Alloys comprised of a refined microstructure, ultrafine or nano scaled, that when reacted with water or any liquid containing water will spontaneously and rapidly produce hydrogen at ambient or elevated temperature are described. These metals, termed here as aluminum based nanogalvanic alloys will have applications that include but are not limited to energy generation on demand. The alloys may be composed of primarily aluminum and other metals e.g. tin bismuth, indium, gallium, lead, etc. and/or carbon, and mixtures and alloys thereof. The alloys may be processed by ball milling for the purpose of synthesizing powder feed stocks, in which each powder particle will have the above mentioned characteristics. These powders can be used in their inherent form or consolidated using commercially available techniques for the purpose of manufacturing useful functional components.

Alloys comprised of a refined microstructure, ultrafine or nano scaled, that when reacted with water or any liquid containing water will spontaneously and rapidly produce hydrogen at ambient or elevated temperature are described. These metals, termed here as aluminum based nanogalvanic alloys will have applications that include but are not limited to energy generation on demand. The alloys may be composed of primarily aluminum and other metals e.g. tin bismuth, indium, gallium, lead, etc. and/or carbon, and mixtures and alloys thereof. The alloys may be processed by ball milling for the purpose of synthesizing powder feed stocks, in which each powder particle will have the above mentioned characteristics. These powders can be used in their inherent form or consolidated using commercially available techniques for the purpose of manufacturing useful functional components.

A transient liquid phase (TLP) composition includes a plurality of first high melting temperature (HMT) particles, a plurality of second HMT particles, and a plurality of low melting temperature (LMT) particles. Each of the plurality of first HMT particles have a core-shell structure with a core formed from a first high HMT material and a shell formed from a second HMT material that is different than the first HMT material. The plurality of second HMT particles are formed from a third HMT material that is different than the second HMT material and the plurality of LMT particles are formed from a LMT material. The LMT particles have a melting temperature less than a TLP sintering temperature of the TLP composition and the first, second, and third HMT materials have a melting point greater than the TLP sintering temperature.

The reaction between aluminum metal and water holds promise for producing hydrogen; however, solid aluminum metal is difficult to manage and use, and the reactivity between aluminum and water is often difficult to control. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are related to a water-stable aluminum slurry comprising a plurality of activated aluminum particles dispersed in a fluid carrier. In some embodiments, the reactivity of the aluminum slurry in the presence of water may be easily controlled with the addition of various additives (e.g., surfactants). Additionally, methods of making and using the water-stable aluminum slurry to controllable manage the reactivity between aluminum and water are presented herein.

The reaction between aluminum metal and water holds promise for producing hydrogen; however, solid aluminum metal is difficult to manage and use, and the reactivity between aluminum and water is often difficult to control. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are related to a water-stable aluminum slurry comprising a plurality of activated aluminum particles dispersed in a fluid carrier. In some embodiments, the reactivity of the aluminum slurry in the presence of water may be easily controlled with the addition of various additives (e.g., surfactants). Additionally, methods of making and using the water-stable aluminum slurry to controllable manage the reactivity between aluminum and water are presented herein.

A metal particle for joint material includes an intermetallic compound crystal that contains Sn, Cu, Ni and Ge, in a basal phase that contains Sn and an Sn—Cu alloy, the metal particle having a chemical composition represented by 0.7 to 15% by mass of Cu, 0.1 to 5% by mass of Ni, 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Ge and the balance of Sn, the basal phase having a chemical composition represented by 95 to 99.9% by mass of Sn, 5% by mass or less of Cu and 0.1% by mass or less of an inevitable impurity, the intermetallic compound crystal residing in the basal phase so as to be included therein, the metal particle having a particle size of 1 μm to 50 μm, the metal particle containing an orthorhombic crystal structure, and at least parts of the basal phase and the intermetallic compound crystal forming an endotaxial joint.

A metal particle for joint material includes an intermetallic compound crystal that contains Sn, Cu, Ni and Ge, in a basal phase that contains Sn and an Sn—Cu alloy, the metal particle having a chemical composition represented by 0.7 to 15% by mass of Cu, 0.1 to 5% by mass of Ni, 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of Ge and the balance of Sn, the basal phase having a chemical composition represented by 95 to 99.9% by mass of Sn, 5% by mass or less of Cu and 0.1% by mass or less of an inevitable impurity, the intermetallic compound crystal residing in the basal phase so as to be included therein, the metal particle having a particle size of 1 μm to 50 μm, the metal particle containing an orthorhombic crystal structure, and at least parts of the basal phase and the intermetallic compound crystal forming an endotaxial joint.

Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges, and methods for forming the same. The projectiles are formed from metal powder and include an anti-sparking agent. One or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form the metal powder. The projectiles may be formed from a compacted mixture of two or more different metal powders. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid, zinc chloride, and/or petrolatum. The anti-sparking agent may be dispersed within, and/or applied as a coating on, the exterior of the projectile. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. Such domains may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does form a liquid phase of the metal powder or utilize a polymeric binder.

Disclosed is a method for producing a Heusler-based phase thermoelectric material using an amorphous phase precursor. More specifically disclosed is a method for producing a powder or bulk thermoelectric material having a microstructure including a Heusler-based phase with a thermoelectric effect by crystallization of an amorphous phase precursor prepared by a non-equilibrium processes. Also disclosed is a device using a Heusler-based phase thermoelectric material produced by the method. The method largely avoids the efficiency problems of conventional methods, including low productivity in scaling up caused by long annealing time, high annealing temperature, and contamination during nanopowder production, achieving improved process efficiency. In addition, the method enables efficient production of a thermoelectric material having a nano-sized microstructure that is difficult to produce by a conventional method.

Disclosed is a method for producing a Heusler-based phase thermoelectric material using an amorphous phase precursor. More specifically disclosed is a method for producing a powder or bulk thermoelectric material having a microstructure including a Heusler-based phase with a thermoelectric effect by crystallization of an amorphous phase precursor prepared by a non-equilibrium processes. Also disclosed is a device using a Heusler-based phase thermoelectric material produced by the method. The method largely avoids the efficiency problems of conventional methods, including low productivity in scaling up caused by long annealing time, high annealing temperature, and contamination during nanopowder production, achieving improved process efficiency. In addition, the method enables efficient production of a thermoelectric material having a nano-sized microstructure that is difficult to produce by a conventional method.