Abstract: An electro-conductive B4C—TiB2 has a microstructure in which large B4C grains are coated by small TiB2 grains. The composite ceramic includes 10˜30% by volume of TiB2. A method for preparing the electro-conductive B4C—TiB2 composite ceramic includes: (1) weighing B4C, TiC, and amorphous B powder; (2) mixing evenly and drying thoroughly the powders; and (3) loading the mixed powder into a graphite mold; and placing the graphite mold in a spark plasma sintering furnace for sintering under vacuum, where the sintering is performed at 2000° C. and 50 MPa for 5˜20 min.

Abstract: A toughened ceramic material includes at least one boride and a refractory metal, or at least two borides, one carbide at least, and a refractory metal. The toughened ceramic material is by means of heating and smelting the above materials. During the process of preparing the toughened ceramic material by heating and smelting, substantially all the refractory metal reacts with the boride and/or the carbide to form a toughened ceramic material with a high toughness and substantially without metallic cemented phase.

Abstract: The invention also concerns a binder for an injection molding composition including: from 35 to 54% by volume of a polymeric base, from 40 to 55% by volume of a mixture of waxes, and approximately 10% by volume of a surfactant, wherein the polymeric base contains copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acid, or copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, or copolymers of ethylene including maleic anhydride or a mixture of these copolymers, as well as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylic resin.

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 hard alloy and a cutting tool. The hard alloy includes a hard phase and a binder phase. The hard phase includes: a main phase containing 50-70 mass % of WC, 15-30 mass % of TiCN, and 0-10 mass % of at least one kind of carbide, nitride or carbonitride of one or more non-W, non-Ti periodic table Group 4, 5 or 6 metal; a WC phase; and a composite hard phase. The binder phase includes 6 to 12 mass % of at least one of Co and Ni. The hard alloy includes a surface portion at a surface thereof, the surface portion having a WC content higher than that of an internal portion thereof. An average size of grains in the WC phase in the surface portion is larger than an average size of grains in the WC phase in the internal portion.

Abstract: A ceramic material having a high toughness can include carbon and a transition metal. The transition metal can have an elemental body centered cubic structure at room temperature. A substantial amount of the ceramic can be of a rhombohedral ? phase of the transition metal and carbon. These materials can have a high thermal shock resistance, high fracture toughness, and good high temperature performance. A particulate mixture of a carbon source and a transition metal source can be assembled (12) and reacted (14) under high pressure and high temperature. The transition metal source can include a transition metal of a metal which has an elemental BCC structure at room temperature. The particulate mixture carbon to transition metal ratio is chosen so as to achieve a zeta phase carbide and processing is affected in order to retain the zeta phase at a substantial weight percent of the material (i.e. greater than about 5 wt %).

Abstract: This invention relates to a ceramic and a cermet each having a second phase for improving toughness via phase separation from a complete solid-solution phase and to a method of preparing them. The ceramic and the cermet may have the second phase phase-separated from the complete solid-solution phase, thereby easily achieving a great improvement in toughness and exhibiting other good properties including high strength, consequently enabling the manufacture of high-strength and high-toughness cutting tools, instead of conventional WC—Co hard materials.

Abstract: A cBN sintered body tool has a cBN sintered body which includes 40 to 85% by volume of cBN, the remainder being a binder phase including at least one selected from at least one metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Co, Ni and Al, and at least one of a carbide, a nitride, a carbonitride, a boride and an oxide of these metals and mutual solid solutions thereof, and inevitable impurities. An amount of a Mo element contained in the cBN sintered body is 0.2 to 3.0% by weight based on a whole amount of the cBN sintered body.

Abstract: There is provided a dielectric composition, including: a basic powder including BamTiO3(0.995?m?1.010); a first subcomponent including 0.1 to 0.6 mole of zirconium (Zr) oxide or carbide, based on 100 moles of the basic powder; a second subcomponent including 0.8 to 6.0 moles of oxide or carbide including at least one of magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba); a third subcomponent including 0.2 to 1.8 moles of oxide including at least one rare earth element; a fourth subcomponent including 0.05 to 0.30 mole of oxide including at least one transition metal; a fifth subcomponent including 0.05 to 0.35 mole of oxide including at least one of vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta); and a sixth subcomponent including 0.5 to 4.0 moles of oxide including at least one of silicon (Si) and aluminum (Al).

Abstract: Methods of producing continuous boron carbide fibers. The method comprises reacting a continuous carbon fiber material and a boron oxide gas within a temperature range of from approximately 1400° C. to approximately 2200° C. Continuous boron carbide fibers, continuous fibers comprising boron carbide, and articles including at least a boron carbide coating are also disclosed.

Abstract: A friction disc (2) with an anti-abrasion layer (1) and integrated wear indication, the friction disc (2) having a friction surface (2?) which is completely covered by the anti-abrasion layer (1). At least one indication surface element (3) which occupies a part of the friction surface (2?) and differs from at least one of the components friction surface (2?) and anti-abrasion layer (1) of the friction disc (2) in at least one of the features coloring and texture is provided between the anti-abrasion layer (1) and the friction disc (2). Compositions of the anti-abrasion layer (1) of the friction disc (2).

Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic material product. A filler material is provided. The filler material is divided into filler granules collectively having a median diameter approximately 10 microns or less. An amount of carbon is provided. The carbon is divided into carbon particles and the carbon particles are allowed to coat the filler granules. The mixture of carbon-coated filler granules is formed into a selected shape. The formed mixture is placed in a substantial vacuum. The mixture is introduced to a pre-selected amount of silicon and the mixture of carbon-coated filler granules and silicon is heated to a temperature at or above the melting point of the silicon.

Abstract: The present invention includes a matrix powder system comprising one or more polycrystalline carbides, binderless carbides, or a combination thereof, a composite comprising the matrix powder system and a metal bond phase, a matrix bit body for a drill bit for oil and gas drilling made of this composite material, and a drill bit for oil and gas drilling comprising the matrix bit body and at least one cutter. The polycrystalline and/or binderless carbides may comprise carbides of W, Ti, V, Cr, Nb, Mo, Ta, Hf, Zr, or a combination thereof. The binderless carbides have less than 3 wt. % binder and the binderless and/or polycrystalline carbides may have a grain size of ?15 ?m and a hardness of ?1900 HV (0.5 kgf). Additional ceramic components and/or metals may also be present in the matrix powder system. Alternatively, the composite material may be present on only a portion of the matrix bit body surface.

Abstract: A tungsten carbide material for use in precision glass molding applications having 6.06-6.13 wt. % carbon, 0.20-0.55 wt. % grain growth inhibitor, less than 0.25 wt. % binder, less than 0.6% wt. % impurities, and balance being tungsten. The tungsten carbide material has a nominal grain size of less than 0.5 microns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal matrix ceramic composite (MMCC) wear-parts comprising a wearing portion formed by a ceramic cake and is impregnated by metal. The ceramic cake comprises ceramic grains and carbide grains. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the wear-parts. The invention further describes a grinding roll and a table liner for a vertical mill each comprising a metal matrix ceramic composite wear part(s) of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly-pure fine titanium carbide powder having a maximum particle size of 100 nm or less and containing metals except titanium in an amount of 0.05 wt % or less and free carbon in an amount of 0.5 wt % or less. The powder has a NaCl-type crystal structure, and a composition represented by TiCxOyNz, wherein X, Y and Z satisfy the relations: 0.5?X?1.0; 0?Y?0.3; 0?Z?0.2; and 0.5?X+Y+Z?1.0.) The powder is produced by: dissolving an organic substance serving as a carbon source in a solvent to prepare a liquid, wherein the organic substance contains at least one OH or COOH group which is a functional group coordinatable to titanium of titanium alkoxide, and no element except C, H, N and O; mixing titanium alkoxide with the liquid to satisfy the following relation: 0.7???1.

Abstract: An improved aluminum-boron carbide (ABC) composite has been discovered that is comprised of a continuous network of AlB24C4 and boron carbide grains having therein other isolated aluminum-boron carbide reactive phases and at most 2% by volume of isolated metal. The improved ABC composite may be formed by forming boron carbide particulates into a porous body that has a porosity of at most about 35%, where the boron particulates have been heat treated to a temperature of 1200° C. to 1800° C., infiltrating the porous body with aluminum or aluminum alloy until an infiltrated aluminum-boron carbide body is formed that has at most about 1% porosity, heat treating the infiltrated body for at least 25 hours at 1000° C. to 1100° C. to form an aluminum boron carbide composite having a continuous network of AlB24C4 and boron carbide, and subsequently heat-treating to 700° C. to 900° C. to form the improved aluminum boron carbide composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightweight, anti-scratch and fracture resistant material for use in manufacture of jewelry prepared by sintering a powered mixture consisting essentially of 20% by weight of titanium carbide, 25% by weight of tungsten carbide, 35% by weight of titanium nitride, and balance being a binder consisting essentially of nickel, molybdenum and cobalt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hard-metal comprising at least 13 volume % of a metal carbide selected from the group consisting of TiC, VC, ZrC, NbC, MoC, HfC, TaCl WC or a combination thereof, a binder phase comprising one or more of iron-group metals or alloy thereof and 0.1 to 10 weight % Si and 0.1 to 10 weight % Cr and having a liquidus temperature at 1280 degrees C. or lower and 3 to 39 volume % of diamond or cBN grains coated with a protective coating or a mixture thereof and a process for making the hard-metal.

Abstract: An ultrafine grain two-phase binderless tungsten carbide material is disclosed. The material contains, in weight percent, ditungsten carbide in the range of about 1 to about 10 percent, up to about 1.0 percent vanadium carbide and/or chromium carbide, up to about 0.2 percent cobalt, and the balance tungsten carbide, wherein the wear resistant material has a hardness of at least about 2,900 kg/mm2 and a microstructure in which the tungsten carbide average grain size is no greater than about 0.3 microns. The material has a surprisingly good combination of wear resistance and hardness. Methods of making the material and articles made from the material are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fine grained WC-Co cemented carbide. By adding an extremely small amount of Ti, V, Zr, Ta or Nb alone or in combinations, a grain refined cemented carbide structure with less abnormal WC-grains has been obtained.

Abstract: A sintered cermet and a cutting tool are provided which have high toughness and high anti-chipping. The sintered cermet comprises a hard phase composed of one or more kinds selected from carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides of one or more metals selected from metals belonging to Groups 4, 5, and 6 of the periodic table, each of which is composed mainly of Ti; and a binder phase composed mainly of Ni and Co. When the crystal lattice constant of the binder phase is measured by Pawley method, two kinds of binder phases having two kinds of crystal lattice constants 31 and 32 exist in the interior of the sintered cermet.

Abstract: In various embodiments, composite materials containing a ceramic matrix and a carbon nanotube-infused fiber material are described herein. Illustrative ceramic matrices include, for example, binary, ternary and quaternary metal or non-metal borides, oxides, nitrides and carbides. The ceramic matrix can also be a cement. The fiber materials can be continuous or chopped fibers and include, for example, glass fibers, carbon fibers, metal fibers, ceramic fibers, organic fibers, silicon carbide fibers, boron carbide fibers, silicon nitride fibers and aluminum oxide fibers. The composite materials can further include a passivation layer overcoating at least the carbon nanotube-infused fiber material and, optionally, the plurality of carbon nanotubes. The fiber material can be distributed uniformly, non-uniformly or in a gradient manner in the ceramic matrix. Non-uniform distributions may be used to form impart different mechanical, electrical or thermal properties to different regions of the ceramic matrix.

Abstract: A tungsten carbide material for use in precision glass molding applications having 6.06-6.13 wt. % carbon, 0.20-0.55 wt. % grain growth inhibitor, less than 0.25 wt. % binder, less than 0.6% wt. % impurities, and balance being tungsten. The tungsten carbide material has a nominal grain size of less than 0.5 microns.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly-pure fine titanium carbide powder having a maximum particle size of 100 nm or less and containing metals except titanium in an amount of 0.05 wt % or less and free carbon in an amount of 0.5 wt % or less. The powder has a NaCl-type crystal structure, and a composition represented by TiCxOyNz, wherein X, Y and Z satisfy the relations: 0.5?X?1.0; 0?Y?0.3; 0?Z?0.2; and 0.5?X+Y+Z?1.0.) The powder is produced by: dissolving an organic substance serving as a carbon source in a solvent to prepare a liquid, wherein the organic substance contains at least one OH or COOH group which is a functional group coordinatable to titanium of titanium alkoxide, and no element except C, H, N and O; mixing titanium alkoxide with the liquid to satisfy the following relation: 0.7???1.

Abstract: A sintered cubic boron nitride (cBN) compact for use in a tool is obtained by sintering a mixture of (i) cubic boron nitride, (ii) aluminum oxide, (iii) one or more refractory metal compounds, and (iv) aluminum and/or one or more non-oxide aluminum compounds. The sintered bodies may have sufficient strength and toughness to be used as a tool material in solid, i.e. not carbide supported, form, and may be useful in heavy machining of cast irons.

Abstract: The crystal structure of three compositions of matter has been determined to be iso-structural with FeB ortho-rhombic (space group Pnma). The crystalline structures are: Ti0.5Ta0.5B, Zr0.5Ta0.5B and Hf0.5Ta0.5B. A process for preparing ceramics is disclosed. Molded ceramics including the compositions of matter are useful for applications such as rocket nozzles, leading edges on hypersonic missiles, engine parts and other applications requiring a structural component to operate at temperatures of 1600° C. to 2400° C.

Abstract: A composite material according to the invention includes X parts by volume of boron carbide, Y parts by volume of silicon carbide, and Z parts by volume of silicon as main components, wherein 10<X<60, 20<Y<70, and 5<Z<30 are satisfied, and grains of 10 ?m or more of the boron carbide and the silicon carbide are 10-50 parts by volume.

Abstract: This invention relates to a ceramic and a cermet each having a second phase for improving toughness via phase separation from a complete solid-solution phase and to a method of preparing them. The ceramic and the cermet may have the second phase phase-separated from the complete solid-solution phase, thereby easily achieving a great improvement in toughness and exhibiting other good properties including high strength, consequently enabling the manufacture of high-strength and high-toughness cutting tools, instead of conventional WC—Co hard materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a complete solid solution powder used for preparing a cermet composite sintered body, and method for preparing thereof. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a complete solid solution powder which can improve, to a great extent, toughness of a cermet sintered body which is used for high-speed cutting tool materials and die materials in the field of metal working, such as various machine industries and automobile industry, and method for preparing thereof.

Abstract: A method for diffusing titanium and nitride into a base material having a generally compact, granular microstructure (e.g., carbide). The method generally includes the steps of providing a base material having a generally compact, granular microstructure; providing a salt bath which includes sodium dioxide and a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium cyanate and potassium cyanate; dispersing metallic titanium formed by electrolysis of a titanium compound in the bath; heating the salt bath to a temperature ranging from about 430° C. to about 670° C.; and soaking the base material in the salt bath for a time of from about 10 minutes to about 24 hours. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the base material may further be treated with conventional surface treatments or coatings.

Abstract: A hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a sintered carbide and a cast tungsten carbide, wherein the cast carbide is present in a quantity of at least 22% by weight, based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and the cast carbide comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 30 to 60 mesh. Also provided is a hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a super dense sintered carbide and one or more additional carbide materials, wherein the super dense sintered carbide is present in a quantity of at least 10 percent by weight (% w), based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 16 to 40 mesh. Included are methods of manufacturing such hardfacing compositions and downhole tools having such improved hardfacing compositions applied thereon.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor composition for a fuel, comprising a plurality of nanoparticles formed of an inorganic composition having an average longest dimension of 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers, wherein the inorganic active composition is insoluble in the fuel and is adapted to react with a corrosion causing contaminant.

Abstract: In a method of forming a chalcogenide compound target, a first powder including germanium carbide or germanium is prepared, and a second powder including antimony carbide or antimony is prepared. A third powder including tellurium carbide or tellurium is prepared. A powder mixture is formed by mixing the first to the third powders. After a shaped is formed body by molding the powder mixture. The chalcogenide compound target is obtained by sintering the powder mixture. The chalcogenide compound target may include a chalcogenide compound that contains carbon and metal, or carbon, metal and nitrogen considering contents of carbon, metal and nitrogen, so that a phase-change material layer formed using the chalcogenide compound target may stable phase transition, enhanced crystallized temperature and increased resistance. A phase-change memory device including the phase-change material layer may have reduced set resistance and driving current while improving durability and sensing margin.

Abstract: This chemical vapor synthesis process was designed so that a metal carbide precursor and a secondary metal precursor are separately or together fed into each evaporator in a reactor by specially designed precursor feeders, either simultaneously or sequentially. The reduction and carburization of the vaporized precursors by gaseous mixtures produces carbide-metal nanocomposite powders. The product can be a very uniform mixture of the constituent powders or a uniform agglomerate, which is important to ensure a high quality of bulk cemented metal carbide product after consolidation and sintering. These nanocomposite powders can be readily characterized using XRD, carbon analyzer and TEM.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for continuously producing pre-ceramic polymers. The inventive method consists in synthesizing polymers, in separating polymers from a reaction mixture and in thermally conditioning for defining a cross linkage degree and rheological properties, wherein all said steps are integrated into a single method. The thus obtainable polymers are used in the form of an initial material for producing non-oxidized ceramics in ternary X/Y/N or X/Y/N/C quaternary systems. Said materials are characterized by the high mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance thereof, wherein any X and Y combination can represent in particular Si, B, P, Al, Ti, V, Zr, Ta elements.

Abstract: The compressive strength of a boron carbide sintered compact is improved by controlling crystals of the boron carbide to a polycrystalline structure having a grain size distribution in which coarse crystals with a grain size of 20 ?m or more and fine crystals with a grain size of 10 ?m or less are mixed in an appropriate ratio. Furthermore, a protective member having an improved compressive strength can be provided using the boron carbide sintered compact having a polycrystalline structure in which coarse crystals and fine crystals are mixed in an appropriate ratio or a boron carbide sintered compact containing graphite and silicon carbide.

Abstract: A method for forming an ultrafine particle brittle material at low temperature which includes the steps of applying a mechanical impact force or a pressure to a ultrafine particle brittle material so as to have a percentage in the ultrafine particles having a primary particle diameter less than 50 nm in all the particles of 10 to 90%, subjecting the resulting brittle material to a heat treatment at a temperature not higher than the sintering temperature thereof so as to have the above percentage of 50% or less, and then applying a mechanical impact force not less than the crushing strength to the resultant material, to crush the material, thereby joining the ultrafine particles in the brittle material with one another, to form a formed article of the ultrafine particle brittle material; and an ultrafine particle brittle material for use in the method.

Abstract: The magnetic head slider material of the present invention is constituted by a sintered body containing 100 parts by weight of alumina, 20 to 150 parts by weight of titanium carbide and silicon carbide in total, and 0.2 to 9 parts by weight of carbon.

Abstract: A composite body produced by a reactive infiltration process that possesses high mechanical strength, high hardness and high stiffness has applications in such diverse industries as precision equipment and ballistic armor. Specifically, the composite material features a boron carbide filler or reinforcement phase, and a silicon component with a porous mass having a carbonaceous component. Potential deleterious reaction of the boron carbide with silicon during infiltration is suppressed by alloying or dissolving boron into the silicon prior to contact of the silicon infiltrant with the boron carbide. In a preferred embodiment of the invention related specifically to armor, good ballistic performance can be advanced by loading the porous mass or preform to be infiltrated to a high degree with one or more hard fillers such as boron carbide, and by limiting the size of the largest particles making up the mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel alkylhalosilylaminoboranes, in particular alkylchlorosilylaminoboranes, which make it possible to adjust the viscosity of polyborosilazane compounds by varying the number of reactive centers, to novel borosilazane compounds, to novel oligoborosilazane or polyborosilazane compounds which have the structural feature R1—Si—NH—B—R2, where R1 or R2 or both is/are a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, in particular an alkyl, phenyl or vinyl group, to silicon borocarbonitride ceramic powder, to ceramic material based on SiC, SiN and BN and to processes for producing each of these and to the use of the polyborosilazanes and the ceramic materials.

Abstract: An improved ceramic/metal composite material is disclosed which is fully reacted with aluminum. The composite is made from a ceramic preform, such as silicon carbide, having a binding agent, such as silica, that is contacted with a metal mixture or alloy, such as aluminum/silicon, that reacts with the binding agent to form a ceramic/metal composite material. Also disclosed is a method of making the improved composite material and articles made incorporating the material.

Abstract: Ceramic igniter compositions are provided that contain components of conductive material and insulating material, where the insulating material component includes a relatively high concentration of metal oxide. Ceramic igniters of the invention are particularly effective for high voltage use, including throughout the range of from about 187 to 264 volts.

Abstract: Preparation, handling, and spray drying, in an economic and environmentally-friendly way, of slurries for the production of tungsten carbide based hard metal tools or components by the powder injection molding or extrusion route is disclosed. The slurry used is based on ethanol-water and contains metal carbide and metallic raw materials as well as stearic acid and a low concentration of polyethylenimine (PEI). The concentration of PEI is 0.01–1 wt % of the raw material weight. This combination results in low-viscous slurries, which require less use of ethanol, energy, manpower, and equipment time in their preparation, handling, and spray drying. The invention also relates to the powder obtained by using the method.

Abstract: A method of producing a single-phase composition Mn+1AzXn, primarily the production of the single-phase material Ti3SiC2, where n lies within a range of 0.8-3.2, where z lies within a range of 0.8-1.2, where M is at least one metal taken from the group of metals Ti (titanium), Sc (scandium), V (vanadium), Cr (chromium), Zr (zirconium), Nb (niobium) and Ta (tantalum), where X is at least one of the non-metals C (carbon) and N nitrogen), and where A is at least one of the chemical elements Si (silicon), Al (aluminum) and Sn (tin) or a compound of those elements, such that the final, desired compound will include the components Mn+1AzXn. A powder mixture of the components is formed and is ignited under an inert atmosphere to prevent promotion of dissociation and to cause the components to react.

Abstract: A tough wear-resistant hard member that includes a hard composite member and a support that has a surface area adjacent to the hard composite member wherein the hard composite member is affixed to the support over at least a portion of the adjacent surface area of the support. The hard composite member includes a plurality of discrete hard constituents distributed in the hard composite member wherein each one of the discrete hard constituents is of a size so as to have a surface area between about 0.001 square inches and about 16 square inches. The hard composite member further contains a matrix powder that includes particles wherein substantially all of the hard particles have a size smaller than the size of the hard constituents.

Abstract: Compositions including modified carbide-containing nanorods and/or modified oxycarbide-containing nanorods and/or modified carbon nanotubes bearing carbides and oxycarbides and methods of making the same are provided. Rigid porous structures including modified oxycarbide-containing nanorods and/or modified carbide containing nanorods and/or modified carbon nanotubes bearing modified carbides and oxycarbides and methods of making the same are also provided. The compositions and rigid porous structures of the invention can be used either as catalyst and/or catalyst supports in fluid phase catalytic chemical reactions. Processes for making supported catalyst for selected fluid phase catalytic reactions are also provided.

Abstract: A preform for use in a metal matrix composite, particularly for a magnesium metal composite. In the preform the reinforcing material typically is silicon carbide, boron nitride, titanium nitride, carbon or graphite. The binder used in the preform is sintered magnesium fluoride, which avoids the known problems which result from the high reactivity of molten magnesium metal with other binders, such as silica and alumina, which results in the formation of magnesium oxide in the reinforced composite. The presence of magnesium oxide crystals in the metal matrix adversely affects the properties of the composite. The preform generally has a void volume of from about 50% to about 95%.

Abstract: Compositions including oxycarbide-based nanorods and/or carbide-based nanorods and/or carbon nanotubes bearing carbides and oxycarbides and methods of making the same are provided. Rigid porous structures including oxycarbide-based nanorods and/or carbide based nanorods and/or carbon nanotubes bearing carbides and oxycarbides and methods of making the same are also provided. The compositions and rigid porous structures of the invention can be used either as catalyst and/or catalyst supports in fluid phase catalytic chemical reactions. Processes for making supported catalyst for selected fluid phase catalytic reactions are also provided. The fluid phase catalytic reactions catalyzed include hydrogenation, hydrodesulfurisation, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodemetallisation, hydrodeoxigenation, hydrodearomatization, dehydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, isomerization, alkylation, dealkylation and transalkylation.

Abstract: A reinforcing material is uniformly dispersed in a yttrium aluminum garnet matrix material for use as a machine tool material specially suited for machining Ti or a Ti alloy. The matrix material and the reinforcing material are present in proportions selected such that the machine tool material is substantially resistant to transfer of impurities to a Ti or Ti alloy by way of either chemical reaction with or diffusion into the Ti or Ti alloy material to be machined. The matrix material preferably comprises Y3Al5O12. The reinforcing material may comprise SiCw, TiC, TiN, TiB2, or combinations thereof and is preferably present in an amount sufficient to enable electrical discharge machining of the machine tool material. In addition, the machine tool material defines a thermodynamically stable phase at relatively high machining temperatures.