Abstract: Reinforced metal matrix composites are described including a porous ceramic reinforcement and a metal matrix in interstitial contact with the ceramic reinforcement. Methods of forming reinforced metal matrix composites are described including contacting a porous ceramic reinforcement with a liquid metal matrix and solidifying the liquid metal matrix.

Abstract: An epoxy-based glue includes an epoxy material, and a solids component including diamond powder and silicon-carbide particles. The adhesive material may be used to form reaction-bonded silicon-carbide bonding reaction-bonded silicon-carbide parts together. The present disclosure also relates to a method of assembling a product from preforms, including locating an adhesive layer, containing diamond powder, between opposed preform surfaces, carbonizing the layer, and infiltrating molten silicon into the preforms and the carbonized layer to convert the preforms into corresponding reaction-bonded silicon-carbide parts, and to convert the carbonized layer into a reaction-bonded silicon-carbide bonding region with a reduced amount of residual silicon. An assembled product, including at least two reaction-bonded silicon-carbide parts bonded together by processing a diamond-containing adhesive, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Reinforced metal matrix composites are described including a porous ceramic reinforcement and a metal matrix in interstitial contact with the ceramic reinforcement. Methods of forming reinforced metal matrix composites are described including contacting a porous ceramic reinforcement with a liquid metal matrix and solidifying the liquid metal matrix.

Abstract: A diamond-reinforced SiC ceramic composite material and shaped article. The addition of diamond to the microstructure greatly enhances properties such as hardness and Young's modulus. Such a composite material has considerable promise as an armor material. In particular, significant increases in ballistic performance can be achieved versus a non-diamond-containing composite, particularly versus the M993 threat. Reaction bonded silicon carbide (RBSC) ceramics with 7% diamond were shown to offer ballistic performance levels that matched the best commercial ceramics tested on the program.