Abstract: Methods for producing oxide/metal composite components for use in high temperature systems, and components produced thereby. The methods use a fluid reactant and a porous preform that contains a solid oxide reactant. The fluid reactant contains yttrium as a displacing metal and the solid oxide reactant of the preform contains niobium oxide, of which niobium cations are displaceable species. The preform is infiltrated with the fluid reactant to react its yttrium with the niobium oxide of the solid oxide reactant and produce an yttria/niobium composite component, during which yttrium at least partially replaces the niobium cations of the solid oxide reactant to produce yttria and niobium metal, which together define a reaction product. The pore volume of the preform is at least partially filled by the reaction product, whose volume is greater than the volume lost by the solid oxide reactant as a result of reacting yttrium and niobium oxide.

Abstract: Methods for producing oxide/metal composite components for use in high temperature systems, and components produced thereby. The methods use a fluid reactant and a porous preform that contains a solid oxide reactant. The fluid reactant contains yttrium as a displacing metal and the solid oxide reactant of the preform contains niobium oxide, of which niobium cations are displaceable species. The preform is infiltrated with the fluid reactant to react its yttrium with the niobium oxide of the solid oxide reactant and produce an yttria/niobium composite component, during which yttrium at least partially replaces the niobium cations of the solid oxide reactant to produce yttria and niobium metal, which together define a reaction product. The pore volume of the preform is at least partially filled by the reaction product, whose volume is greater than the volume lost by the solid oxide reactant as a result of reacting yttrium and niobium oxide.

Abstract: Methods for producing components for use in high temperature systems that include reacting a fluid reactant and a porous preform that has a pore volume and contains a solid oxide reactant that defines a solid volume of the porous preform. The method includes infiltrating the fluid reactant into the porous preform to react with the solid oxide reactant to produce a oxide/metal composite component, during which a displacing metal replaces a displaceable species of the solid oxide reactant to produce at least one solid oxide reaction product that has a reaction product volume that at least partially fills the pore volume. The oxide/metal composite component includes at least one oxide phase and at least one metal phase. The component is exposed to temperatures greater than 500° C. and the at least one oxide phase and the at least one metal phase exhibit thermal expansion values within 50% of one another.

Abstract: Methods for producing oxide/metal composite components for use in high temperature systems, and components produced thereby. The methods use a fluid reactant and a porous preform that contains a solid oxide reactant. The fluid reactant contains yttrium as a displacing metal and the solid oxide reactant of the preform contains niobium oxide, of which niobium cations are displaceable species. The preform is infiltrated with the fluid reactant to react its yttrium with the niobium oxide of the solid oxide reactant and produce an yttria/niobium composite component, during which yttrium at least partially replaces the niobium cations of the solid oxide reactant to produce yttria and niobium metal, which together define a reaction product. The pore volume of the preform is at least partially filled by the reaction product, whose volume is greater than the volume lost by the solid oxide reactant as a result of reacting yttrium and niobium oxide.

Abstract: A method for enhancing corrosion resistance of a solid material exposed to a liquid. The method includes providing a solid material which can form a solid product layer when exposed to the corrosive liquid, and maintaining the concentration of the solid product material in the liquid either at saturation or elevated level. A materials system containing a solid material capable of forming a solid product layer when exposed to air or a liquid environment containing dissolved oxygen at levels sufficient for oxidation of at least one constituent of the solid material, wherein the solid product layer is in contact with a liquid containing an elevated or saturated concentration of the dissolved solid product layer. A corrosion-resistant device containing a solid material with a solid-product layer exposed to a molten salt solution, wherein the concentration of the solid-product dissolved in the molten salt solution is at saturation or elevated level.

Abstract: Methods for producing components for use in high temperature systems that include reacting a fluid reactant and a porous preform that has a pore volume and contains a solid oxide reactant that defines a solid volume of the porous preform. The method includes infiltrating the fluid reactant into the porous preform to react with the solid oxide reactant to produce a oxide/metal composite component, during which a displacing metal replaces a displaceable species of the solid oxide reactant to produce at least one solid oxide reaction product that has a reaction product volume that at least partially fills the pore volume. The oxide/metal composite component includes at least one oxide phase and at least one metal phase. The component is exposed to temperatures greater than 500° C. and the at least one oxide phase and the at least one metal phase exhibit thermal expansion values within 50% of one another.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing the corrosion resistance of an oxidizable material exposed to a supercritical fluid is disclosed One method includes placing a surface layer on an oxidizable material, and choosing a buffered supercritical fluid containing a reducing agent with the composition of the buffered supercritical fluid containing the reducing agent chosen to avoid the corrosion of the surface layer or reduce the rate of corrosion of the surface layer and avoid the corrosion of the oxidizable material or reduce the rate of corrosion of the oxidizable material at a temperature above the supercritical temperature and supercritical pressure of the supercritical fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides implant devices comprising nanoscale structures on the surface thereof and methods of manufacturing such implant devices. In some embodiments, methods of manufacturing an implant device comprise exposing a surface of the implant device to an oxidative hydrothermal environment for a duration sufficient to generate nanoscale structures on the exposed surface(s) of the implant device.

Abstract: Dental contrast formulations (“fillers”) of tailorable X-Ray radiopacity and methods for their use are provided. The disclosed fillers include mixtures of solid particles suspended in a biocompatible fluid. The solid particles contain one or more X-ray radiopaque materials. The biocompatible fluid can also contain one or more soluble X-ray radiopaque components. By controlling the composition of the solid particles, the composition of the biocompatible fluid, and the loading of the solid particles in the biocompatible fluid, the X-ray radiopacity and stability of the filler can be tailored to allow for improved discrimination of the filler within periodontal pockets, relative to adjacent soft tissue and teeth, so that the 3-D shape, volume, and depth of the pocket can be precisely and rapidly determined by X-Ray imaging.

Abstract: Methods of converting shaped templates into shaped metal-containing components, allowing for the production of freestanding, porous metal-containing replicas whose shapes and microstructures are derived from a shaped template, and partially or fully converting the shaped templates to produce metal-containing coatings on an underlying shaped template are described herein. Such coatings and replicas can be applied in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, catalysis, energy storage and conversion, and various structural or refractory materials and structural or refractory composite materials.

Abstract: Dental contrast formulations (“fillers”) of tailorable X-Ray radiopacity and methods for their use are provided. The disclosed fillers include mixtures of solid particles suspended in a biocompatible fluid. The solid particles contain one or more X-ray radiopaque materials. The biocompatible fluid can also contain one or more soluble X-ray radiopaque components. By controlling the composition of the solid particles, the composition of the biocompatible fluid, and the loading of the solid particles in the biocompatible fluid, the X-ray radiopacity and stability of the filler can be tailored to allow for improved discrimination of the filler within periodontal pockets, relative to adjacent soft tissue and teeth, so that the 3-D shape, volume, and depth of the pocket can be precisely and rapidly determined by X-Ray imaging.

Abstract: The present invention provides implant devices comprising nanoscale structures on the surface thereof and methods of manufacturing such implant devices. In some embodiments, methods of manufacturing an implant device comprise exposing a surface of the implant device to an oxidative hydrothermal environment for a duration sufficient to generate nanoscale structures on the exposed surface(s) of the implant device.

Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the invention are methods of manufacturing implant devices. In methods described herein, implant devices are exposed to a reactive gas that includes a reactive species, and optionally, an inert gas, at elevated temperatures, for a duration sufficient to generate a high density of nanoscale structures on the exposed surface of the device. Also provided are implant devices formed by methods described herein.

Abstract: Methods of converting shaped templates into shaped metal-containing components, allowing for the production of freestanding, porous metal-containing replicas whose shapes and microstructures are derived from a shaped template, and partially or fully converting the shaped templates to produce metal-containing coatings on an underlying shaped template are described herein. Such coatings and replicas can be applied in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, catalysis, energy storage and conversion, and various structural or refractory materials and structural or refractory composite materials.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to describe a novel approach for converting 3-dimensional, synthetic micro- and nano-templates into different materials with a retention of shape/dimensions and morphological features. The ultimate objective of this approach is to mass-produce micro- and nano-templates of tailored shapes through the use of synthetic or man-made micropreforms, and then chemical conversion of such templates by controlled chemical reactions into near net-shaped, micro- and nano-components of desired compositions. The basic idea of this invention is to obtain a synthetic microtemplate with a desired shape and with desired surface features, and then to convert the microtemplate into a different material through the use of chemical reactions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing oriented arrays of ceramic or metal oxide nanostructures, such as titania (TiO2) nanofibers. The nanofibers are formed on the surface of a body that is first sintered at a temperature in the range of about 1,100 to about 1,400 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the surface is exposed to an H2-bearing gas, such as H2 and N2 in a ratio of about 5:95 at about 700 degrees Celsius for about 8 hours. During heat treatment in the gas phase reaction, sintered titania grains transform into arrays of nanofibers oriented in the same crystallographic direction.

Abstract: The present invention is focused on a revolutionary, low-cost (highly-scaleable) approach for the mass production of three-dimensional microcomponents: the biological reproduction of naturally-derived, biocatalytically-derived, and/or genetically-tailored three-dimensional microtemplates (e.g., frustules of diatoms, microskeletons of radiolarians, shells of mollusks) with desired dimensional features, followed by reactive conversion of such microtemplates into microcomponents with desired compositions that differ from the starting microtemplate and with dimensional features that are similar to those of the starting microtemplate. Because the shapes of such microcomponents may be tailored through genetic engineering of the shapes of the microtemplates, such microcomposites are considered to be Genetically-Engineered Materials (GEMs).

Abstract: The present invention is focused on a revolutionary, low-cost (highly-scaleable) approach for the mass production of three-dimensional microcomponents: the biological reproduction of naturally-derived, biocatalytically-derived, and/or genetically-tailored three-dimensional microtemplates (e.g., frustules of diatoms, microskeletons of radiolarians, shells of mollusks) with desired dimensional features, followed by reactive conversion of such microtemplates into microcomponents with desired compositions that differ from the starting microtemplate and with dimensional features that are similar to those of the starting microtemplate. Because the shapes of such microcomponents may be tailored through genetic engineering of the shapes of the microtemplates, such microcomposites are considered to be Genetically-Engineered Materials (GEMs).

Abstract: The present invention is a method for fabricating shaped monolithic ceramics and ceramic composites, and the ceramics and composites made thereby. The method of the present invention includes three basic steps: (1) Synthesis or other acquisition of a porous preform with an appropriate composition, pore fraction, and overall shape is prepared or obtained. The pore fraction of the preform is tailored so that the reaction-induced increase in solid volume can compensate partially or completely for such porosity. It will be understood that the porous preform need only be sufficiently dimensionally stable to resist the capillary action of the infiltrated liquid reactant; (2) Infiltration: The porous preform is infiltrated with a liquid reactant; and (3) Reaction: The liquid reactant is allowed to react partially or completely with the solid preform to produce a dense, shaped body containing desired ceramic phase(s).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing oriented arrays of ceramic or metal oxide nanostructures, such as titania (TiO2) nanofibers. The nanofibers are formed on the surface of a body that is first sintered at a temperature in the range of about 1,100 to about 1,400 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the surface is exposed to an H2-bearing gas, such as H2 and N2 in a ratio of about 5:95 at about 700 degrees Celsius for about 8 hours. During heat treatment in the gas phase reaction, sintered titania grains transform into arrays of nanofibers oriented in the same crystallographic direction.