The invention relates to a thermal spray powder on a tungsten carbide basis, as well as to a method for the manufacture of such a spray powder for the thermal coating of a substrate, in particular for the thermal coating of a brake disc for a vehicle. In accordance with the invention, the spray powder includes, apart from impurities, WC in the range of 60% to 75% by weight, Cr.sub.3C.sub.2 in the range of 14% to 22% by weight and Ni in the range of 11% to 23% by weight. The invention further relates to a sub-strate, in particular for a brake disc having a thermal spray layer on a tungsten carbide basis, as well as to a method for the manufacture of a thermal spray layer on a substrate.

There is provided an inorganic particle composite body comprising a layer of a substrate formed of a plastically deformable solid material and an inorganic particle layer that is composed of inorganic particles that do not plastically deform under a condition under which the solid material plastically deforms, that contains gaps defined by the inorganic particles, and that adjoins the layer of the substrate, wherein part of the solid material is in at least part of the gaps in the inorganic particle layer. This inorganic particle composite body is produced by a method including a preparation step of preparing an inorganic particle structural body comprising a layer of a substrate formed of a plastically deformable solid material and an inorganic particle layer that is composed of inorganic particles that do not plastically deform under a condition under which the solid material plastically deforms, that contains gaps defined by the inorganic particles, and that adjoins the layer of the substrate; and a filling step of plastically deforming at least part of the solid material contained in the inorganic particle structural body, thereby filling at least part of the gaps in the inorganic particle layer with part of the plastically deformed solid material.

Spherical particles of one or more elemental metals and elemental carbon are prepared from a precursor in the form of a metal oleate. The metal oleate precursor is dispersed in a liquid vehicle and aerosol droplets of the dispersed precursor are formed in a stream of an inert gas. The aerosol droplets are heated in the stream to decompose the oleate ligand portion of the precursor and form spherical particles that have a mesoporous nanocrystalline structure. The open mesopores of the spherical particles provide a high surface area for contact with fluids in many applications. For example, the mesopores can be infiltrated with a hydrogen absorbing material, such as magnesium hydride, in order to increase the hydrogen storage capacity of the particles.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate is provided. The SERS substrate includes a transparent substrate and a nanocomposite composition. The nanocomposite composition includes a silver-loaded silica (AgSiO.sub.2) nanocomposite having a silica core and a silver/silica shell disposed around the silica core and a zeolitic material having a nano porous structure. The silver/silica shell contains silver nanoparticles uniformly distributed therein. The AgSiO.sub.2 nanocomposite is uniformly disposed on a surface of the zeolitic material. The nanoparticles of the AgSiO.sub.2 nanocomposite are spherical and have a mean particle size of 100 to 500 nanometers (nm). A method of obtaining a Raman spectrum of a sulfur-containing compound in a mixing composition is also provided.

The invention concerns pre-alloyed powders useful for the manufacture of metal-bonded diamond tools. A process for the synthesis of such powders is presented, characterized in that at least a major part of the phosphor is introduced by adding an aqueous solution of a phosphorus salt to one or more of the metal-bearing compounds. The powder can have a low cobalt content, or even be cobalt-free, yet remain suitable for the production of diamond-loaded segments having harness and bending characteristics approaching or exceeding that of cobalt.

The invention concerns pre-alloyed powders useful for the manufacture of metal-bonded diamond tools. A process for the synthesis of such powders is presented, characterized in that at least a major part of the phosphor is introduced by adding an aqueous solution of a phosphorus salt to one or more of the metal-bearing compounds. The powder can have a low cobalt content, or even be cobalt-free, yet remain suitable for the production of diamond-loaded segments having harness and bending characteristics approaching or exceeding that of cobalt.

A metal powder has a formula FeaCubNicCodSnePfMogWhAxOy, wherein, in weight %, a>50, 5<b<25, c<20, d<5, e<5, 0.5<f<5, 0.5<g+h<5, x+y<5, and a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h+x+y=100. A represents one or more elements having a Gibbs free energy of oxidation at 700 C. which is lower than the Gibbs free energy of oxidation of Mo at 700 C. The pre-alloyed powder is useful for the manufacture of metal-bonded diamond tools. The powder can have a low cobalt content, or even be cobalt-free, yet remain suitable for the production of diamond-loaded segments having harness and bending characteristics approaching or exceeding that of cobalt.

A metal powder has a formula FeaCubNicCodSnePfMogWhAxOy, wherein, in weight %, a>50, 5<b<25, c<20, d<5, e<5, 0.5<f<5, 0.5<g+h<5, x+y<5, and a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h+x+y=100. A represents one or more elements having a Gibbs free energy of oxidation at 700 C. which is lower than the Gibbs free energy of oxidation of Mo at 700 C. The pre-alloyed powder is useful for the manufacture of metal-bonded diamond tools. The powder can have a low cobalt content, or even be cobalt-free, yet remain suitable for the production of diamond-loaded segments having harness and bending characteristics approaching or exceeding that of cobalt.

A method for forming graphene-oxide (GO) embedded with gallium-iron alloy (galfenol) nanoparticles. The method includes submerging galfenol bulk material in a solution comprising deionized water and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The method includes ablating, a first time, the galfenol bulk material submerged in the solution with a laser. The method includes removing the galfenol bulk material from the solution after ablating with the laser. The method includes drying the galfenol bulk material after removing the galfenol bulk material from the solution. The method includes submerging galfenol bulk material in deionized water after drying the galfenol bulk material. The method includes ablating, a second time, the galfenol bulk material submerged in the deionized water and ablating a second time the galfenol bulk material submerged in the deionized water.