The disclosure relates to a process for preparing particulate materials having high electrochemical capacities that are suitable for use as anode active materials in rechargeable metal-ion batteries. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a process for preparing a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles. The process includes providing particulate porous carbon frameworks comprising micro pores and/or mesopores, wherein the porous carbon frameworks have a D.sub.50 particle diameter of at least 20 μm; depositing an electroactive material selected from silicon and alloys thereof into the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon frameworks using a chemical vapour infiltration process in a fluidised bed reactor, to provide intermediate particles; and comminuting the intermediate particles to provide said composite particles.

A metal-silicon carbide-based composite material including: a composite part including a silicon carbide-based porous body constituted by a plurality of silicon carbide particles, and a metal that is infiltrated in the silicon carbide-based porous body; and first and second surface layers which contain a metal, and coat both main surfaces of the composite part. The metal contains at least one kind selected from the group consisting of aluminum and magnesium, and the amount of particles having a particle size of 300 μm or more in the plurality of silicon carbide particles is 5% by volume or less.

A metal-silicon carbide-based composite material including: a composite part including a silicon carbide-based porous body constituted by a plurality of silicon carbide particles, and a metal that is infiltrated in the silicon carbide-based porous body; and first and second surface layers which contain a metal, and coat both main surfaces of the composite part. The metal contains at least one kind selected from the group consisting of aluminum and magnesium, and the amount of particles having a particle size of 300 μm or more in the plurality of silicon carbide particles is 5% by volume or less.

A method for fabricating a porous ceramic heating body, and a method of fabricating a heating body. The method for fabricating includes, in sequence, mixing, ball-milling, defoaming, molding, and drying, pore-forming agent discharging, sintering, and electrode leading. The whole method is simple, and by using a box furnace to sinter the green body under an oxidizing atmosphere and normal pressure, the fabricated ceramic heating body is heated uniformly and the heating efficiency is high.

A metal matrix composite comprises and/or consists of a uniform distribution of calcined ceramic particles having an average particle size of between 0.30 and 0.99 microns and a metal or alloy uniformly distributed with the ceramic particles and wherein the ceramic particles include oxides of two separate metals selected from the group consisting of Al, Li, Be, Pb, Fe, Ag, Au, Sn, Mg, Ti, Cu, and Zn, and in which said ceramic particles comprise at least 15 volume percent of the metal matrix sintered together and wherein said metal-matrix being machinable with a high speed steel (HSS) bit for greater than about one minute without excessive wear to the bit.

A metal matrix composite comprises and/or consists of a uniform distribution of calcined ceramic particles having an average particle size of between 0.30 and 0.99 microns and a metal or alloy uniformly distributed with the ceramic particles and wherein the ceramic particles include oxides of two separate metals selected from the group consisting of Al, Li, Be, Pb, Fe, Ag, Au, Sn, Mg, Ti, Cu, and Zn, and in which said ceramic particles comprise at least 15 volume percent of the metal matrix sintered together and wherein said metal-matrix being machinable with a high speed steel (HSS) bit for greater than about one minute without excessive wear to the bit.

A method for fabricating a ceramic matrix composite component having a deltoid region is provided. The method includes providing a porous ceramic preform. The porous ceramic preform includes a layer-to-layer weave of ceramic fibers that forms a modified layer-to-layer woven core and at least one 2-dimensional layer of ceramic fibers that is disposed adjacent to the modified layer-to-layer woven core. The porous ceramic preform is formed into a ceramic matrix composite body having the deltoid region such that the modified layer-to-layer woven core extends through the deltoid region.

The invention is a method for treating a solid substrate, made from a first material, of metal or ceramic type, the method comprising placing the substrate in contact with a liquid metal, while the substrate is exposed to an ultrasonic wave called a power wave. At the level of a surface of the substrate, the power density is greater than a cavitation threshold of the liquid metal. Such exposure improves the wettability of the substrate surface by the liquid metal.

Provided are an aluminum-silicon-carbide composite having high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and low specific gravity and a method for producing the composite. Provided is an aluminum-silicon-carbide composite formed by impregnating a porous silicon carbide molded body with an aluminum alloy. The ratio of silicon carbide in the composite is 60 vol % or more, and the composite contains 60-75 mass % of silicon carbide having a particle diameter of 80 m or more and 800 m or less, 20-30 mass % of silicon carbide having a particle diameter of 8 m or more and less than 80 m, and 5-10 mass % of silicon carbide having a particle diameter of less than 8 m.

Provided are an aluminum-silicon-carbide composite having high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and low specific gravity and a method for producing the composite. Provided is an aluminum-silicon-carbide composite formed by impregnating a porous silicon carbide molded body with an aluminum alloy. The ratio of silicon carbide in the composite is 60 vol % or more, and the composite contains 60-75 mass % of silicon carbide having a particle diameter of 80 m or more and 800 m or less, 20-30 mass % of silicon carbide having a particle diameter of 8 m or more and less than 80 m, and 5-10 mass % of silicon carbide having a particle diameter of less than 8 m.