The present invention relates to a preparation method of a lithium-containing magnesium/aluminum matrix composite. The preparation method is performed according to the following steps: (1) preparing magnesium ingots or aluminum ingots, preparing lithium metal, and preparing flux and reinforcements; (2) heating the flux to prepare flux melt, and adding the reinforcements to the flux melt to prepare a liquid-solid mixture; (3) pouring the liquid-solid mixture in a normal-temperature crucible, and performing cooling to obtain a precursor; (4) preheating a crucible, adding raw materials, and performing melting to form a raw material melt; (5) controlling a temperature of the raw material melt to 973-993K, adding the lithium metal, performing stirring, adding the precursor, performing stirring and mixing, raising temperature to 993-1013K, and performing standing; and (6) scumming operation should be carried out, and performing temperature casting on composite melt.

The present invention relates to the composition and production of an engineered degradable metal matrix composite that is useful in constructing temporary systems requiring wear resistance, high hardness, and/or high resistance to deformation in water-bearing applications such as, but not limited to, oil and gas completion operations.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

The present invention relates to the composition and production of an engineered degradable metal matrix composite that is useful in constructing temporary systems requiring wear resistance, high hardness, and/or high resistance to deformation in water-bearing applications such as, but not limited to, oil and gas completion operations.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

The present invention relates to the composition and production of an engineered degradable metal matrix composite that is useful in constructing temporary systems requiring wear resistance, high hardness, and/or high resistance to deformation in water-bearing applications such as, but not limited to, oil and gas completion operations.

Disclosed herein are structures comprising a titanium, zirconium, or hafnium powder particle with titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or hafnium carbide (respectively) nano-whiskers grown directly from and anchored to the powder particle. Also disclosed are methods for fabrication of such structures, involving heating the powder particles and exposing the particles to an organic gas.

A material for water droplet erosion- and corrosion-resistant coatings, comprising metallic tungsten alloyed with carbon in a substantially uniform nano-structure that is substantially free of oxygen, other than at surface portions exposed to air or moisture. The coatings disclosed may be particularly resistant to water droplet erosion when coated onto gas or steam turbine blades.

A sintered material for use in an internal combustion engine, such as a valve seat insert, is provided. The material includes a pressed base powder metal mixture and a Cu-rich phase infiltrated in pores of the base powder metal mixture. The base powder metal mixture includes at least one of Mo and W, and at least one additive, such as B, N, and/or C. The amount of the Mo and/or W is 50 wt. % to 85 wt. %, based on the total weight of the material. The at least one additive is present in a total amount of 0.2 to 25 wt. %, based on the total weight of the material, and the Cu-rich phase is present in an amount of 15 wt. % to 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the material. The material also has a thermal conductivity of at least 70 W/mK.

Powder alloy compositions and associated additive manufacturing techniques are described herein for production of sintered articles with microstructure and/or enhanced wear and corrosion resistance. In some embodiments, an article comprises sintered cobalt-based alloy having chromium carbide precipitates dispersed therein, the chromium carbide precipitates having an average size less than 4 m.