A complex composite particle is made of a coal dust and binder composite that is pyrolyzed. Constituent portions of the composite react together causing the particles to increase in density and reduce in size during pyrolyzation, yielding a particle suitable for use as a proppant or in a composite structure.

The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the fabrication of certain functionally-shaped fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention may also utilize laser beam profiling to enhance fiber and microstructure fabrication.

The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC). The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers and defining a plurality of voids. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element, such as a metal, disposed within the voids of the preform. The MMC has a wear surface defined by both the preform and the support element.

There are provided a cubic boron nitride sintered body having a surface also excellent in adhesiveness to a ceramic coating film, while having excellent wear resistance and defect resistance, and a manufacturing method thereof, and a tool. The cubic boron nitride sintered body of the present invention includes 60.0 to 90.0% by volume of cubic boron nitride, the remainder being a binder phase, wherein the binder phase contains: at least any of a nitride, a boride, and an oxide of Al; at least any of a carbide, a nitride, a carbonitride, and a boride of Ti; and a compound represented by the following formula (1):

W.sub.2Ni.sub.xCo.sub.(1-x)B.sub.2(0.40≤x<1)  (1)

A ceramic honeycomb structure having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls, (a) the cell walls having porosity of 50-63%; and (b) in a pore diameter distribution in the cell walls measured by mercury porosimetry, (i) pore diameters at cumulative pore volumes corresponding to particular percentages of the total pore volume being within specific ranges and having specific relationships; (ii) the difference between a logarithm of the pore diameter at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 20% of the total pore volume and a logarithm of the pore diameter at 80% being 0.39 or less; and (iii) the volume of pores of more than 100 μm being 0.03 cm.sup.3/g or less.

An abrasive particle having a body including a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a side surface extending between the first major surface and the second major surface, such that a majority of the side surface comprises a plurality of microridges.

A ceramic honeycomb structure having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls; (a) the cell walls having porosity of 50-60%; and (b) in a pore diameter distribution in the cell walls measured by mercury porosimetry, (i) pore diameters at cumulative pore volumes corresponding to particular percentages of the total pore volume being within specific ranges and having specific relationships; and (ii) the difference between a logarithm of the pore diameter at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 20% of the total pore volume and a logarithm of the pore diameter at 80% being 0.39 or less, and its production method.

Disclosed are methods for forming boron nitride-containing aggregates that exhibit improved wear by attrition, and resulting filled polymers that exhibit significantly improved thermal conductivity. The boron nitride-containing aggregates are prepared according to a method that includes wet granulating boron nitride powder with a granulation solution to form wet boron nitride-containing granules; and drying the wet boron nitride-containing granules to cause evaporation of solvent in the granulation solution, thereby forming boron nitride-containing granules. Sintering achieves the desired boron nitride-containing aggregates.

A honeycomb structure includes honeycomb segments each having a porous partition wall defining a plurality of cells, and includes a porous bonding layer containing a crystalline anisotropic ceramic and disposed so as to bond side surfaces of the honeycomb segments to each other. A ratio of a pore volume (cc/g) of a fine pore defined as a pore in the bonding layer having a pore diameter of 10 μm or more and less than 50 μm with respect to a pore volume (cc/g) of a coarse pore defined as a pore in the bonding layer having a pore diameter of 50 μm or more and 300 μm or less is from 2.0 to 3.5, the pore volume of the fine pore is from 0.15 to 0.4 cc/g, and the pore volume of the coarse pore is from 0.05 to 0.25 cc/g.

Provided is a ceramic member in which the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between an insulating ceramic material and an electrically conductive ceramic material is extremely small and therefore any mismatch caused in association with this difference in thermal expansion coefficient does not occur, and which does not undergo any failure such as breakage, cracking, detachment or destruction. The ceramic member (1) includes an electrically conductive ceramic material (2) which contains yttrium oxide as the main component and additionally contains a fibrous electrically conductive substance such as carbon nanotubes in an amount of 0.1 to 3 vol % inclusive and an insulation ceramic material (3) which contains yttrium oxide as the main component, wherein the electrically conductive ceramic material (2) and the insulation ceramic material (3) are adhered to each other in an integrated manner through an adhesive layer (4) which includes an inorganic adhesive material.