Abstract: A method of carbonizing fabricated wood-based materials, such as wood composition board, is disclosed. Fabricated wood-based material is used as a precursor material, which is carbonized under controlled temperature and atmosphere conditions to produce a porous carbon product having substantially the same cellular structure as the precursor fabricated wood-based material. The porous carbonized product may be used for various applications such as filters, fuel cell gas separators, and battery electrodes, or may be further processed to form carbon-polymer or carbon-carbon composites. The carbonized product may also be converted to a ceramic such as silicon carbide. Additional processing may be used to form ceramic-metal or ceramic-ceramic composites.

Abstract: A method of carbonizing cellulose-containing plants is disclosed. Wood is used as a precursor material which is carbonized under controlled temperature and atmosphere conditions to produce a porous carbon product having substantially the same cellular structure as the precursor wood. The porous carbonized wood may be used for various applications such as filters, or may be further processed to form carbon-polymer or carbon-carbon composites. The carbonized wood may also be converted to a ceramic such as silicon carbide. Additional processing may be used to form ceramic-metal or ceramic-ceramic composites.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a hydrogen rich gas utilizes heat pipes to control the temperatures of the reactor beds, manage heat and integrate the heat management in a simple and efficient manner.

Abstract: A method of carbonizing cellulose-containing plants is disclosed. Wood is used as a precursor material which is carbonized under controlled temperature and atmosphere conditions to produce a porous carbon product having substantially the same cellular structure as the precursor wood. The porous carbonized wood may be used for various applications such as filters, or may be further processed to form carbon-polymer or carbon--carbon composites. The carbonized wood may also be converted to a ceramic such as silicon carbide. Additional processing may be used to form ceramic-metal or ceramic--ceramic composites.

Abstract: A method of carbonizing cellulose-containing plants is disclosed. Wood is used as a precursor material which is carbonized under controlled temperature and atmosphere conditions to produce a porous carbon product having substantially the same cellular structure as the precursor wood. The porous carbonized wood may be used for various applications such as filters, or may be further processed to form carbon-polymer or carbon--carbon composites. The carbonized wood may also be converted to a ceramic such as silicon carbide. Additional processing may be used to form ceramic-metal or ceramic--ceramic composites.

Abstract: A method is taught for the in-situ precipitation of ceramic materials in a metal matrix. By means of the solvent assisted reaction, metal-ceramic composites having highly superior properties may be obtained. The invention involves the reaction of the ceramic forming constituents in a metal solvent medium to provide very finely-dispersed ceramic particles in the metal matrix. Exemplary materials include titanium diboride in an aluminum matrix.

Abstract: The present invention resides in an optically black article comprising a substrate and an optically black coating adhered to the substrate. The coating has an absorptivity of at least about 0.92 and an emissivity of at least about 0.85, obtained by plasma spraying onto the substrate a composition comprising about 20% to about 50% by weight of a carbonyl metal and about 80% to about 50% by weight of a ceramic metal oxide. A preferred carbonyl metal is carbonyl iron. A preferred ceramic metal oxide is a yttria stabilized zirconia, having an average particle size in the range of about 10 microns to about 106 microns (140 mesh).

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a substrate and an optically black surface on the substrate and having an absorptivity of more than about 0.89 and an emissivity more than about 0.86. The surface comprises boron particles plasma spray applied to the substrate using a powder selected from the group consisting of crystalline boron having a particle size finer than about 200 mesh and amorphous boron.

Abstract: An arc-melting method is taught for the formation of metallic-second phase composite materials. The method involves the formation of an intermediate composite material comprising a relatively high loading of second phase particles dispersed in a metal matrix. This intermediate material is then combined with an additional amount of metal and arc-melted to form a final composite comprising a lower loading of the second phase particles dispersed in a final metallic matrix. The final metallic matrix may be comprised of a metal, metal alloy, or intermetallic, while the second phase particles may comprise ceramic materials such as borides, carbides, nitrides, silicides, oxides or sulfides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the formation of whisker reinforced metal matrix composites in which complex boride or carbide whiskers having an aspect ratio of greater than 10:1 are distributed throughout a metal, metal alloy, or intermetallic matrix. Exemplary complex boride whiskers include TiNbB, TiTaB, TiVB, NbHfB, and TiNbMoB. Exemplary complex carbide whiskers include TiNbC, TiVC, TiZrC, TiHfC, and TiTaC. A method for the in-situ formation of complex boride and complex carbide whiskers within metallic matrices is disclosed which involves reacting a mixture of individual complex ceramic-forming constituents in the presence of a metal to precipitate the desired complex ceramic whiskers in a metal matrix.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a substrate and an optically black surface on the substrate and having an absorptivity of more than about 0.89 and an emissivity more than about 0.86. The surface comprises boron particles plasma spray applied to the substrate using a powder selected from the group consisting of crystalline boron having a particle size finer than about 200 mesh and amorphous boron.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rapidly solidified product comprising a second phase in both a stable particulate form and a metastable flake form dispersed in an intermetallic matrix.

Abstract: A method is taught for the in-situ precipitation of second phase materials, such as ceramic or intermetallic particles, in a substantial volume fraction of solvent metal matrix. The invention involves the propagating reaction of the second phase-forming constituents in a solvent metal medium to provide a porous composite of finely-dispersed second phase particles in the metal matrix. Exemplary materials include titanium carbide or titanium diboride in an aluminum matrix.

Abstract: Magnesia pellets are formed from finely-divided, highly reactive, lightburned magnesia (MgO) particles by granulating such powders in conventional equipment using either an organic liquid or an organic liquid-binder mixture. The organic liquid may be an alcohol or a ketone the alkyl groups of which, independently, can have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Magnesium chloride and water are among disclosed binders which may be used in combination with said organic liquid. The organic liquid should be more than about 80% of any admixtures with water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of fine powder materials and the products of that process. The process involves the in-situ precipitation of second phase particles, such as ceramic or intermetalics, within a metal matrix, followed by separation of the particles from the matrix to yield a powder comprising the second phase particles. Particles formed by this process are typically in the size range of 0.01 to 10 microns and have controlled morphology, narrow size distribution, well defined stoichiometery and relatively high purity. Exemplary of second phase particles formed by this process are metal borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides, silicides and beryllides, including TiB.sub.2, ZrB.sub.2, VB.sub.2, MoB.sub.2, TiC, WC, VC, TiN, ZrSi.sub.2, MoSi.sub.2, Ti.sub.5 Si.sub.3, and TiBe.sub.12.

Abstract: A method is taught for the in-situ precipitation of second phase materials, such as ceramic or intermetallic particles, in a substantial volume fraction of solvent metal matrix. The invention involves the propagating reaction of the second phase-forming constituents in a solvent metal medium to provide a porous composite of finely-dispersed second phase particles in the metal matrix. Exemplary materials include titanium carbide or titanium diboride in an aluminum matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making in-situ precipitated second phase in an intermetallic matrix, which composite is rapidly solidified to form a product. The invention also relates to a rapidly solidified product comprising a second phase in both a stable particulate form and a metastable flake form dispersed in an intermetallic matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite material comprising an in-situ precipitated second phase in an intermetallic matrix, and to the process for making such a composite.

Abstract: A method is taught for the formation of intermetallic-second phase composite materials. The method involves the formation of a first metal-second phase composite comprising a relatively high loading of discrete, second phase particles distributed throughout a metal matrix, dilution of the first composite into an additional amount of metal to form a second composite comprising a lower loading of second phase particles within an intermediate metal matrix, and introduction of the second composite into another metal which is reactive with the intermediate metal matrix of the composite to form an intermetallic. A final intermetallic-second phase composite is thereby formed comprising a dispersion of discrete second phase particles throughout a final intermetallic matrix. The final intermetallic matrix may comprise a wide variety of intermetallic materials, with particular emphasis drawn to the aluminides and silicides. Exemplary intermetallics include Ti.sub.3 Al, TiAl, TiAl.sub.3, Ni.sub.3 Al, NiAl, Nb.sub.

Abstract: A method is taught for the in-situ precipitation of second phase materials, such as ceramic or intermetallic particles, in a metallic matrix. By means of the Direct Addition Process, metal-second phase composites having highly superior properties may be obtained. Compacts of second phase-forming constituents and solvent metal are directly added to a molten metal bath to precipitate the second phase in-situ. Exemplary materials include titanium diboride or titanium carbide in an aluminum matrix.