Abstract: A method for making a polycrystalline diamond compact including the step of providing a polycrystalline diamond compact. The compact has a substrate of a hard metal composition of material and a volume of diamond material disposed on the substrate. The diamond material includes a mixture of diamond particles and a binder-catalyst. At least one pre-coating layer of organic material impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to at least an exterior surface of the substrate. At least one layer of primer material that is impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied on the at least one pre-coating layer. A layer of top coating material that is impermeable to the given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to the at least one primer layer.

Abstract: A method of treating a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) compact including a substrate and a layer of diamond material mixture of diamond particles and binder-catalyst disposed on the substrate. A leaching agent is applied to at least the layer of diamond material of the PCD compact. The leaching agent and a surface of the layer of diamond material are heated to a first temperature. The substrate is cooled to a second temperature. A first temperature gradient is established within the PCD compact to cause an inward diffusion of the leaching agent into at least the layer of diamond material. The cooling of the substrate is stopped and energy is applied directly to the PCD compact to heat the same to a third temperature. A second temperature gradient is established within the PCD compact to cause an outward diffusion of the binder-catalyst to remove the same from the layer of diamond material.

Abstract: A method for making a polycrystalline diamond compact including the step of providing a polycrystalline diamond compact. The compact has a substrate of a hard metal composition of material and a volume of diamond material disposed on the substrate. The diamond material includes a mixture of diamond particles and a binder-catalyst. At least one pre-coating layer of organic material impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to at least an exterior surface of the substrate. At least one layer of primer material that is impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied on the at least one pre-coating layer. A layer of top coating material that is impermeable to the given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to the at least one primer layer.

Abstract: A method of treating a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) compact including a substrate and a layer of diamond material mixture of diamond particles and binder-catalyst disposed on the substrate. A leaching agent is applied to at least the layer of diamond material of the PCD compact. The leaching agent and a surface of the layer of diamond material are heated to a first temperature. The substrate is cooled to a second temperature. A first temperature gradient is established within the PCD compact to cause an inward diffusion of the leaching agent into at least the layer of diamond material. The cooling of the substrate is stopped and energy is applied directly to the PCD compact to heat the same to a third temperature. A second temperature gradient is established within the PCD compact to cause an outward diffusion of the binder-catalyst to remove the same from the layer of diamond material.

Abstract: A method for making a polycrystalline diamond compact including the step of providing a polycrystalline diamond compact. The compact has a substrate of a hard metal composition of material and a volume of diamond material disposed on the substrate. The diamond material includes a mixture of diamond particles and a binder-catalyst. At least one pre-coating layer of organic material impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to at least an exterior surface of the substrate. At least one layer of primer material that is impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied on the at least one pre-coating layer. A layer of top coating material that is impermeable to the given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to the at least one primer layer.

Abstract: A thermal interface material is constructed from a base matrix comprising a polymer and 5 to 90 wt. % of boron nitride filler having a platelet structure, wherein the platelet structure of the boron nitride particles are substantially aligned for the thermal interface material to have a bulk thermal conductivity of at least 1 W/mK.

Abstract: A compact oxygen sensor is provided, comprising a mixture of metal and metal oxide an enclosure containing said mixture, said enclosure capable of isolating said mixture from an environment external of said enclosure, and a first wire having a first end residing within the enclosure and having a second end exposed to the environment. Also provided is a method for the fabrication of an oxygen sensor, the method comprising confining a metal-metal oxide solid mixture to a container which consists of a single material permeable to oxygen ions, supplying an electrical conductor having a first end and a second end, whereby the first end resides inside the container as a reference (PO2)ref, and the second end resides outside the container in the atmosphere where oxygen partial pressure (PO2)ext is to be measured, and sealing the container with additional single material such that grain boundary sliding occurs between grains of the single material and grains of the additional single material.

Abstract: A thermal interface material is constructed from a base matrix comprising a polymer and 5 to 90 wt. % of boron nitride filler having a platelet structure, wherein the platelet structure of the boron nitride particles are substantially aligned for the thermal interface material to have a bulk thermal conductivity of at least 1 W/mK.

Abstract: Described herein is a composite exhibiting a change in electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of a reducing gas present in a gas mixture, detector and sensor devices comprising the composite, a method for making the composite and for making devices comprising the composite, and a process for detecting and measuring a reducing gas in an atmosphere. In particular, the reducing gas may be carbon monoxide and the composite may comprise rutile-phase TiO2 particles and platinum nanoclusters. The composite, upon exposure to a gas mixture containing CO in concentrations of up to 10,000 ppm, exhibits an electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of the CO present. The composite is useful for making sensitive, low drift, fast recovering detectors and sensors, and for measuring CO concentrations in a gas mixture present at levels from sub-ppm up to 10,000 ppm. The composites, and devices made from the composites, are stable and operable in a temperature range of from about 450° C.

Abstract: Described herein is a composite exhibiting a change in electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of a reducing gas present in a gas mixture, detector and sensor devices comprising the composite, a method for making the composite and for making devices comprising the composite, and a process for detecting and measuring a reducing gas in an atmosphere. In particular, the reducing gas may be carbon monoxide and the composite may comprise rutile-phase TiO2 particles and platinum nanoclusters. The composite, upon exposure to a gas mixture containing CO in concentrations of up to 10,000 ppm, exhibits an electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of the CO present. The composite is useful for making sensitive, low drift, fast recovering detectors and sensors, and for measuring CO concentrations in a gas mixture present at levels from sub-ppm up to 10,000 ppm. The composites, and devices made from the composites, are stable and operable in a temperature range of from about 450° C.

Abstract: A compact oxygen sensor is provided, comprising a mixture of metal and metal oxide an enclosure containing said mixture, said enclosure capable of isolating said mixture from an environment external of said enclosure, and a first wire having a first end residing within the enclosure and having a second end exposed to the environment. Also provided is a method for the fabrication of an oxygen sensor, the method comprising confining a metal-metal oxide solid mixture to a container which consists of a single material permeable to oxygen ions, supplying an electrical conductor having a first end and a second end, whereby the first end resides inside the container as a reference (PO2)ref, and the second end resides outside the container in the atmosphere where oxygen partial pressure (PO2)ext is to be measured, and sealing the container with additional single material such that grain boundary sliding occurs between grains of the single material and grains of the additional single material.