A composite material having a grainy appearance, this composite material including a metal matrix which represents, in terms of volume fraction, between 50 and 95% of the grainy composite material, the ceramic particles having a diameter that lies in the range 0.1 to 2 mm and which represent, in terms of volume fraction, between 50 and 5% of the composite material are dispersed in the metal matrix and form the remainder of this grainy composite material. A method for manufacturing a grainy synthetic material.

A structured three-phase composite which include a metal phase, a ceramic phase, and a gas phase that are arranged to create a composite having low thermal conductivity, having controlled stiffness, and a CTE to reduce thermal stresses in the composite when exposed to cyclic thermal loads. The structured three-phase composite is useful for use in structures such as, but not limited to, heat shields, cryotanks, high speed engine ducts, exhaust-impinged structures, and high speed and reentry aeroshells.

This invention relates to structures and processing imparting self-healing characteristics in Iron, Copper, Zinc, Magnesium, Nickel, Titanium, Gold, Silver and their alloys, and other materials including polymers and ceramics. The composite disclosed consists of a matrix with dispersed hollow macro, micro and nanotubes or balloons or fibers encapsulating a lower melting point or liquid healing material; self-healing results from flow of liquid healing agent into the crack. Another type of self-healing material is where the cracks are subjected to compressive stresses due to phase transformations in the matrix or reinforcement, including nano structure matrix and nanosize reinforcements. The compressive stresses could be due to shrinkage of shape memory material in the form of fibers, micro and nano size which deform, or reinforcements when expand upon reaction with atmosphere sealing the crack. The invention includes self-healing due to hollow vascular networks through which healing agent can flow and seal the crack.

A process for manufacturing ceramic-metal composite material, comprises dissolving ceramic powder into water to obtain an aqueous solution of ceramic; mixing metal powder having a multimodal particle size where largest particle size is one fourth of the minimum dimension of a device, with the aqueous solution of ceramic to obtain a powder containing ceramic precipitated on the surface of metal particles; mixing the powder containing ceramic precipitated on the surface of the metal particles, with ceramic powder having a particle size below 50 m, to obtain a powder mixture; adding saturated aqueous solution of ceramic to the powder mixture to obtain an aqueous composition containing ceramic and metal; compressing the aqueous composition to form a disc of ceramic-metal composite material containing ceramic and metal; and removing water from the ceramic-metal composite material; wherein ceramic content of the disc is 10 vol-% to 35 vol-%. Alternatively, ceramic-ceramic composite material may be manufactured.

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a metal matrix composite in which oxide nanoparticles are dispersed. Metal matrix composite powders in which oxide nanoparticles are dispersed are prepared. Gibbs free energy of the oxide nanoparticles is greater than that of an oxide of a metal matrix. A bulk processed material is manufactured from the composite powders through hot forming or a cast material is manufactured by inputting the composite powder into a molten base metal and then rapidly stirring a resultant mixture. The bulk processed material or the cast material is heat-treated so that atoms of the metal matrix and atoms of the oxide nanoparticles mutually diffuse. Oxygen atoms originating from the oxide nanoparticles are diffused and dispersed in the metal matrix.

A seal includes a metal composite that has a cellular nanomatrix that includes a metallic nanomatrix material, a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nanomatrix, and a disintegration agent; an inner sealing surface; and an outer sealing surface disposed radially from the inner sealing surface. The seal can be prepared by combining a metal matrix powder, a disintegration agent, and metal nanomatrix material to form a composition; compacting the composition to form a compacted composition; sintering the compacted composition; and pressing the sintered composition to form the seal.

A method of making a projectile apparatus is provided that includes making one or components of the apparatus using an additive manufacture technique such as 3-D printing or laser-aided additive manufacture. The projectile apparatus can have a projectile, a propellant, and one or more optional components such as a wading, a sabot, and an intermediary device. The projectile can be fired through a barrel having a smooth bore. Additive manufacture methods can be used that involve forming components from superalloys having nanoparticles incorporated therein. The projectile apparatus can convert gas pressure or gas velocity into a high rate of projectile spin. The projectile has long-range accuracy due to a high or sustainable velocity and high rate of spin.

A projectile apparatus is provided that includes a projectile, a propellant, and optional components such as a wading, a sabot, and an intermediary device. The projectile can be fired through a barrel having a smooth bore. A sabot is provided that can include molded features, for example, a base portion and a plurality of petal portions defining, in-part, a volume for accommodating a projectile. The sabot and wadding can include molded features that control and direct gases produced by the propellant. The apparatus can convert gas pressure or gas velocity into a high rate of projectile spin. The projectile has long-range accuracy due to a high or sustainable velocity and high rate of spin.

An article comprises a bulk layer of an aluminum-alloy composite and a surface layer. The bulk layer comprises an aggregate dispersed in an aluminum-alloy matrix, the aggregate being solid and unreactive in a melt of the aluminum-alloy matrix, and having an average particle size of 100 microns or less. The surface layer comprises an anodized form of the bulk layer.

A manufacturing method includes: 1) forming a melt including one or more metals; 2) introducing nanostructures into the melt at an initial volume fraction of the nanostructures; and 3) at least partially evaporating one or more metals from the melt so as to form a metal matrix nanocomposite including the nanostructures dispersed therein at a higher volume fraction than the initial volume fraction.