary particles having a maximum diameter of from 100 to 1000 ?m, in the starting material charging region of a reactor, followed by crystal growth in the presence of a solvent in a supercritical state and/or a subcritical state in the reactor, wherein the nitride crystal starting material is charged in the starting material charging region in a bulk density of from 0.7 to 4.5 g/cm3 for the intended crystal growth.

Abstract: Elongated noble-metal nanoparticles and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. The method involves the formation of a plurality of elongated noble-metal nanoparticles by electrochemical deposition of the noble metal on a high surface area carbon support, such as carbon nanoparticles. Prior to electrochemical deposition, the carbon support may be functionalized by oxidation, thus making the manufacturing process simple and cost-effective. The generated elongated nanoparticles are covalently bound to the carbon support and can be used directly in electrocatalysis. The process provides elongated noble-metal nanoparticles with high catalytic activities and improved durability in combination with high catalyst utilization since the nanoparticles are deposited and covalently bound to the carbon support in their final position and will not change in forming an electrode assembly.

Abstract: Methods for the synthesis of metal borides. Metal boride compounds synthesized by those methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making fancy orange synthetic CVD diamond material is described. The method comprises irradiating a single crystal diamond material that has been grown by CVD to introduce isolated vacancies into at least part of the CVD diamond material and then annealing the irradiated diamond material to form vacancy chains from at least some of the introduced isolated vacancies. Fancy orange CVD diamond material is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for producing large size diamonds. The methods include using carbon containing gases and supplementary gases to form reaction zones that are suitable for diamonds to grow; controlling the temperatures that are suitable for diamonds to grow; and keeping the small size seeds in motion in the reaction zones to form large size diamonds. The method provides controlling the high temperature endurable small size seeds at suitable temperatures for diamonds to grow and keep them in motion in the reaction zones. The invention also provides systems that allow all the surfaces of the high temperature endurable small size seeds continually extend to form diamonds, then to form large size diamonds. The invention provides a large-scale, low cost production of large size diamonds.

Abstract: A method of making a dense diamond body comprises the steps of: forming a sintered polycrystalline diamond body with the use of a catalyst; forming voids in the body by removing at least some of the catalyst; and reducing the overall volume of voids by applying pressure and temperature to the body in a vessel substantially free of additional catalysts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of improving the crystalline perfection of IIa diamond crystals by heating the grown diamond crystals at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure. The invention extends to grown diamond material having a low extended defect density with low nitrogen concentration.

Abstract: A combinatorial synthesis of the diamond unit cell is disclosed wherein a carbon atom free of meta-stable radical impurities reacts with cyclic hydrocarbon compounds or heterocyclic compounds whose structure is tetrahedral or nearly tetrahedral. Reactions conducted in the vapor phase and in the solid state are disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous method for functionalizing a carbon nanotube includes preparing a carbon nanotube solution containing a nitro compound represented by chemical formula 1 as R—(NOx)y wherein R is an alkyl group of C1 to C7 or an aryl group of C6 to C20 and x and y are integers of 1 to 3 independently, a carbon nanotube and a solvent. An oxidizer for forming a nitric acid selected from the group consisting of the carbon nanotube, oxygen, air, ozone, hydrogen peroxide and a mixture thereof is mixed with the carbon nanotube solution at a front end of a functionalizing reactor and the carbon nanotube mixture is fed into the functionalizing reactor. A functionalized carbon nanotube is prepared by treating the carbon nanotube mixture fed into the functionalizing reactor under a subcritical water or supercritical water condition of 50 to 400 atm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of carbon nanotubes by decomposition of hydrocarbons on a heterogeneous catalyst in a fluidized bed reactor, wherein the reactor can be operated batchwise or continuously, and in the case of continuous operation discharge can take place with sifting or without sifting.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of making silicon carbide involving adding one from the group of rice husk material, sorghum, peanuts, maple leaves, and/or corn husk material to a container, creating a vacuum or an inert atmosphere inside the container, applying conventional heating or microwave heating, heating rapidly, and reacting the material and forming silicon carbide (SiC).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacture of diamond, the method including the steps of providing a first coating of solvent metal or solvent metal alloy on a diamond seed to create a coated diamond seed, situating the coated diamond seed adjacent a catalyst system comprising a solvent metal and/or a source of carbon, and subjecting the coated diamond seed and catalyst system to increased temperature wherein the melting point of the first coating is at least 20 deg C. below that of the catalyst system. The invention further relates to a compact comprising a plurality of diamond seeds wherein at least one seed includes a first coating comprising a solvent metal and/or solvent metal based alloy, the compact further comprising a catalyst system comprising a solvent metal and/or a source of carbon wherein the melting point of the first coating is at least 20 deg C. below that of the catalyst system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an HPHT method for synthesizing single crystal diamond, wherein a single crystal diamond seed having an aspect ratio of at least 1.5 is utilized. Single crystal diamond seeds having an aspect ratio of at least 1.5 and synthetic single crystal diamond which may be obtained by the method recited are also described. The growth surface is substantially aligned along a <100> or <110> direction in the plane of the growth surface.

Abstract: Provided is an aggregate of carbon nanotubes wherein a mixture of 10 mg of aggregate of carbon nanotubes, 30 mg of sodium polystyrene sulfonate and 10 mL of water is subjected to ultrasonic homogenizer treatment, subsequently subjected to centrifugal treatment at 20000 G, then 9 mL of supernatant is sampled, and the content of aggregate of carbon nanotubes in the supernatant is 0.6 mg/mL or more. The aggregate of carbon nanotubes of the present invention can provide a dispersion of an aggregate of carbon nanotubes having a high concentration through very good dispersibility.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single crystal boron doped CVD diamond that has a toughness of at least about 22 MPa m1/2. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing single crystal boron doped CVD diamond. The growth rate of the diamond can be from about 20-100 ?m/h.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst using an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal in natural cellulose fibers as a co-catalyst and a dispersant. The catalyst is prepared using an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal as a co-catalyst and a dispersant, thus increasing the dispersibility of catalytic components and enhancing the interactions between the catalyst and the support to thereby retard agglomeration and increase the durability of the catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to single crystal diamond with high optical quality and methods of making the same. The diamond possesses an intensity ratio of the second-order Raman peak to the fluorescence background of around 5 or greater.