Abstract: A press sintering process product carrier for carrying at least one product to be sintered in a press sintering process comprises a top side; a product receiving recess defined in the top side, and configured for receiving the product(s) therein and for carrying the product(s) on a recess bottom of the product receiving recess; a top side surface surrounding the product receiving recess; a holding groove provided in the top side surface and surrounding the product receiving recess, and a vacuum connection in fluid connection with the holding groove to allow providing a vacuum in the holding groove for holding a film, foil or sheet of material provided over the product receiving recess and the holding groove; and a recess gas inlet arranged in the product receiving recess for introducing a gas into the product receiving recess, and a recess gas outlet arranged in the product receiving recess for extracting gas from the product receiving recess to allow providing a flow of gas from the recess gas inlet to the r

Abstract: A cemented carbide composed of a first hard phase, a second hard phase and a binder phase, in which the first hard phase is composed of tungsten carbide particles, the second hard phase is composed of at least one first compound selected from the group consisting of TiNbC, TiNbN and TiNbCN, the second hard phase has an average particle diameter of no more than 0.1 ?m, the second hard phase has a dispersity of no more than 0.7, the second hard phase has a content of no less than 0.1 vol % and no more than 15 vol %, the binder phase contains at least one first element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel, and the binder phase has a content of no less than 0.1 vol % and no more than 20 vol %.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions containing nanoparticles of a metal nitride, boride, silicide, or carbide, a filler material, and a carbonaceous matrix. The precursor to this material contains nanoparticles or particles of boron, silicon, iron, a refractory metal, or a refractory metal hydride, an organic compound having carbon and hydrogen, and a filler material. Multilayered materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: An alumina/titanium silicon carbide composite material is prepared by making titanium aluminum carbide (Ti3AlC2) in uniform contact with silicon monoxide (SiO), and carrying out vacuum sintering. The composite material is obtained through mutual diffusion of aluminum and silicon and has high compactness and stable performance. In the composite material, the alumina is generated by means of a reaction between the titanium aluminum carbide and the silicon monoxide, and can be uniformly wrapped around surfaces of titanium silicon carbide crystals to form a relatively compact oxide film, such that substance exchange between a matrix and the outside is hindered, and overall antioxidation of the composite material is improved. Toughness of the composite material is enhanced by means of the titanium silicon carbide. The prepared composite material has relatively high purity, relatively low sintering temperature, and relatively high bending strength. The process is simple and convenient for industrial production.

Abstract: Articles are manufactured using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reactions. Particulates including reactants can be blended to form a particulate blend. The particulate blend can be preformed. The preform article can be heated to a pre-heat temperature being below an auto-activation temperature and above a minimum compression activated synthesis temperature. Compressive stress can be exerted on the preform article at the pre-heat temperature to initiate the SHS reaction between the reactants and thereby form a product metallic compound. At approximately peak temperature, a flow stress of the product metallic compound can be exceeded to substantially reduce porosity and thereby form a shaped substantially dense article.

Abstract: Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, material and methods of making PCBN. A method includes providing a matrix precursor powder comprising particles having an average particle size no greater than 250 nm, providing a cubic boron nitride, cBN, powder comprising particles of cBN having an average particle size of at least 0.2 intimately mixing the matrix precursor powder and the cBN powder, and sintering the intimately mixed powders at a temperature of at least 1100° C. and a pressure of at least 3.5 GPa to form the PCBN material comprising particles of cubic boron nitride, cBN dispersed in a matrix material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction catalysts, and discloses a pure phase ?/?? iron carbide catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, a preparation method thereof and a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (1) subjecting the nanometer iron powder or a nano-powder iron compound capable of obtaining the nanometer iron powder through in-situ reduction and H2 to a surface purification treatment at the temperature of 250-510° C.; (2) pretreating the material obtained in the step (1) with H2 and CO at the temperature of 80-180° C., wherein the molar ratio of H2/CO is 1.2-2.8:1; (3) carrying out carbide preparation with the material obtained in the step (2), H2 and CO at the temperature of 180-280° C., wherein the molar ratio of H2/CO is 1.0-3.0:1.

Abstract: An external element made from a first material for a wearable object, the first material being an insulating ceramic, wherein a surface of the external element is at least partially treated to include at least one conversion with an electrical conductivity.

Abstract: A member for a plasma processing apparatus has a tungsten carbide phase, and a sub-phase including at least one selected from the group consisting of phase I to IV, and phase V, in which the phase I is a carbide phase containing, as a constituent element, at least one of the elements of Group IV, V, and VI of the periodic table excluding W, the phase II is a nitride phase containing, as a constituent element, at least one of the elements of Group IV, V, and VI of the periodic table excluding W, the phase III is a carbonitride phase containing, as a constituent element, at least one of the elements of Group IV, Group V, and Group VI of the periodic table excluding W, the phase IV is a carbon phase, the phase V is a composite carbide phase which is represented by a formula WxMyCz.

Abstract: A powder containing tungsten carbide has an Fsss particle size of greater than or equal to 0.3 ?m and less than or equal to 1.5 ?m, and a content rate of the tungsten carbide of greater than or equal to 90% by mass. The powder has a crystallite size (average particle diameter) Y satisfying a relational expression of Y?0.1×X+0.20 (X: the Fsss particle size of the power containing tungsten carbide).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming powder particles, wherein the method comprises feeding a start material mixture including more than one constituents in the form of granules into a reactor comprising a reaction zone and a heat source, performing thermal synthesis in the reaction zone in which the start material mixture is moved and the constituents of the start material mixture react in the presence of heat so that the reaction is started by means of heat of the reactor and energy of the start material mixture is released in the form of heat in order to achieve the reaction, and producing powder particles during the reaction. Further, the invention relates to a powder particle product.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a dense HfC(Si)—HfB2 composite ceramic. hafnium oxide powders, nano-sized carbon black and silicon hexaboride powders are mixed in a molar ratio of (1-10):(1-20):(1-5) to obtain a powder mixture. The powder mixture is subjected to ball milling, dried and transferred to a graphite mold for spark plasma sintering. In this way, an in-situ carbon-boron reduction reaction and the sintering densification are completed in one step, and the obtained HfC(Si)—HfB2 composite ceramic has a density of 94.0%-100% and uniformly dispersed grains.

Abstract: A sintered material comprises cubic boron nitride and a first material that is a partially stabilized ZrO2 with Al2O3 dispersed therein at crystal grain boundaries and/or in crystal grains, the sintered material comprising 20% by volume or more and 80% by volume or less of the cubic boron nitride, the sintered material comprising 0.001% by mass or more and 1% by mass or less of nitrogen in the first material when the first material is measured through secondary ion mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided herein is a rice husk particles wherein at least 90%, by weight, of the total weight of the particles, has a diameter less than 25 ?m.

Abstract: A method for the formation of tantalum carbides on a graphite substrate includes the steps of: (a) adding an organic tantalum compound, a chelating agent, a pre-polymer to an organic solvent to form a tantalum polymeric solution; (b) subjecting a graphite substrate with the tantalum polymeric solution to a curing process to form a polymeric tantalum film on the graphite substrate; and (c) subjecting the polymeric tantalum film on the graphite substrate in an oven to a pyrolytic reaction in the presence of a protective gas to obtain a protective tantalum carbide on the graphite substrate.

Abstract: A method of sintering a binderless cBN body includes providing a boron nitride particle mixture into a pressure chamber, the boron nitride particle mixture having a first type of boron nitride particles and boron nitride filler particles, and the boron nitride filler particles having a different size and/or type than the first type of boron nitride particles, and sintering the boron nitride particle mixture in the pressure chamber to form the cBN body by generating a pressure in the pressure chamber of less than 7.7 GPa and heating the boron nitride particle mixture to a temperature ranging from about 1900° C. to about 2300° C., wherein the cBN body has a density of at least 97 percent.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to boron carbide (B4C) composite material and the method of making and using the boron carbide (B4C) composite.

Abstract: Methods of producing silicon carbide, and other metal carbide materials. The method comprises reacting a carbon material (e.g., fibers, or nanoparticles, such as powder, platelet, foam, nanofiber, nanorod, nanotube, whisker, graphene (e.g., graphite), fullerene, or hydrocarbon) and a metal or metal oxide source material (e.g., in gaseous form) in a reaction chamber at an elevated temperature ranging up to approximately 2400° C. or more, depending on the particular metal or metal oxide, and the desired metal carbide being produced. A partial pressure of oxygen in the reaction chamber is maintained at less than approximately 1.01×102 Pascal, and overall pressure is maintained at approximately 1 atm.

Abstract: A ballistic protective composition having a sintered product of boron carbide and BAM where the sintered product includes up to about 80% BAM by weight based on the weight of the total BAM and boron carbide and wherein the sintered product is configured to prevent penetration of a ballistic threat through the sintered product. The ballistic protective composition may also be bonded to a ballistically protective fabric material to form a ballistic composite, which may be a wearable material, such as a body armor article.

Abstract: Provided is a black-film-forming mixed powder containing: (A) a zirconium nitride powder that does not contain zirconium dioxide, a low-order oxide of zirconium, or a low-order oxynitride of zirconium; and (B) a titanium nitride powder or a titanium oxynitride powder, wherein the content ratio of (A) the zirconium nitride powder and (B) the titanium nitride powder or the titanium oxynitride powder is within the range of 90:10 to 25:75 in terms of mass ratio (A:B). When the light transmittance at a wavelength of 400 nm is X, the light transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm is Y, and the light transmittance at a wavelength of 1,000 nm is Z in a spectrum of a dispersion in which the mixed powder is dispersed in a concentration of 50 ppm, X>10%, Y<10%, Z<16%, X/Y is 1.25 or more, and Z/Y is 2.0 or less.

Abstract: A vibration-transmitting medical tool-coupling device includes a first coupling element and a second coupling element, wherein one of the two coupling elements is designed as a coupling protrusion insertible into a coupling recess on the other coupling element, wherein the coupling protrusion and the coupling recess each have a first section having a thread with at least one thread flight for releasable connection of the two coupling elements and one second section which is designed so that the two coupling elements can be positioned relative to one another and are displaceable along the shared longitudinal axis before the two coupling elements can be connected releasably to one another by the thread. A guide ring which extends around the coupling protrusion is provided on one end of the thread which is arranged on the coupling protrusion and the at least one thread flight of the thread ends at this guide ring.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing high-purity ultrafine ZrC—SiC composite powder is provided. The high-purity ultrafine ZrC—SiC composite powder is prepared by utilizing zirconium silicate only or zirconium silicate with one or both of zirconium oxide or silica sol as a zirconium source and a silicon source material, utilizing sucrose or glucose as a carbon source material, and utilizing acrylamide monomer and N,N?-methylene diacrylamide cross-linking agent as a gel material.

Abstract: A compound is provided that has the formula: Ln4-x-zBxDzM2-n-yAnByO9, where Ln comprises La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, or a mixture thereof; x is 0 to about 2; D is La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, or a mixture thereof, where: D is not equal to Ln; if D is La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, or a mixture thereof, then z is 0 to less than 4; if D is Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, or a mixture thereof, then z is 0 to about 2; M comprises Ga, Al, or a combination thereof; A comprises Fe, In, or a combination thereof; n is 0 to about 1; y is 0 to about 1; and x+y is greater than 0. In one embodiment, a composition is generally provided that includes a silicon-containing material and such a boron-doped refractory compound.

Abstract: A component for high temperature applications includes a substrate and a layer of an aluminum-containing MAX phase material and another material applied to the substrate.

Abstract: A composite ceramic composition including a boron carbide phase and a method of forming the same. The composite ceramic composition includes a tungsten boride phase, a transition metal boride phase. The composite ceramic composition may also include a carbon disposed in solid solution with at least the tungsten boride phase and the transition metal boride phase. The transition metal boride phase may include a boride of at least one metal chosen from Cr, Nb, and Zr.

Abstract: A polycrystalline compact includes diamond, cubic boron nitride, and at least one hard material, which may be aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium boride, titanium diboride, and/or aluminum boride. The diamond, the cubic boron nitride, and the hard material are intermixed and interbonded to form a polycrystalline material. An earth-boring tool includes a bit body and a polycrystalline diamond compact secured to the bit body. Methods of fabricating polycrystalline compacts include forming a mixture comprising diamond, non-cubic boron nitride, and a metal or semimetal; encapsulating the mixture in a container; and subjecting the encapsulated mixture to high-pressure and high-temperature conditions to form a polycrystalline material.

Abstract: Polymer-derived ceramic composites are described herein. The composites are formed using hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet-functionalized silicon-based ceramic precursor polymers. The composites a matrix of a polymer-derived ceramic and hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets embedded therein. Silicon-derived ceramic precursors such as polysilazane and/or polysiloxane are used to create improved SiCN and/or SiOC ceramic composites.

Abstract: A method of forming a sintered ?-phase tantalum carbide can include assembling a particulate mixture including a tantalum hydride powder and a carbon source powder. The particulate mixture can be sintered to form a tantalum carbide having at least 70 wt. % of a ?-phase with at least about 90% densification. After sintering, the tantalum carbide can be cooled to substantially retain the ?-phase.

Abstract: Sialon materials contain HFO2 in a maximum of 1 mass-% as a sintering additive, methods of producing them and methods of using them an ?/?-SiAlON material with 5 mass % to 50 mass %, ?/(?/?) RE-?-SiAlON wherein RE stands for at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Y, Sc, Lu, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Mg or Ca, and 95 mass % to 50 mass %, ?/(?/?) ?-SiAlON and of an Hf-containing amorphous or partially crystalline grain-boundary phase with a proportion with respect to the overall material is below 10 vol %, wherein the Hf content of the sintered material is 0.2 mass % to 1.0 mass %, and of a dispersion phase comprising globular particles with a mean particle size of from 0.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a crucible for solidifying a silicon ingot from molten silicon, characterized in that it is coated at least partially on the inner surface thereof with an outer layer provided in the form of a stack of laminations, each lamination having a thickness varying from 5 to 150 ?m, and being formed from a material obtained by thermal decomposition of polysilazane(s) and/or polysiloxane(s) and wherein inorganic particles are embedded having a size varying from 50 ?m to 200 ?m. The present invention further concerns a method for preparing such crucibles.

Abstract: A refractory material withstanding high temperatures in an oxidizing medium contains at least hafnium boride and tantalum boride, hafnium and tantalum being present in the refractory material exclusively in compound form.

Abstract: Disclose are a reaction container and a vacuum heat treatment apparatus. A method of preparing a reaction container comprises preparing a graphite mixture by mixing first and second graphite powders having particle sizes different from each other, preparing a graphite molded body by pressing the graphite mixture, and processing the graphite molded body. The density of the graphite molded body is in a range of 1.8 g/cm3 to 2.1 g/cm3. A method of preparing a reaction container comprises preparing a graphite molded body by pressing graphite powders, and processing the graphite molded body to prepare the reaction container. A carbon source is impregnated into the graphite molded body or the reaction container, and density of the reaction container is in a range of 1.8 g/cm3 to 2.1 g/cm3.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of preparing a WNx, WNxCy, WNxOz, and WNxCyOz solid by the deposition of a WNx precursor at a temperature below 300° C. The WNx precursor is a tungsten nitrido complex. The deposition can be carried out using a tungsten nitrido complex as a single-source metal organic precursor. In an embodiment of the invention, the deposition can be performed to form a plurality of WNx, WNxCy, WNxOz, WNxCyOz nanoparticles.

Abstract: A ceramic composite article includes ceramic carbide fibers and a ceramic matrix in which the ceramic carbide fibers are embedded. The ceramic matrix includes a laminar structure with at least one layer of a first ceramic material and at least one layer of a second, different ceramic material.

Abstract: The disclosure provides novel graphene-reinforced ceramic composites and methods for making such composite materials.

Abstract: A composite material having utility for removing sulfur from a feedstock comprises a ceramic matrix having a relatively low melting point metal such as tin, zinc, lead or bismuth nanodispersed therein. The material may be prepared from a mixture of particles of a precursor of the ceramic matrix and precursor of the metal. The precursors are selected such that the melting point of the precursor of the ceramic is less than the melting point of the precursor of the metal. The mixture of precursor materials is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the precursor of the ceramic material so as to coat it onto the precursor of the metal. The ceramic precursor is then reacted so as to convert it to a ceramic. Thereafter, the precursor of the metal is converted to a free metal which is retained within the ceramic matrix so as to prevent agglomeration.

Abstract: Provided is a laminate film having a substrate and at least one thin film layer which has been formed on at least one surface of the substrate, in which at least one of the thin film layer contains silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and carbon atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a boron carbide-based ceramics material which has a high density and a high specific rigidity, but additionally with excellent processability, and a production method for the boron carbide-based ceramics material. Specifically, the high-rigidity ceramics material contains boron carbide in an amount of 90 to 99.5 mass %, wherein at least silicon, aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen coexist in a grain boundary phase between crystal grains of the boron carbide. This high-rigidity ceramics material can be produced by a method comprising: preparing a boron carbide powder, and, as a sintering aid, one or more selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a nitride and an oxynitride of silicon, an oxide, a nitride and an oxynitride of aluminum, and a composite oxide, a composite nitride and a composite oxynitride of aluminum and silicon, in such a manner as to contain all of Si, Al, O and N; and subjecting the boron carbide powder and the sintering aid to mixing, forming and sintering.

Abstract: The invention pertains to hardware such as cutting tools with improved performance, wear-resistance and durability made from sintered polycrystalline aluminum nitride based ceramic composites containing secondary or dispersed phases for enhanced toughness. The articles of this invention provide good hardness, toughness, chemical inertness, thermal stability, lubricity, wear-resistance, and the ability to operate in the presence of liquid coolants, yielding good surface finish and long lifetime. The cutting tools of this invention are applicable to a wide range of industrial, biomedical, commercial and other applications.

Abstract: Ceramic nanocomposites and methods for manufacturing the ceramic nanocomposites are disclosed. One method includes introducing to a fired green ceramic body having a ceramic matrix submicron particles having coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic matrix and at least one type of location-controlling dopant at an amount that is sufficient to cover the majority of the ceramic matrix grain boundaries. One ceramic nanocomposite includes a ceramic matrix with submicron particles dispersed in the ceramic matrix, the submicron particles having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic matrix and at least one dopant that covers the majority of the ceramic matrix grain boundaries, at a concentration that does not exceed the bulk solubility limit of the dopant in the ceramic matrix at the ceramic nanocomposite sintering temperature.

Abstract: Mixer for ceramic feedstock pellets with a tank, a mixing means, and heat exchange means including cooling means for the cooling of the content of this tank. Control means control the heat exchange means which include heating means arranged to heat the content of this tank to a temperature comprised between a lower temperature (TINF) and a higher temperature (TSUP) stored in a memory for a specific mixture, and the heating means exchange energy with a heat exchange and mixing temperature maintenance circuit, external to this tank, and wherein the thermal inertia of this circuit is higher than that of this fully loaded tank. The invention also concerns a method for mixing raw material for powder metallurgy, implementing a specific injection moulding composition and a specific binder.

Abstract: A composition having nanoparticles of silicon carbide and a carbonaceous matrix or silicon matrix. The composition is not in the form of a powder. A composition having silicon and an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight or a thermoset made from the organic compound. A method of combining silicon and the organic compound and heating to form silicon carbide or silicon nitride nanoparticles.

Abstract: A composition having nanoparticles of a boron carbide and a carbonaceous matrix. The composition is not in the form of a powder. A composition comprising boron and an organic component. The organic component is an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight or a thermoset made from the organic compound. A method of combining boron and an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight, and heating to form boron carbide or boron nitride nanoparticles.

Abstract: A cubic boron nitride sintered body with excellent wear resistance and fracture resistance. The cubic boron nitride sintered body includes 85 to 95% by volume of cubic boron nitride, and 5 to 15% by volume of a binder phase and inevitable impurities. The binder phase has at least three compounds selected from carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, oxides and mutual solid solutions thereof of Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Nb and Mo. An amount of an aluminum element contained in the cubic boron nitride sintered body is 0.5 to 5% by mass based on a total mass of the cubic boron nitride sintered body. The binder phase is essentially free of both pure metals and alloys consisting of pure metals.

Abstract: A composition having nanoparticles of a refractory-metal boride and a carbonaceous matrix. The composition is not in the form of a powder. A composition comprising a metal component, boron, and an organic component. The metal component is nanoparticles or particles of a refractory metal or a refractory-metal compound capable of decomposing into refractory metal nanoparticles. The organic component is an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight or a thermoset made from the organic compound. A method of combining particles of a refractory metal or a refractory-metal compound capable of reacting or decomposing into refractory-metal nanoparticles, boron, and an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight to form a precursor mixture. A composition having nanoparticles of a refractory-metal boride that is not in the form of a powder.

Abstract: A compound having the moiety M-[(C?C)n-M?]m. Each M and each M? is a transition metal. Each n is 1 or 2, and m is 2 or more. A method of reacting a transition metal halide with 1,2-dilithioacetylene or 1,4-dilithiodiacetylene to form a transition metal compound.

Abstract: Near-stoichiometric spherical tungsten carbide particles and a method for making near-stoichiometric spherical tungsten carbide particles are disclosed. The method of making these particles may comprise coating a starting powder with a carbon containing compound followed by plasma processing the starting powder in a plasma formed by known ionization techniques using a suitable fluid medium. The near-stoichiometric spherical tungsten carbide particles exhibit desirable particle uniformity, impact resistance, and wear resistance in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition includes: a base material powder BamTiO3 (0.995?m?1.010); 0.2 to 2.0 moles of a first accessory ingredient, an oxide or carbide containing at least one of Ba and Ca, based on 100 moles of the base material powder; a second accessory ingredient, an oxide containing Si or a glass compound containing Si; 0.2 to 1.5 moles of a third accessory ingredient, an oxide containing at least one of Sc, Y, La, Ac, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, based on 100 moles of the base material powder; and 0.05 to 0.80 mole of a fourth accessory ingredient, an oxide containing at least one of Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, based on 100 moles of the base material powder, a content ratio of the first accessory ingredient to the second accessory ingredient being 0.5 to 1.7.

Abstract: The method comprises: using chemical vapor infiltration to form a first continuous interphase on the fibers of a fiber structure made of refractory fibers, the interphase having a thickness of no more than 100 nanometers; impregnating the fiber structure with a consolidation composition comprising a carbon or ceramic precursor resin; forming a fiber preform that is consolidated by shaping the impregnated fiber structure and using pyrolysis to transform the resin into a discontinuous solid residue of carbon or ceramic; using chemical vapor infiltration to form a second continuous interphase layer; and densifying the preform with a refractory matrix. This preserves the capacity of the fiber structure to deform so as to enable a fiber preform to be obtained that is of complex shape, while nevertheless guaranteeing the presence of a continuous interphase between the fibers and the matrix.

Abstract: A composition having nanoparticles of a refractory-metal carbide or refractory-metal nitride and a carbonaceous matrix. The composition is not in the form of a powder. A composition comprising a metal component and an organic component. The metal component is nanoparticles or particles of a refractory metal or a refractory-metal compound capable of decomposing into refractory metal nanoparticles. The organic component is an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight or a thermoset made from the organic compound. A method of combining particles of a refractory metal or a refractory-metal compound capable of reacting or decomposing into refractory-metal nanoparticles with an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight to form a precursor mixture.