Abstract: A family of composites are characterized as a network of a first fiber and at least a second fiber, where at least the first fibers have a multiplicity of bonded junctions at their point of crossing. The largest class has metals as one or both of the fibers, although the second fiber can be of materials such as carbon, ceramics, and high surface area materials. The composites can be simply prepared and manifest enormous variation in such properties as void volume, pore size, and electrical properties generally.

Abstract: A new class of composites results from a matrix of carbon fibers, including graphite fibers, interwoven in a network of fused metal fibers. The composites can be fabricated to have varying surface area, void volume, and pore size while maintaining high electrical conductivity. Composites are readily prepared from a preform of a dispersion of carbon fibers, metal fibers, and an organic binder such as cellulose, by heating the preform at a temperature sufficient to fuse the metal fibers and to volatilize at least 90% of the binder with a loss of less than about 25%, and usually under 10%, by weight of carbon fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus which determines concentrations of each of three components that are intermixed in a homogeneous solution. Each component is detectable by at least one characteristic and more than one characteristic is associated with more than one component. First, characteristics that are quantitatively detectable in relation to the concentrations of the components are identified. A mathematical relationship is then developed between the components and the detectable characteristics using the detectable characteristics as independent variables. A sample of the solution is then analyzed to obtain quantitative data of each of the characteristics. The obtained quantitative data is then employed in the mathematical relationship to obtain the concentration of each of the components.