The present invention provides a porous metal-containing carbon-based material that is stable at high temperatures under aqueous conditions. The porous metal-containing carbon-based materials are particularly useful in catalytic applications. Also provided, are methods for making and using porous shaped metal-carbon products prepared from these materials.

A method for manufacturing a magnesium-based thermoelectric conversion material of the present invention includes a raw material-forming step of forming a raw material for sintering by adding silicon oxide in an amount within a range equal to or greater than 0.5 mol % and equal to or smaller than 13.0 mol % to a magnesium-based compound, and a sintering step of heating the raw material for sintering at a temperature within a range equal to or higher than 750 C. and equal to or lower than 950 C. while applying pressure equal to or higher than 10 MPa to the raw material for sintering so as to form a sintered substance.

A piezoelectric composition including copper, germanium and a complex oxide represented by a compositional formula K.sub.mNbO.sub.3 and having a perovskite structure, in which m in the compositional formula satisfies 0.970 m0.999, and with respect to 1 mol of the complex oxide, x mol % of copper in terms of a copper element and y mol % of germanium in terms of a germanium element are contained, wherein x satisfies 0.100 x1.000 and y satisfies 0.000<y1.500.

Diamond particles with enhanced reactivity are used to sinter polycrystalline diamond (PCD), under high pressure and high temperature conditions. Copper and tin form a solution with transition metal catalyst (cobalt) used to sinter diamond particles. Copper and tin enhance the reactivity of the diamond particles, reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between cobalt and polycrystalline diamond, and lead to a more homogeneous distribution of catalyst metal in PCD. A cutting element may comprise a substrate and a polycrystalline diamond table bonded to the substrate produced by sintering diamond particles with enhanced reactivity mixed with standard diamond particles and chemical additives. These combined effects (more reactive diamond particles, reduced CTE mismatch, and homogeneous distribution of catalyst metal) lead to better performing tools.

A transition metal catalyst free polycrystalline diamond compact having enhanced thermal stability is disclosed herein. The diamond compact may be attached to a hard metal substrate. The polycrystalline diamond body includes a plurality of diamond grains bonded to adjacent diamond grains by diamond-to-diamond bonds. Sintering of the PCD and the formation of diamond-to-diamond bonding is achieved by transforming graphene treated diamond crystals that are blended with non-metal additives at high pressure and high temperature into a diamond compact that is free of transition metal catalysts. Non-metal additives include vitreous and other non-equilibrium forms of carbon as well as Sr-, K- and Ca-containing carbon sources.

A porous inorganic additive manufactured article that is comprised of at least two layers of inorganic particulates bound together by a carbon binding phase throughout. The additive manufactured article may be formed by additive manufacturing using a mixture comprised of an organic reactive material and inorganic particulates, wherein the organic reactive material is subsequently reacted to form a thermoset material that forms carbon upon heating that binds the inorganic particulates together to form the porous inorganic additive manufactured article. The porous inorganic additive manufactured article may then be infiltrated with a liquid that is solidified to form a composite article or may be further heated in a differing atmosphere to form a further sintered or reacted porous inorganic article.

A method of forming a water resistant boundary on a fissile material for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor is described. The method comprises mixing a powdered fissile material selected from the group consisting of UN and U.sub.3Si.sub.2 with an additive selected from oxidation resistant materials having a melting or softening point lower than the sintering temperature of the fissile material, pressing the mixed fissile and additive materials into a pellet, sintering the pellet to a temperature greater than the melting point of the additive. Alternatively, if the melting point of the oxidation resistant particles is greater than the sintering temperature of UN or U.sub.3Si.sub.2, then the oxidation resistant particles can have a particle size distribution less than that of the UN or U.sub.3Si.sub.2.

An injection system comprises a fluid control member and a reciprocating member; wherein the fluid control member is configured to form a carbon composite-to-metal seal with the reciprocating member in response to application of a compressive force; the carbon composite comprising carbon and a binder containing one or more of the following: SiO.sub.2; Si; B; B.sub.2O.sub.3; a filler metal; or an alloy of the filler metal, and the filler metal comprising one or more of the following: aluminum; copper; titanium; nickel; tungsten; chromium; iron; manganese; zirconium; hafnium; vanadium; niobium; molybdenum; tin; bismuth; antimony; lead; cadmium; or selenium.

Methods of and apparatuses for making a photovoltaic cell are provided. The photovoltaic cell is able to have a substrate made of a composite material. The composite material is able to be formed by mixing a binder and a physical property enhancing material to form a mixer. The binder is able to be pitch, such as mesophase pitch. The physical property enhancing material is able to be fiber glass. The substrate of the photovoltaic cell is able to be flexible, such that the photovoltaic cell is able to be applied on various surfaces.

Brake disks with integrated heat sink are provided. Brake disk includes a fiber-reinforced composite material and an encapsulated heat sink material impregnated into the fiber-reinforced composite material. The encapsulated heat sink material comprises a heat sink material encapsulated within a silicon-containing encapsulation layer. Methods for manufacturing the brake disk with integrated heat sink and methods for producing the encapsulated heat sink material are also provided.