A method of selectively removing at least part of a first phase from a surface of a nanocomposite includes at least a first phase and a second phase, each phase having a respective threshold fluence under a given number of applied laser pulses for removal of the phase by laser ablation. The threshold fluence of the first phase is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase. The method includes irradiating the surface of the nanocomposite with a laser beam having a laser beam diameter, a laser pulse duration, and a laser pulse energy during the irradiation. The laser fluence during the irradiation is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase and greater than the threshold fluence of the first phase. The laser beam diameter is greater than an average grain size of the first phase at the surface of the nanocomposite.

A method of selectively removing at least part of a first phase from a surface of a nanocomposite includes at least a first phase and a second phase, each phase having a respective threshold fluence under a given number of applied laser pulses for removal of the phase by laser ablation. The threshold fluence of the first phase is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase. The method includes irradiating the surface of the nanocomposite with a laser beam having a laser beam diameter, a laser pulse duration, and a laser pulse energy during the irradiation. The laser fluence during the irradiation is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase and greater than the threshold fluence of the first phase. The laser beam diameter is greater than an average grain size of the first phase at the surface of the nanocomposite.

A method of forming a structure comprising a continuous fiber material comprises continuously feeding, through a continuous fiber nozzle assembly of an additive manufacturing tool, a feed material comprising a continuous fiber material and a thermoset resin material, heating or cooling the feed material to maintain a temperature of the feed material to a temperature sufficient to tackify the feed material and at least partially cure the feed material and initiate adhesion of the feed material on a build platform or a previously formed portion of a structure, and moving the continuous fiber nozzle assembly in three dimensions while depositing the feed material on the build platform or the previously formed portion of the structure to form the structure comprising the continuous fiber material extending in three dimensions. Related methods of forming a composite structure, and related tools for additively manufacturing a structure are disclosed.

In one aspect, sintered ceramic bodies are described herein which, in some embodiments, demonstrate improved resistance to wear and enhanced cutting lifetimes. For example, a sintered ceramic body comprises tungsten carbide (WC) in an amount of 40-95 weight percent, alumina in an amount of 5-30 weight percent and ditungsten carbide (W.sub.2C) in an amount of at least 1 weight percent.

A superabrasive compact and a method of making the superabrasive compact are disclosed. A superabrasive compact may include a diamond table and a substrate. The diamond table may be attached to the substrate. The substrate may have a metric of being defined as a ratio of carbon content over tungsten carbide content, wherein the metric ranges from about 6.13% to about 7.5%.

Superabrasive compacts and methods of making superabrasive compacts are disclosed. A superabrasive compact includes a polycrystalline diamond table and a substrate attached to the polycrystalline diamond table. The substrate includes a hard metal carbide and a binder having a compound with a composition of A.sub.xB.sub.yC.sub.z, where A and B are transition metals, where C is carbon, and where 0≦x≦7, 0≦y≦7, x+y=7, and 0≦z≦3.

In an embodiment, a system includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer, a feedstock, and a laser. The three-dimensional printer includes a platen including an inert metal, and an enclosure including an inert atmosphere. The feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The feedstock includes a halogenated solution and a nanoparticle having negative electron affinity. The laser is configured to induce the nanoparticle to emit solvated electrons into the halogenated solution to form, by reduction, a ceramic and a diatomic halogen.

Provided is a three-dimensional object producing method for producing a three-dimensional object using primary particles containing at least a ceramic material, the three-dimensional object producing method including: a forming step of forming a layer using secondary particles containing the primary particles and a binder resin; and an applying step of applying a liquid for dissolving the binder resin to the layer formed in the forming step, wherein a central particle diameter of the primary particles is 5 micrometers or less.

A composite composed of one or a plurality of principal strengthening compounds and at least one principal cemented refractory metal that is prepared by combining a suitable binary to senary borides and/or carbides with a unitary to binary principal refractory metal is disclosed. As compared with the conventional sintered cemented carbides, the composite of the disclosure not only possess high hardness and high toughness but also has various ratios of principal components since it is not prepared with equal mole during the process.

The present invention provides for materials and methods of making metal and ceramic matrix composites reinforced with boron nitride nanomaterials for improved physical properties such as hardness, fracture toughness, and bend strength.