Abstract: Polysilocarb formulations, cured and pyrolized materials, was well as articles and use for this material. In particular pyrolized polysilocarb ceramic materials and articles contain these materials where, the ceramic has from about 30 weight % to about 60 weight % silicon, from about 5 weight % to about 40 weight % oxygen, and from about 3 weight % to about 35 weight % carbon, and wherein 20 weight % to 80 weight % of the carbon is silicon-bound-carbon and 80 weight % to about 20 weight % of the carbon is free carbon.

Abstract: A heat sink including a metal-formed body having a base board part and two or more fin parts standing on a surface of the base board part and arranged in a parallel manner to each other, and one or more filled bodies consisting of a plurality of coiled metal-wire materials filled in one or more groove parts formed between the fin parts of the metal-formed body; the heat sink in which the coiled metal-wire materials have a first outer diameter at one end part and a second outer diameter at the other end part which is different from the first outer diameter; and the coiled metal-wire materials are metallurgically joined at partially to at least one of an inner surface of the groove parts of the metal-formed body and the other coiled metal-wire materials.

Abstract: A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal whose affinity for oxygen is greater than the affinity for oxygen of any of the one or more materials. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium. At least a first portion of the metal may be present in un-oxidized form at the entrance to and/or within grain boundaries within the fiber. A method of improving at least one of the strength, creep resistance, and toughness of a fiber comprises adding to a fiber, initially comprising a bulk material having a first affinity for oxygen, a metal that has a second affinity for oxygen higher than the first affinity. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium.

Abstract: A device of executing vacuum processing has a chamber capable of keeping the chamber as a whole in a depressurized state; a feeding roller so disposed as to hang a reinforcement fiber down in the chamber; a processor so disposed in the chamber as to pass the reinforcement fiber hung down in the chamber through the processor; a capture device so disposed as to capture and keep a leading end of the reinforcement fiber passing the processor and vertically falling down in place; a winding bobbin configured to wind the reinforcement fiber processed by the processor; and a resilient cord withdrawn in synchronism with the winding bobbin from a first position where the resilient cord surrounds the leading end kept in place by the capture device to a second position where the resilient cord gets in contact with and leads the reinforcement fiber to the winding bobbin.

Abstract: Shapeable porous metal implants and methods for use in various procedures are disclosed. The implants can comprise a shell according to some examples. According to one example, the method can include providing a sheet of highly porous metal material having a porosity of between 55% and 90%, and wrapping the sheet of highly porous metal material around at least a first bone of the patient. Further examples can form the sheet intra-operatively to a desired shape. In an example, the porous metal sheet can be formed of tantalum or tantalum alloys.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide systems and methods for providing improved surgical implants. Embodiments of the implants may include a thin porous sheet formed on a mandrel. The porous sheet that is formed has an interconnected pore structure that may be compressed by a heat compression mold without losing porosity. Additional membrane materials or other layer materials may be applied to one of the face surfaces of the porous sheet or to one of the edges of the porous sheet. For example, a solid membrane surface may be compressed, bonded, welded, or secured a surface face or an edge of the porous sheet. The solid membrane may be compressed or laminated to the upper surface, lower surface, or both. The solid membrane may be welded to at least one edge of the porous sheet (by, for example, being butt welded, thermally bonded, or heat compressed to the at least one edge).

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant and a set for producing an implant and their uses. Furthermore, the invention describes a method of making an implant as per the invention. An implant for producing bone implants with improved mechanical characteristics, especially with adjustable mechanical characteristics, is provided via the invention. The implant as per the invention made up of a fiber composite material contains resorbable mineral bone cement as the matrix material, to which reinforcing, long metal fibers and/or endless metallic fibers with an aspect ratio of at least 100:1 are added in the form of at least one fiber structure that provides a framework and that preforms the contour of the implant.

Abstract: A method of fabricating metallic Cu nanowires with lengths up to about 25 ?m and diameters in a range 20-100 nm, or greater if desired. Vertically oriented or laterally oriented copper oxide structures (CuO and/or Cu2O) are grown on a Cu substrate. The copper oxide structures are reduced with 99+ percent H or H2, and in this reduction process the lengths decrease (to no more than about 25 ?m), the density of surviving nanostructures on a substrate decreases, and the diameters of the surviving nanostructures have a range, of about 20-100 nm. The resulting nanowires are substantially pure Cu and can be oriented laterally (for local or global interconnects) or can be oriented vertically (for standard vertical interconnects).

Abstract: A method of forming monodispersed metal nanowires comprising: forming a reaction mixture including a metal salt, a capping agent and a quaternary ammonium chloride in a reducing solvent at a first temperature; and forming metal nanowires by reducing the metal salt in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a metal part that comprises a reinforcement (15) made of ceramic fibers. The method comprises the following steps: forming at least one annular-shaped insert (15) by assembling a bundle of metal-coated fibers; placing the insert into a hollow metal mold (10) such that the insert is spaced between the walls (10a, 10b) of the mold; filling the mold with a metal powder; generating vacuum in the mold and closing the same; hot isostatic compressing the assembly at a temperature and under a pressure sufficient for binding the powder particles between them and for binding the insert fibers between them; removing the mold and optionally machining to the desired shape.

Abstract: A method of forming monodispersed metal nanowires comprising: forming a reaction mixture including a metal salt, a capping agent and a quaternary ammonium chloride in a reducing solvent at a first temperature; and forming metal nanowires by reducing the metal salt in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Fabricating an IBR, in particular a two-part IBR. A metal container is defined, made up of a plurality of parts that define between them at least one annular cavity, an insert made of composite material is positioned in the or each cavity, the assembly is subjected to hot isostatic compacting, and a rotor disk is machined.

Abstract: A process for continuous composite coextrusion comprising: (a) forming first a material-laden composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and at least about 40 volume % of a ceramic or metallic particulate in a manner such that the composition has a substantially cylindrical geometry and thus can be used as a substantially cylindrical feed rod; (b) forming a hole down the symmetrical axis of the feed rod; (c) inserting the start of a continuous spool of ceramic fiber, metal fiber or carbon fiber through the hole in the feed rod; (d) extruding the feed rod and spool simultaneously to form a continuous filament consisting of a green matrix material completely surrounding a dense fiber reinforcement and said filament having an average diameter that is less than the average diameter of the feed rod; and (e) depositing the continuous filament into a desired architecture which preferably is determined from specific loading conditions of the desired object and CAD design of the object to provide a green fiber rei

Abstract: The present invention discloses a conductive injection molding composition. The thermally conductive composition includes a metallic base matrix of, by volume, between 30 and 60 percent. A first thermally conductive filler, by volume, between 25 and 60 percent is provided in the composition that has a relatively high aspect ratio of at least 10:1. In addition, an alternative embodiment of the composition mixture includes a second thermally conductive filler, by volume, between 10 and 25 percent that has a relatively low aspect ratio of 5:1 or less.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide filtering candles (1) comprising a sintered filtering tube (2) and a collar (3) which is connected thereto, and having an increased shelf life and improved resistance values. To this end, the collar (3) comprises an annular collar wall (4) which oriented towards the filtering tube (2) from the neck. Said wall comprises at least one recess (8) which is arranged in a perpendicular manner and at an angle in relation to a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the filtering tube.

Abstract: The invention includes the use of a high-modulus fiber metal matrix composite material as a backing plate for physical vapor deposition targets, as a lid for microelectronics packages, as a heat spreader, and as a heat sink. In one implementation, copper-coated carbon fibers are mixed with copper powder. In another implementation, the mixture is consolidated to a carbon fiber metal matrix composite by using a vacuum hot press. The resultant backing plate has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 4.9×10−6/C, thermal conductivity of at least 300 W/mK, density of greater than 99% of theoretical, and the composite material of the backing plate is 30% lighter than Cu while also having higher stiffness than Cu. The high-modulus fiber metal matrix composite backing plate can be used for high power W, Ta, and ceramic PVD targets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing metallic fibers. It comprises pre-treating metal powder of a predetermined size such that finally obtained metallic fibers can be separated with ease; elongating the pre-treated metal powder at a predetermined draw ratio by use of compression molding; and separating metallic fibers from the drawn metallic material. The metallic fibers can find various applications in the electrically conducing material industries, including fillers for conducting paints, pastes and plastics, metal catalysts, electrode materials, sound-absorbing plates, and filters.

Abstract: Provided by the present invention is a process for making a wet-layed metal fiber nonwoven sheet. The process comprises first dispersing metal fibers into an aqueous dispensing fluid which contains a non-carboxy containing water soluble polymer in an amount such that the viscosity of the dispensing fluid with dispersed metal fibers is suitable for wet-laying techniques. Generally, the amount of the water soluble polymer comprises from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of the aqueous dispensing fluid. In a preferred embodiment, starch is used as the water soluble polymer.

Abstract: A porous metal material (22) is manufactured by a method comprising a step of utilizing a magnetic field to orient numerous metal staple fibers (3), and holding these metal staple fibers (3) on the metal substrate sheet (9) in a state of being more or less perpendicular thereto by means of an adhesive (19) supplied to the metal substrate sheet (9), and a step of removing the adhesive (19) by pyrolysis, and integrally joining the metal staple fibers (3) and metal substrate sheet (9) by sintering.

Abstract: A friction material comprising a sintered mass of iron in which graphite particles are dispersed, which sintered mass is formed from between 13 and 22 vol. % of iron fibers, between 13 and 22 vol. % of iron particles having a particle size of 10-400 .mu.m, between 40 and 70 vol. % of graphite particles having a particle size of 25-3000 .mu.m, and between 10 and 15 vol. % of a metallic binder having a melting point of 800-1140.degree. C., and a method of preparing such a friction material, wherein a mixture of these components is compressed at a pressure of at least 100 MPa so as to form a compact having a desired form and size, and where the compact thus formed is sintered at a temperature between 800 and 1140.degree. C. for a period of time which is sufficiently long for achieving concretion of iron fibers, iron particles and metallic binder.

Abstract: Metallic powders are extruded from a spinning nozzle to form metallic fibers each having a diameter of 1.0 .mu.m-100 .mu.m. Then, the resultant metallic fibers are formed into a sheet having a porous structure such as a nonwoven sheet, or the like. Thereafter, the sheet is sintered. An active substance is applied to pores of a resultant porous metallic sheet to be used as an electrode substrate of a battery. The metallic fibers are three-dimensionally intertwined with each other by using fluid at a high pressure and a high speed and then, surfaces of the metallic fibers intertwined with each other is fused under pressure at a temperature lower than the melting point of the metal to directly connect intersections of the intertwined metallic fibers so as to form a porous metallic sheet.

Abstract: A porous mold material is provided that contains pores for ventilation in a metal casting, which pores range from 20 to 50 microns, and wherein the porosity value of the porous mold material ranges from 25 to 35% by volume. A method is further provided of producing a porous mold material that contains pores ranging from 20 to 50 microns for ventilation in casting, which method is characterized in that the mixing ratio of stainless steel particles to stainless steel short fibers is from 40 wt %:60 wt % to 65 wt %:35 wt %. The porous mold material of this invention does not have defects such as the inferior fluidity of a molten metal in the mold, or the shrinkage and blowholes in cast products.

Abstract: High-temperature-stable, fiber-reinforced beryllium metal matrix composite materials are fabricated using coating, infiltration and hot-pressing procedures. High-temperature-stable fibers of metal oxides, carbon or silicon carbide are coated with reaction barrier coatings which prevent chemical reactions from occurring at the interface with the surrounding metallic beryllium matrix at temperatures up to close to the melting point of beryllium. Coatings such as yttria, YAG and mixtures of yttria and YAG or of yttria and beryllia are employed exterior of metal oxide fibers, such as alumina or alumina-silica fibers. Suitable reaction barrier coatings are also employed over carbon fibers (or silicon carbide fibers) which preferably include an interior coating of elemental silicon upon the exterior surface of the carbon fibers. Oxide coatings are preferably applied by immersion in a liquid bath containing a suitable coating solution, preferably an alcohol solvent alkoxide sol-gel.

Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of an encased high critical temperature superconducting wire by the "powder in tube" method, prior to the introduction of a compressed rod of superconducting material into a silver tube, the rod is heat treated so that grains of unwanted phase are reabsorbed. The tube can be drawn more easily, and strands can be produced with a regular geometry and no defects. The wire is constituted by 15 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m thick filaments (30) with a form factor of more than 60.

Abstract: In the metallic member of the invention, ceramic super fine particles, and solid lubricant particles or short size fibers are dispersed, and the grain size of the ceramic particles is smaller than the solid lubricant particle size or fiber diameter.

Abstract: To manufacture a reflector formed by a reflective metallic layer on a metallic matrix composite support, a metallic layer having a reflective surface whose shape is at least approximately identical to the required geometrical shape is disposed on a mold surface having a geometrical shape complementary to the required geometrical shape of the reflector. Fibers to constitute the composite support are draped on the metallic layer. They are metallized by the metallic or intermetallic material to form the metallic matrix. This layer and the metallized fibers are subjected to temperature and pressure conditions adapted to press the reflective surface strongly against the mold surface and to cause diffusion welding of the layer with the metallized fibers and of the metallized fibers with themselves so as to integrate the layer to the composite support during consolidation of the latter.

Abstract: A method for preparing deagglomerated fibres and/or particles and for providing the fibres and/or particles with a substantially uniform protective coating, the fibres and/or particles being of a material selected from the group consisting of carbides oxides, nitrides, silicides, borides, metals and graphite, including SiC, TiC, ZrC, WC, NbC, AlN, TiN, BN, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, steel, tungsten, molybdenum and carbon, the method comprising (a) preparing an inorganic colloid sol, and (b) mixing the fibres and/or particles are deagglomerated and substantially homogeneously distributed. The fibres and/or particles, e.g. SiC whiskers provided with an aluminum oxide coating by treatment with an aluminum hydroxide-based sol, are used for the preparation of metal matrix composite materials, e.g. based on aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: Graphite or carbon particles with a graphitic skin are intercalated with a compound including an oxidized form of a metal and then reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere. This process reduces the driving force for the galvanic reaction between the particles and active metals in aqueous environments. The particles may be present as a reinforcement for a metal matrix (e.g., graphite/aluminum metal matrix composites) or as a reinforcement for a non-metallic material (e.g., graphite/polyimide, graphite/polyester or graphite/cyanate composites). In the latter case, the composite is adjacent to a metal in a structure.By way of example, the graphite or carbon particle may be a fiber, the metal subject to attack may be aluminum or magnesium, and the intercalation compound may be NiCl.sub.2.

Abstract: A porous living body repairing member obtained by compression-molding a metal fiber material into a desired shape, sintering the fiber mesh body or thereafter, and imparting a compressive stress of not more than 4.00 to 40.0 MPa to provide a porous living body repairing member having a compressive elasticity of not more than 2000 MPa and a permanent deformation of not more than 1% under a stress below a compressive yield stress.The compressive yield stress becomes approximately equal to the above compressive stress, and almost complete elasticity of a permanent deformation rate of not more than 0.1% is shown with respect to a compressive stress below this compressive yield stress. Accordingly, even when the porous living body repairing member is used at a high compressive load site such as man's lumbar body, permanent deformation hardly occurs.

Abstract: A high-porosity metallic membrane element comprising a sintered element having at least about 55% porosity, the sintered element comprising a matrix of substantially interconnected pores, each of the pores being defined by a plurality of dendtritic metallic particles. A preferred form is made from pure nickel, preferably filamentous nickel powder. The high-porosity metallic membrane element, comprising the aforementioned sintered element having at least about 55% porosity, can be sealed within a filter housing to produce a highly porous filter device with a filtered fluid flow path through the metal membrane element. Also disclosed is a method of making the high-porosity metallic membrane element which includes depositing by air-laying techniques a substantially uniform low-density bed of a sinterable dendritic material into a mold suitable for applying compressive force thereto, compressing the low-density bed of sinterable dendritic material to form a green form, and sintering the green form.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an Ni--Al intermetallic compound matrix composite comprising steps of a) providing an aluminum powder, b) providing a reinforced material, c) providing a reducing solution containing a reducing agent and nickel ions to be reduced, d) adding the aluminum powder and the reinforced material into the reducing solution, and e) permitting the reducing agent to reduce the nickel ions to be respectively deposited on the aluminum powder and the reinforced material. Such method permits the Ni--Al, Ni--Al+B intermetallic compound matrix composite to be produced inexpensively/efficiently/fastly.

Abstract: A fully dense ceramic-metal body including 40-88 v/o of an oxide hard phase of, in v/o of the body, 4-88 v/o M-aluminum binary oxides, where the binary oxide has a C-type rare earth, garnet, .beta.-MAl.sub.11 O.sub.18, or perovskite crystal structure, and M is a lanthanide or indium, and 0-79 v/o .alpha.-alumina; about 10-50 v/o of a hard refractory carbide, nitride, or boride as a reinforcing phase; and about 2-10 v/o of a dispersed metal phase combining Ni and Al mostly segregated at triple points of the microstructure. The preferred metal phase contains a substantial amount of the Ni.sub.3 Al ordered crystal structure. In the preferred body, the reinforcing phase is silicon carbide partially incorporated into the oxide grains, and bridges the grain boundaries. The body including a segregated metal phase is produced by densifying a mixture of the hard phase components and the metal component, with the metal component being present in the starting formulation as Ni powder and Al powder.

Abstract: A getter-filter composite membrane element, comprising a sinterable getter material and a sinterable metal filter material, the composite element defining a matrix of substantially interconnected pores. Membrane elements may be comprised of at least three alternating layers of a first sinterable getter material layer and a second sinterable metal filter material layer, the first getter layer being located between the second filter layers, the second layers acting to hold the getter layer, and to retain the getter particles. Also disclosed is a method of making the getter-filter element.

Abstract: A porous living body repairing member obtained by compression-molding a metal fiber material into a desired shape, sintering the fiber mesh body or thereafter, and imparting a compressive stress of not more than 4.00 to 40.0 MPa to provide a porous living body repairing member having a compressive elasticity of not more than 2000 MPa and a permanent deformation of not more than 1% under a stress below a compressive yield stress.The compressive yield stress becomes approximately equal to the above compressive stress, and almost complete elasticity of a permanent deformation rate of not more than 0.1% is shown with respect to a compressive stress below this compressive yield stress. Accordingly, even when the porous living body repairing member is used at a high compressive load site such as man's lumbar body, permanent deformation hardly occurs.

Abstract: A self-cleaning chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus and method allow CVD reactors to operate long periods of time without manual removal of extraneous materials such as soot and fuzz. The apparatus is made self-cleaning by superposing a scraping member having a surface, such as a glass rod, over an inner surface of a reactor, and effecting relative movement between the inner surface and scraping member surface. Preferably the reactor is tilted at an angle to horizontal to enhance removal of extraneous material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CFRP-made optical cylinder comprising, as the main CFRP layers, (a) CFRP layers containing a carbon fiber arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axial direction and (b) CFRP layers containing a carbon fiber arranged in a direction making an angle of substantially.+-.(40.about.50) degree to the cylinder axial direction, in which cylinder at least 50% by weight of the carbon fiber arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axial direction has a linear expansion coefficient of -1.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. or less and at least 50% by weight of the carbon fiber arranged in a direction making all angle of substantially.+-.(40.about.50) degree to the cylinder axial direction has a linear expansion coefficient of -1.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. or less, and which cylinder has a linear expansion coefficient of -0.5.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. to 0.5.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. in the axial direction.

Abstract: Metal particulates and porous metal media, which have enhanced resistance to undesirable oxidation, and methods of producing the same are provided. The porous metal media comprise sintered metal particulates each typically having a core and a surface and a diameter in the range of 0.25 to 50 micrometers, the particulates comprising at least about 60 wt. % of a base metal including at least one of iron and nickel, at least about 11 wt. % chromium and no more than about 0.03 wt. % carbon. The surfaces of the particulates are enriched with at least one treatment element in an amount and depth sufficient to enhance the resistance of the particulates to undesirable oxidation. The invention also includes a fine metal filter medium formed from sintered metal fibers, which has enhanced resistance to corrosion and/or to high temperature oxidation.

Abstract: A composite electrode for electrochemical processing having improved high temperature properties, and a process for making the electrode by combustion synthesis. A composition from which the electrode is made by combustion synthesis comprises from about 4% to about 90% by weight of a particulate or fibrous combustible mixture which, when ignited, is capable of forming an interconnected network of a ceramic or metal-ceramic composite, and from about 10% to about 60% by weight of a particulate or fibrous filler material capable of providing the electrode with improved oxidation resistance and maintenance of adequate electrical conductivity at temperatures above 1000.degree. C. The filler material is molybdenum silicide, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, boron carbide, boron nitride, zirconium boride, cerium oxide, cerium oxyfluoride, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing a substantially silica-free composition of matter comprising a matrix of MoSi.sub.2 having SiC dispersed therein, the matrix being reinforced with a particulate ductile refractory metal, the method comprising providing a composite of the particulate ductile refractory metal and a substantially silica-free composite mechanical alloy powder comprising MoSi.sub.2 and SiC having a composition in that segment of the ternary diagram of FIG. 1 designated A, and consolidating the composite of particulate ductile refractory metal and mechanical alloy powder; the coefficient of thermal expansion of the MoSi.sub.2 matrix having SiC dispersed therein being substantially equivalent to that of the particulate ductile refractory metal. The composition of matter formed by the method and an article of manufacture comprising the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite electrode for electrochemical processing having improved high temperature properties, and a process for making the electrode by combustion synthesis. A composition from which the electrode is made by combustion synthesis comprises from about 40% to about 90% by weight of a particulate or fibrous combustible mixture which, when ignited, is capable of forming an interconnected network of a ceramic or metal-ceramic composite, and from about 10% to about 60% by weight of a particulate or fibrous filler material capable of providing the electrode with improved oxidation resistance and maintenance of adequate electrical conductivity at temperatures above 1000.degree. C. The filler material is molybdenum silicide, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, boron carbide, boron nitride, zirconium boride, cerium oxide, cerium oxyfluoride, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a tantalum capacitor of improved specific capacitance (and volumetric efficiency) is described. Short tantalum fibers are precipitated out of a carrier liquid to form a felt, or tumbled to form fiber containing particles, and in either case subsequently bonded so as to form a felt or particles containing the fibers in random orientation in substantially non-aligned array. These particles or felt are heated to bond the fibers together, purify and (optionally) cylindricalize them. The felt or particles can be processed in conventional fashion thereafter to form the capacitor. Cylindricalized fibers and pellets of increased surface area are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a tantalum capacitor of improved specific capacitance (and volumetric efficiency) is described. Short tantalum fibers are precipitated out of a carrier liquid to form a felt, or tumbled to form fiber containing particles, and in either case subsequently bonded so as to form a felt or particles containing the fibers in random orientation in substantially non-aligned array. These particles or felt are heated to bond the fibers together, purify and (optionally) cylindricalize them. The felt or particles can be processed in conventional fashion thereafter to form the capacitor. Cylindricalized fibers and pellets of increased surface area are also described.

Abstract: An improved method of forming a composite body of a metal, intermetallic or ceramic matrix reinforced with niobium filaments, particles, platelets or mixtures thereof, the method comprising admixing the niobium reinforcing material with powders of the matrix component elements, forming the admixture into a desired shape and converting the powders to a matrix reinforced with the niobium material, the improvement wherein the reinforcing material has a surface coating thereon of a compound Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, wherein the compound NbO reacts during formation of the matrix with a portion of at least one of the powdered elements to form a barrier layer at the reinforcer-matrix interface to prevent further reaction between the reinforcer and the matrix component elements. Also disclosed is a method of treating niobium particles, filaments, platelets or mixtures thereof by exposing the surface thereof to molecular O.sub.2 at temperatures and pressure conditions such that the niobium and molecular O.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CFRP-made optical cylinder comprising (a) CFRP layers containing a carbon fiber arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axial direction and (b) CFRP layers containing a carbon fiber arranged in a direction nearly orthogonal to the cylinder axial direction, in which cylinder the carbon fiber arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the cylinder axial direction has a minus thermal expansion coefficient and the cylinder axial direction has a thermal expansion coefficient of -0.5.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. to 0.5.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. In the present optical cylinder, a sharp image can be maintained without making the correction of the optical axis even when the atmospheric temperature changes largely.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a mold material used for obtaining a mold for casting metals such as Zn, Al and the like or molding resins. In the method, the short fibers having an aspect ratio of 30 to 300 and obtained by cutting ferritic stainless steel long fibers having a width of 100 .mu.m or less, ferritic stainless steel powder and at least one of Cu powder and Cu alloy powder are used as raw materials. The raw materials are blended to obtain a material mixture which is then compressed under pressure in a Cold Isostatic Press process. The thus obtained compressed product is sintered in a vacuum atmosphere. The sintered material is held in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas or decomposed ammonia gas so that 0.3 to 1.2 wt % of nitrogen is added to the stainless steel in the sintered material. The thus obtained mold material has a hardness of HMV 250 to 500.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a rugged, flexible, superconducting wire comprising: mixing a superconducting material, such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x, with a metallic powder to form a metal/superconductor mixture; and loading a metal shell or tube with the metal/superconductor mixture to form a superconducting wire. The superconducting wire may also be cold drawn and annealed to form a very dense wire. The metallic powder is either copper, copper alloy, aluminum or other face centered cubic element. Additionally, a superconducting wire may be formed by encapsulating a superconducting filament within a metal shell.

Abstract: A method for making an anisotropic or predominantly unidirectional wick primarily for use in heat pipes is disclosed unidirectional heat pipe wicks is made by supporting magnetically susceptible particles on a wire screen and moving the screen inside a magnetic field until the characteristic cone or point shapes assumed by the particles are aligned in a laid down orientation. The particles are then heat treated to yield a sintered wick. An example of a wick made with nickel powder demonstrates improved wicking in the direction pointed to by the laid down points. A wick is also made by the spinning pipe-slurry method for making heat pipe wicks. Magnetically susceptible powder is mixed into a viscous binder to make a slurry, then injected inside a rotating cylindrical heat pipe container. A magnetic field is created around the spinning container and varied to align the particles in a desired structure.

Abstract: Composites of a matrix of metal fibers and carbon fibers interlocked in and interwoven among a network of fused metal fibers are inherently capable of displaying a broad range of values of a particular physical property. Where the composite is made by sintering a preform of the fiber network dispersed in a matrix of an organic binder, the value of the physical property of the resulting composite is a function of several independent variabiles which can be controlled during composite fabrication. With particular regard to the capacitance of a stainless steel-carbon fiber electrode, there is described a method of optimizing capacitance during electrode fabrication.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of a superplastic composite material having metallic aluminum reinforced with silicon nitride includes thoroughly mixing silicon nitride with metallic aluminum, pressure-sintering the resultant mixture, further heating and pressing the sintered mixture, hot extrusion-molding the resultant sintered article, subjecting the molded article, when necessary, to a heat treatment such as the T6 treatment thereby forming a superplastic composite material, and deforming the composite material in a temperature region in which the material exhibits superplasticity.

Abstract: A high-porosity metallic membrane element comprising a sintered element having at least about 55% porosity, the sintered element comprising a matrix of substantially interconnected pores, each of the pores being defined by a plurality of dendtritic metallic particles. A preferred form is made from pure nickel, preferably filamentous nickel powder. The high-porosity metallic membrane element, comprising the aforementioned sintered element having at least about 55% porosity, can be sealed within a filter housing to produce a highly porous filter device with a filtered fluid flow path through the metal membrane element. Also disclosed is a method of making the high-porosity metallic membrane element which includes depositing by air-laying techniques a substantially uniform low-density bed of a sinterable dendritic material into a mold suitable for applying compressive force thereto, compressing the low-density bed of sinterable dendritic material to form a green form, and sintering the green form.