The present invention relates to an aluminum matrix composite (AMC), and particularly to a method and apparatus for preparing an AMC with a high strength, a high toughness, and a high neutron absorption. The present invention combines a high-neutron-absorption and highly stable micro-B.sub.4C extrinsic reinforcement with an in-situ nano-reinforcement containing elements B, Cd, and Hf and having high neutron capture ability, achieves efficient absorption of neutrons by using the large cross-sectional area of the micro-reinforcement, achieves effective capture of rays penetrating gaps of the micro-reinforcement by means of the highly dispersed in-situ nano-reinforcement, and significantly improves the toughness of the composite material by means of the high-dispersion toughening effect of the nano-reinforcement, obtaining a particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composite (PAMC) having high toughness and high neutron absorption.

The present disclosure concerns composite material having improved strength at elevated temperatures. The composite material comprises a matrix of an aluminum alloy (comprising, in weight percent, Si 0.05-0.30, Fe 0.04-0.6, Mn 0.80-1.50, Mg 0.80-1.50 and the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities) as well as particles of a filler material dispersed within the matrix. The matrix can optionally comprise Cu and/or Mo. In some embodiments, the composite material comprises, as a filler material, B.sub.4C as well as an additive selected from the group consisting of Ti, Cr, V, Nb, Zr, Sr, Sc and any combination thereof. The present disclosure also provides processes for making such composite materials.

An aluminum-based composite material includes a plurality of coarse crystalline grains (3) of pure aluminum, and a plurality of fine crystalline grains (4) each having an aluminum matrix (1), and a dispersion material (2) dispersed inside the aluminum matrix and formed by reacting a portion or all of an additive with aluminum in the aluminum matrix. The fine crystalline grains exist among the coarse crystalline grains, and the fine crystalline grains have crystalline grain diameters smaller than crystalline grain diameters of the coarse crystalline grains.

An aluminum based composite material includes an aluminum parent phase and dispersions dispersed in the aluminum parent phase and formed such that a portion or all of additives react with aluminum in the aluminum parent phase, an average particle diameter of the dispersions is 20 nm or less, a content of the dispersions is 0.25% by mass or more and 0.72% by mass or less in terms of carbon amount, and an interval between the dispersions adjacent to each other is 210 nm or less.

A high-strength copper-nickel-tin alloy with excellent castability, hot workability and cold workability, high resistance to abrasive wear, adhesive wear and fretting wear and improved resistance to corrosion and stress relaxation stability, consisting of (in weight %): 2.0-10.0% Ni, 2.0-10.0% Sn, 0.01-1.5% Si, 0.002-0.45% B, 0.001-0.09% P, selectively up to a maximum of 2.0% Co, optionally also up to a maximum of 2.0% Zn, selectively up to a maximum of 0.25% Pb, the residue being copper and unavoidable impurities. The ratio Si/B of the element contents in wt. % of the elements silicon and boron is a minimum 0.4 and a maximum 8 such that the copper-nickel-tin alloy has Si-containing and B-containing phases and phases of the systems Ni—Si—B, Ni—B, Ni—P and Ni—Si, which significantly improve the processing properties and use properties of the alloy.

Methods and apparatuses for in situ synthesis of alloys and/or composites are disclosed, the method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus having: an electromagnetic energy source; an autofocusing scanner; a powder system; a powder delivery system; and computers coupled and configured to control the electromagnetic energy source, the autofocusing scanner, the powder system, and the powder delivery system; (b) programming the computers with structural and material specifications of the sample; (c) using the computers to control electromagnetic radiation, powder mixture, and powder deposition parameters; and (d) focusing and scanning the electromagnetic radiation onto the sample while two or more powders are concurrently deposited onto the sample to deposit layers onto the sample for multiple metal powder synthesis, metal and ceramic synthesis, ceramic synthesis, and/or gradated composition synthesis, wherein the layers comprise at least one new material which differs from the two or more powders. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Described herein are methods of forming a neutron shielding material. Such material may comprise a powder blend comprising a first component comprising a blend of a first metal particle and a first ceramic particle; and a second component comprising a reinforcing chip, the reinforcing chip comprising a second ceramic particle dispersed within a chip metal matrix.

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.

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.

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.