Abstract: An aluminum alloy including additions of scandium, zirconium, erbium and, optionally, silicon.

Abstract: A magnetic materials construct and a method to produce the construct are disclosed. The construct exhibits large magnetic-field-induced deformation through the magnetic-field-induced motion of crystallographic interfaces. The construct is a porous, polycrystalline composite structure of nodes connected by struts wherein the struts may be monocrystalline or polycrystalline. If the struts are polycrystalline, they have a “bamboo” microstructure wherein the grain boundaries traverse the entire width of the strut. The material from which the construct is made is preferably a magnetic shape memory alloy, including polycrystalline Ni—Mn—Ga. The construct is preferably an open-pore foam. The foam is preferably produced with a space-holder technique. Space holders may be dissolvable ceramics and salts including NaAlO2.

Abstract: Magnetic materials and methods exhibit large magnetic-field-induced deformation/strain (MFIS) through the magnetic-field-induced motion of crystallographic interfaces. The preferred materials are porous, polycrystalline composite structures of nodes connected by struts wherein the struts may be monocrystalline or polycrystalline. The materials are preferably made from magnetic shape memory alloy, including polycrystalline Ni—Mn—Ga, formed into an open-pore foam, for example, by space-holder technique. Removal of constraints that interfere with MFIS has been accomplished by introducing pores with sizes similar to grains, resulting in MFIS values of 0.12% in polycrystalline Ni—Mn—Ga foams, close to the best commercial magnetostrictive materials. Further removal of constraints has been accomplished by introducing pores smaller than the grain size, dramatically increasing MFIS to 2.0-8.7%.

Abstract: A method of making a metallic foam by a sintering process that includes solid state sintering and transient liquid phase sintering to form and then densify the metallic foam structure. A metallic foam is provided having a sintered foam skeleton structure with desirable macro-pores throughout wherein the undesirable micropores in walls of the skeleton structure are filled by a eutectic phase without closing off the desirable macro-pores.

Abstract: A magnetic materials construct and a method to produce the construct are disclosed. The construct exhibits large magnetic-field-induced deformation through the magnetic-field-induced motion of crystallographic interfaces. The construct is a porous, polycrystalline composite structure of nodes connected by struts wherein the struts may be monocrystalline or polycrystalline. If the struts are polycrystalline, they have a “bamboo” microstructure wherein the grain boundaries traverse the entire width of the strut. The material from which the construct is made is preferably a magnetic shape memory alloy, including polycrystalline Ni—Mn—Ga. The construct is preferably an open-pore foam. The foam is preferably produced with a space-holder technique. Space holders may be dissolvable ceramics and salts including NaAlO2.

Abstract: Superconducting phases comprising magnesium diboride related composites and methods of preparation.

Abstract: Superconducting phases comprising magnesium diboride related composites and methods of preparation.

Abstract: Superconducting phases comprising magnesium diboride related composites and methods of preparation.

Abstract: Superconducting phases comprising magnesium diboride related composites and methods of preparation.

Abstract: The invention produces mismatch plastic deformation in a workpiece by altering the chemical composition of the workpiece material, while the workpiece is subjected to a biasing stress, in a manner that introduces a strain increment into the material, deforming the workpiece without causing failure. In one approach, repeated cyclic alteration of chemical composition, so as to repeatedly alternately induce and reverse a phase transition that produces strain increment, allows accumulation of strain in an incremental fashion thereby achieving overall large, superplastic deformations in the workpiece without applying large stresses.

Abstract: A method for creep cavity shrinkage and/or porosity reduction without applied stress. The thermal treatment is found to increase the rate of densification relative to isothermal annealing, allowing for more rapid recovery of desired theoretical density in a shorter time.

Abstract: The invention provides techniques for forming composites including XW.sub.2 O.sub.8, where X=Zr, Hf, or a combination, dispersed within a continuous, metal matrix. A low to zero coefficient of thermal expansion material, with high thermal and electrical conductivity, results. One method for forming the composite involves coating particles of XW.sub.2 O.sub.8 with a layer of metal, then isostatically pressing the particles under conditions amenable to formation of a composite. The technique of coating, with a more malleable phase, a phase that undergoes a disadvantageous phase transformation of decomposition upon exposure to a threshold pressure at a set temperature can be applied to a variety of materials.

Abstract: The invention produces superplastic deformation in a workpiece by altering the chemical composition of the workpiece material, while the workpiece is subjected to a biasing stress, in a manner that introduces a strain increment into the material that effects a change in a overall dimension of the workpiece without causing failure. In one approach, repeated cyclic alteration of chemical composition, so as to repeatedly alternately induce and reverse a phase transition that produces strain increment, allows accumulation of strain in an incremental fashion thereby achieving large overall superplastic deformations in the workpiece without applying large stresses.

Abstract: A method for inducing superplasticity in a composite including a non-transforming phase and a transforming phase by cycling the composite material through a phase transformation of the transforming phase while applying an external stress to the composite material is provided as is a method for inducing superplasticity in a titanium/titanium carbide composite. Also provided is a method for forming a part from a composite material including a transforming phase and a non-transforming phase by cycling the composite through a phase transformation of the transforming phase and shaping the composite material by applying an external stress to the composite material while the transforming phase is undergoing a phase transformation to form a finished article.

Abstract: A method for producing an article including a refractory compound by infiltrating a preform with a liquid infiltrant and initiating a reaction between the preform and the liquid infiltrant to establish a reaction front which propagates in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the liquid infiltrant is provided, as are articles prepared according to this method.