A method for forming a connection such as an electrical connection, to a fibre material electrode element comprises moving a length of the fibre material relative to a pressure injection stage and pressure impregnating by a series of pressure injection pulses a lug material into a lug zone part of the fibre material to surround and/or penetrate fibres of the fibre material and form a lug strip in the lug zone. The fibre material may be a carbon fibre material and the lug material a metal such as Pb or a Pb alloy. Apparatus for forming an electrical connection to a fibre material electrode element is also disclosed.

A blade for a turbomachine comprising an outer shell and an inner core which is at least partially enclosed by the outer shell and has a higher porosity than the outer shell. The outer shell is formed by a ceramic body or a body made of a ceramic matrix composite material, and the inner core is formed by a fiber-reinforced ceramic or a fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite material.

A method for forming a connection such as an electrical connection, to a fiber material electrode element comprises moving a length of the fiber material relative to a pressure injection stage and pressure impregnating by a series of pressure injection pulses a lug material into a lug zone part of the fiber material to surround and/or penetrate fibers of the fiber material and form a lug strip in the lug zone. The fiber material may be a carbon fiber material and the lug material a metal such as Pb or a Pb alloy. Apparatus for forming an electrical connection to a fiber material electrode element is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric composite material and a method for preparing a thermoelectric composite material. Specifically, the invention relates to a thermoelectric composite material in which graphene oxide attached with conductive metal nanoparticles is dispersed in a thermoelectric material and a method for preparing a thermoelectric composite powder comprising the steps of: growing conductive metal nanoparticles on the surface of graphene oxide (step 1); and introducing the graphene oxide attached with the conductive metal nanoparticles prepared in step 1 into a thermoelectric material precursor solution, followed by heat treatment (step 2).

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric composite material and a method for preparing a thermoelectric composite material. Specifically, the invention relates to a thermoelectric composite material in which graphene oxide attached with conductive metal nanoparticles is dispersed in a thermoelectric material and a method for preparing a thermoelectric composite powder comprising the steps of: growing conductive metal nanoparticles on the surface of graphene oxide (step 1); and introducing the graphene oxide attached with the conductive metal nanoparticles prepared in step 1 into a thermoelectric material precursor solution, followed by heat treatment (step 2).

It is an object of the present invention to obtain a ceramic circuit substrate having high bonding strength, excellent heat cycle resistance, enhanced reliability of operation as an electronic device, and excellent heat dissipation properties. The present invention provides a ceramic circuit substrate in which metal plates, particularly copper plates, and both main surfaces of a ceramic substrate are bonded vial silver-copper brazing material layers. The silver-copper brazing material layers are formed from a silver-copper brazing material including i) 0.3-7.5 parts by mass of carbon fibers, and ii) 1.0-9.0 parts by mass of at least one active metal selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and tin; with respect to iii) a total of 100 parts by mass of a) 75-98 parts by mass of silver powder and b) 2-25 parts by mass of copper powder. The carbon fibers having an average length of 15-400 m, an average diameter of 5-25 m and an average aspect ratio of 3-28.

It is an object of the present invention to obtain a ceramic circuit substrate having high bonding strength, excellent heat cycle resistance, enhanced reliability of operation as an electronic device, and excellent heat dissipation properties. The present invention provides a ceramic circuit substrate in which metal plates, particularly copper plates, and both main surfaces of a ceramic substrate are bonded vial silver-copper brazing material layers. The silver-copper brazing material layers are formed from a silver-copper brazing material including i) 0.3-7.5 parts by mass of carbon fibers, and ii) 1.0-9.0 parts by mass of at least one active metal selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and tin; with respect to iii) a total of 100 parts by mass of a) 75-98 parts by mass of silver powder and b) 2-25 parts by mass of copper powder. The carbon fibers having an average length of 15-400 m, an average diameter of 5-25 m and an average aspect ratio of 3-28.

A solid aluminum-fiber composite comprising: (i) an aluminum-containing matrix comprising elemental aluminum; (ii) coated or uncoated fibers embedded within said aluminum-containing matrix, wherein said fibers have a different composition than said aluminum-containing matrix and impart additional strength to said aluminum-containing matrix as compared to said aluminum-containing matrix in the absence of said fibers embedded therein; and (iii) an intermetallic layer present as an interface between each of said fibers and the aluminum-containing matrix, wherein said intermetallic layer has a composition different from said aluminum-containing matrix and said fibers, and said intermetallic layer contains at least one element that is also present in the aluminum-containing matrix and at least one element present in the fibers, whether from the coated or interior portion of the fibers. Methods of producing the above-described composite are also described.

A solid aluminum-fiber composite comprising: (i) an aluminum-containing matrix comprising elemental aluminum; (ii) coated or uncoated fibers embedded within said aluminum-containing matrix, wherein said fibers have a different composition than said aluminum-containing matrix and impart additional strength to said aluminum-containing matrix as compared to said aluminum-containing matrix in the absence of said fibers embedded therein; and (iii) an intermetallic layer present as an interface between each of said fibers and the aluminum-containing matrix, wherein said intermetallic layer has a composition different from said aluminum-containing matrix and said fibers, and said intermetallic layer contains at least one element that is also present in the aluminum-containing matrix and at least one element present in the fibers, whether from the coated or interior portion of the fibers. Methods of producing the above-described composite are also described.

A heterogeneous composition is disclosed, including an alloy mixture and a ceramic additive. The alloy mixture includes a first alloy having a first melting point of at least a first threshold temperature, and a second alloy having a second melting point of less than a second threshold temperature. The second threshold temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature. The first alloy, the second alloy, and the ceramic additive are intermixed with one another as distinct phases. An article is disclosed including a first portion including a material composition, and a second portion including the heterogeneous composition. A method for forming the article is disclosing, including applying the second portion to the first portion.