Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a metallic nanofiber structure are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a first solution including a first material and a second material, wherein the second material includes at least one metal; forming the first solution into composite fibers including the first material and the second material; and removing the first material from the composite fibers under conditions effective to produce a metallic nanofiber structure that includes a plurality of metallic nanofibers. Also disclosed are metallic nanofiber structures prepared according to a process of the present invention, which can be used as fuel cell catalysts. Fuel cells containing electrodes that include these metallic nanofiber structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing dense, near net shape components of advanced materials such as intermetallics, ceramics, and their composites. The method consists of two major steps combined into one. First step includes the preparation of semi-solid or liquid materials by means of combustion synthesis or self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The second step includes the densification and near net shape forming of such combustion products by semi-solid metalworking or die casting techniques. The combination of combustion synthesis and semi-solid metalworking or die casting techniques provides a low cost, fast production method for many articles made of high temperature materials such as intermetallics, ceramics, and their composites.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing dense, near net shape components of advanced materials such as intermetallics, ceramics, and their composites. The method consists of two major steps combined into one. First step includes the preparation of semi-solid or liquid materials by means of combustion synthesis or self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The second step includes the densification and near net shape forming of such combustion products by semi-solid metalworking or die casting techniques. The combination of combustion synthesis and semi-solid metalworking or die casting techniques provides a low cost, fast production method for many articles made of high temperature materials such as intermetallics, ceramics, and their composites.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of dynamic heat treating the ferromagnetic amorphous alloys by applying AC current or pulsed high current on the alloys in the form of a ribbon are disclosed. The amorphous ribbon is continuously passed through a pair of electrodes from which AC current is conducted on the amorphous ribbon to perform a Joule heating. A DC magnetic field is applied on the amorphous ribbon preferably along a length direction thereof to improve the soft magnetic properties of the amorphous alloys. The DC magnetic field can be applied on either the section of the amorphous ribbon between the pair of electrodes or the section that has already been heat treated. With the method and apparatus, ferromagnetic amorphous alloys with improved magnetic properties such as greater magnetic induction, lower coercivity and low hysteresis loss are resulted and the annealing embrittlement is avoided.

Abstract: A method of improving the magnetic properties of a ferromagnetic materials is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing a specimen made of Fe, Ni or Co based amorphous alloys in a magnetizing field and a second step of applying an AC current or pulsed current on the specimen to improve its soft magnetic properties. The applied AC current has a frequency of 50 to 50K Hz, a wave form of either sine wave, triangular wave or square wave, and a current density of 10 to 500 A/cm.sup.2. The magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic materials are improved by a coercivity ratio less than 0.5, a magnetic induction ratio greater than 1 and a core loss ratio less than 0.3.

Abstract: A hemispherical Laue camera comprises a crystal sample mount for positioning a sample to be analyzed at the center of sphere of a hemispherical, X-radiation sensitive film cassette, a collimator, a stationary or rotating sample mount and a set of standard spherical projection spheres. X-radiation generated from an external source is directed through the collimator to impinge onto the single crystal sample on the stationary mount. The diffracted beam is recorded on the hemispherical X-radiation sensitive film mounted inside the hemispherical film cassette in either transmission or back-reflection geometry. The distances travelled by X-radiation diffracted from the crystal to the hemispherical film are the same for all crystal planes which satisfy Bragg's Law. The recorded diffraction spots or Laue spots on the film thereby preserve both the symmetry information of the crystal structure and the relative intensities which are directly related to the relative structure factors of the crystal orientations.