Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing and cooling a hot gaseous stream exiting a gasification reactor vessel at temperatures in excess of 1300° C. where the gas will come into contact with a corrosive aqueous liquid, including methods and apparatus for cooling the gaseous stream prior to quenching the gaseous stream as well as methods and apparatus for providing vessel construction able to provide for the contact of a hot gaseous stream at temperatures in excess of 1100° C. with a corrosive aqueous liquid.

Abstract: Cobalt-bound tungsten carbide metal matrix composites having a unique microstructure are produced by consolidating partially sintered greenware under high pressures, e.g., 120,000 psi, at temperatures less than those used for conventional liquid phase sintering in a relatively short time, e.g., from less than one minute to less than about one hour. The composites have a binder phase which contains less than about 80 weight percent of the tungsten found in a composite prepared from the same or similar compositions via liquid phase sintering. These composites provide cutting tools with both toughness and wear resistance which exceed that of cutting tools made from the same or similar compositions via liquid phase sintering.