Disclosed herein is a ceramic matrix composite comprising a preform comprising a plurality of plies; a ceramic matrix encompassing the plies and distributed through the plies; and thermally conducting particles distributed through the ceramic matrix. Disclosed herein is a method comprising distributing thermally conducting particles between plies in a preform; infiltrating chemical vapors of a ceramic precursor into the plies; and reacting the ceramic precursor to form a matrix.

A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.

A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.

A transaction card includes a card body that may comprise a card body comprising a ceramic material, the card body including a primary surface and a first mating surface. A card backer comprises a metallic material and includes a secondary surface and a second mating surface. A portion of the first mating surface and a portion of the second mating surface are coupled together.

Systems for and methods for improving mechanical properties of ceramic material are provided. The system comprises a heat source for heating the ceramic material to a temperature greater than a brittle-to-ductile transition temperature of the ceramic material; a probe for mounting the ceramic material and configured to extend the ceramic material into the heat source; a plasma-confining medium and a sacrificial layer disposed between the ceramic material and the plasma-confining medium; and an energy pulse generator such as a laser pulse generator. The sacrificial layer is utilized to form plasma between the ceramic material and the plasma-confining medium. The method comprises heating ceramic material to a temperature greater than a brittle-to-ductile transition temperature of the ceramic material and subjecting the ceramic material to energy pulses via a sacrificial layer and a plasma-confining medium whereby a plasma of the sacrificial coating forms between the ceramic material and a plasma-confining medium.

Systems for and methods for improving mechanical properties of ceramic material are provided. The system comprises a heat source for heating the ceramic material to a temperature greater than a brittle-to-ductile transition temperature of the ceramic material; a probe for mounting the ceramic material and configured to extend the ceramic material into the heat source; a plasma-confining medium and a sacrificial layer disposed between the ceramic material and the plasma-confining medium; and an energy pulse generator such as a laser pulse generator. The sacrificial layer is utilized to form plasma between the ceramic material and the plasma-confining medium. The method comprises heating ceramic material to a temperature greater than a brittle-to-ductile transition temperature of the ceramic material and subjecting the ceramic material to energy pulses via a sacrificial layer and a plasma-confining medium whereby a plasma of the sacrificial coating forms between the ceramic material and a plasma-confining medium.

The disclosure describes techniques for infiltrating a porous preform with a slurry to form an infiltrated-preform, where the slurry includes a plurality of solid particles, where the plurality of solid particles include a plurality of fine ceramic particles defining an average fine particle diameter, a plurality of coarse ceramic particles defining an average coarse particle diameter, and a plurality of diamond particles, where the average fine particle diameter is less than the average coarse particle diameter, and infiltrating the infiltrated-preform with a molten metal infiltrant to form a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article.

The disclosure describes techniques for infiltrating a CMC substrate with a first slurry to at least partially fill at least some inner spaces of the CMC substrate, where the first slurry comprises first solid particles, drying the first slurry to form an infiltrated CMC including the first solid particles, depositing a second slurry including a carrier material and second solid particles on a surface of the infiltrated CMC, where the second solid particles comprise a plurality of fine ceramic particles, a plurality of coarse ceramic particles, and a plurality of diamond particles, drying the second slurry to form an article having an outer surface layer comprising the second solid particles on the infiltrated CMC, and infiltrating the article with a molten infiltrant to form a composite article.

A method for manufacturing a part made of composite material includes injecting into a fibrous texture a slurry including at least one powder of refractory ceramic particles suspended in a liquid phase, filtering the liquid phase of the slurry and retaining the powder of refractory ceramic particles inside the texture so as to obtain a fibrous preform loaded with refractory ceramic particles, densifying the fibrous texture by treatment of the refractory ceramic particles present in the fibrous texture in order to form a refractory matrix in the texture. The method further includes, before injecting the slurry under pressure, pre-saturating the fibrous texture with a carrier fluid consisting in injecting into said texture a carrier fluid.

A method for manufacturing a part made of composite material includes injecting into a fibrous texture a slurry including at least one powder of refractory ceramic particles suspended in a liquid phase, filtering the liquid phase of the slurry and retaining the powder of refractory ceramic particles inside the texture so as to obtain a fibrous preform loaded with refractory ceramic particles, densifying the fibrous texture by treatment of the refractory ceramic particles present in the fibrous texture in order to form a refractory matrix in the texture. The method further includes, before injecting the slurry under pressure, pre-saturating the fibrous texture with a carrier fluid consisting in injecting into said texture a carrier fluid.