Abstract: Various embodiments include methods of fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack. Methods for controlled pre-oxidation of an interconnect include oxidizing in a nitride-inhibiting environment to inhibit the formation of nitrides.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack include placing a compressed metal powder interconnect on a porous support, and sintering the interconnect in the presence of a non-oxidizing gas. The method may further include placing the sintered interconnect on a porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of flowing air, or placing the sintered interconnect on a dense, non-porous support, and oxidizing the interconnect in the presence of a gas comprising pure oxygen or an oxygen/inert gas mixture that is substantially nitrogen-free.

Abstract: A multiple-region hardmetal tool piece. The tool piece includes a hardmetal body including a hard particle component and a binder; an additional body, the additional body including a hardmetal body having a hard particle component and a binder; a metal body or a ceramic body; a substantially discontinuous gradient-free boundary layer between the hardmetal body and the additional body; and a mating surface between the hardmetal body and the additional body. In the preferred embodiment, the hard particle components are a carbide, such as tungsten carbide. In the preferred embodiment, the mating surface includes a male portion on one of the bodies and a corresponding female portion on the other of the bodies. The mating surface is symmetrical or asymmetrical and, in the preferred embodiment, the mating surface is axially symmetrical, such as a dimple. The mating surface may further including both micro and macro mating features.

Abstract: A product having a chromium carbide based cemented carbide composition with a nickel and/or chromium based binder is disclosed. It possesses excellent corrosion resistance in combination with good strength and hardness/abrasion resistance. The average chromium carbide grain size is less than 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A hard alloy material comprising tungsten carbide in an amount of 50 to 80 weight percent of the material, titanium carbide in an amount of at least about 10 weight percent, and a binder material of cobalt and nickel. Though tungsten carbide based, the thermal conductivity of the material of the invention is between 10 and 20 Watt/m° K. In other aspects of the invention, molybdenum and chromium are included to further lower the thermal conductivity of the material. In yet another aspect of the invention, one or more nitrides or carbonitrides of titanium and/or zirconium are included in the material.

Abstract: A product having a chromium carbide based cemented carbide composition with a nickel and/or chromium based binder is disclosed. It possesses excellent corrosion resistance in combination with good strength and hardness/abrasion resistance. The average chromium carbide grain size is less than 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A superhard filler hardmetal having a superhard material filler, binder metal or matrix and in some instances at least a first hard component is disclosed. The superhard filler hardmetal has a porosity rating of substantially A06, B00, C00 or better and may be essentially pore free, i.e., A00, B00, C00. The superhard filler hardmetal is formed by mechanically mixing a superhard material, in some instances at least a first hard component and a binder metal or matrix precursor, shaping the mixture into a green body and consolidating the green body at a preselected temperature, superatmospheric pressure and time at temperature and time at superatmospheric pressure sufficient to form the superhard filler hardmetal. The consolidation preferably occurs without the formation of a liquid in the body and at least a portion of the time at superatmospheric pressure is at the preselected temperature. Diamond filler and boron nitride filler are examples of superhard materials usable as filler.