Abstract: Ceramic materials comprising steatite or forsterite which are highly dense in nature may be prepared by admixing a hydrolyzed alcoholic solution of a silicon alkoxide with a solution prepared by adding an organomagnesium compound to an alcohol at gelation conditions. Following the formation of the gel, it is then dried at an elevated temperature of from about 300.degree. to about 500.degree. C. to remove volatile compounds as well as to decompose any remaining organic compounds and thereafter the powder is pressed into a desired shape. The formed shape is then sintered at a temperature in the range of from about 850.degree. to about 950.degree. C. to form a densified ceramic.

Abstract: Metal-ceramic composites may be prepared by treating the ceramic component of the composite with a second metal prior to subjecting the metal-ceramic composite to a sintering operation. By pretreating the ceramic component of the composite, it is possible to obtain a composite which will undergo sintering at an elevated temperature to form a composite which will possess desirable characteristics such as increased density, hardness and low thermal coefficient of expansion, thus enabling the composites to be utilized in a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: Ferrovanadium alloys containing from about 5 to about 30% iron may be used as hydrogen storage systems. Such alloys have a hydrogen-to-metal ratio which may be as great as about 1, and may be dehydrided at temperatures less than about 200.degree. C.