A compositionally-graded structure including a body having a first major surface and a second major surface opposed from the first major surface along a thickness axis, the body including a metallic component and a ceramic component, wherein a concentration of the ceramic component in the body is a function of location within the body along the thickness axis, wherein transitions of the concentration of the ceramic component in the body are continuous such that distinct interfaces are not macroscopically established within the body, and wherein the concentration of the ceramic component is at least 95 percent by volume at at least one location within the body along the thickness axis.

A turbine component such as a turbine blade or a vane of a distributor, which includes a polycrystalline substrate containing grains, the substrate having at least one Ti.sub.3AlC.sub.2 phase and the mass fraction of the phase of the alloy is greater than 97%, with the average length of the grains is less than 50 m, the average width-to-length ratio is between 0.4 and 0.6, and the average mesh volume of the Ti.sub.3AlC.sub.2 phase is less than 152.4 .sup.3.

A turbine component such as a turbine blade or a vane of a distributor, which includes a polycrystalline substrate containing grains, the substrate having at least one Ti.sub.3AlC.sub.2 phase and the mass fraction of the phase of the alloy is greater than 97%, with the average length of the grains is less than 50 m, the average width-to-length ratio is between 0.4 and 0.6, and the average mesh volume of the Ti.sub.3AlC.sub.2 phase is less than 152.4 .sup.3.

A method for coating a body includes providing a plurality of granules in which each granule includes silicon (Si), carbon (C), chromium (Cr) and an iron group metal. The relative quantities of the Si, C and Cr are such that a molten phase will form at a melting temperature of less than 1,300 degrees Celsius when a threshold quantity of the iron group metal is accessible to the Si, C and Cr. A second source of the iron group metal is also provided. A combination of the granules and the second source is formed such that the threshold quantity of the iron group metal will be accessible to the Si, C and Cr. The granules and the second source are heated to the melting temperature to form the molten phase in contact with the body. The heat is then removed to allow the molten phase to solidify.

A method for coating a body includes providing a plurality of granules in which each granule includes silicon (Si), carbon (C), chromium (Cr) and an iron group metal. The relative quantities of the Si, C and Cr are such that a molten phase will form at a melting temperature of less than 1,300 degrees Celsius when a threshold quantity of the iron group metal is accessible to the Si, C and Cr. A second source of the iron group metal is also provided. A combination of the granules and the second source is formed such that the threshold quantity of the iron group metal will be accessible to the Si, C and Cr. The granules and the second source are heated to the melting temperature to form the molten phase in contact with the body. The heat is then removed to allow the molten phase to solidify.

A hard composite composition may comprise a binder and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. The polymodal blend of matrix powder may have at least one first local maxima at a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 m, at least one second local maxima at a particle size of about 200 m to about 10 mm, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 m to about 200 m that has a value that is less than the first local maxima.

A hard composite composition may comprise a binder and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. The polymodal blend of matrix powder may have at least one first local maxima at a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 m, at least one second local maxima at a particle size of about 200 m to about 10 mm, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 m to about 200 m that has a value that is less than the first local maxima.

The invention relates to a method for producing hard metal powder suitable for manufacturing hard metal products comprising metal carbides and a binder. To provide a method which is easy to carry out and which provides high quality hard metal powder, the method is characterized by the steps of: a) dissolving in water, water soluble raw materials and a binder source to form an aqueous solution, b) drying the aqueous solution to form a precursor powder having the raw materials homogenously distributed throughout the precursor powder, c) decomposing the precursor powder by heating the powder in an inert atmosphere to remove gas evolved in the decomposition of the raw materials, d) grinding the precursor powder and mixing it with a liquid media to produce a suspension, e) spray drying the suspension to agglomerate the precursor powder, and f) heat treating the agglomerated precursor powder to form a hard metal powder containing agglomerates of carbides evenly distributed and bonded to a metallic matrix.

There is described neutron shielding for a nuclear fusion reactor. The neutron shielding includes a cemented carbide or boride comprising a binder and an aggregate, the aggregate comprising particles of a carbide or boride compound.

The present disclosure relates to a process of manufacturing an article comprising at least one body of a cemented carbide and at least one body of a metal alloy or at least one body of a metal matrix composite and to a product manufactured thereof and wherein the article also comprises an interlayer between the at least one body of a cemented carbide and at least one body of a metal alloy or at least one body of a metal matrix composite in order to prevent deleterious interface phases from forming.