A polycrystalline diamond compact including a cemented carbide substrate and a polycrystalline diamond layer bonded to the cemented carbide substrate. The polycrystalline diamond layer is nonplanar and includes a central part and a peripheral part surrounding the central part. The central part includes a protruding surface relative to the peripheral part. The protruding surface is spherical or planar. The peripheral part includes a plurality of radially-disposed ridges.

An electrically conductive ceramic composite conductor configured for downhole operations includes a first portion formed from an electrically non-conductive ceramic material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The first portion includes an outer surface. A second portion is disposed radially inwardly of the outer surface. The second portion is formed from an electrically conductive ceramic material having a second CTE that is substantially similar to the first CTE.

A joined material and a method of manufacturing the joined material are provided which enable a metal layer and a carbon material layer to be easily joined to each other while making the thickness of the metal layer larger and which can inhibit failure. A joined material includes a CFC layer (3) and a tungsten layer (4) that are joined to each other. A sintered tungsten carbide layer (5), a mixed layer (6) of SiC and WC, and SiC and WC (7) that have been sintered while intruding into the CFC layer (3), are formed between the CFC layer (3) and the tungsten layer (4), and these layers (3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) are joined to each other by sintering.

A method for the layered production of a green body (10) from powdery material, including insert elements which are placed at defined positions in the powdery material, in which the green body (10) is segmented in a building direction (16) into N, N≥2 consecutive, cylindrical cross-sectional areas (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) made up of a two-dimensional cross-sectional surface and a layer thickness. Setting areas for the insert elements are defined in the cross-sectional areas of the green body (10) which include the defined positions for the insert elements, and loose powder particles surrounding the setting elements are at least partially bonded to each other before the insert elements are placed into the powdery material.

The present invention provides a silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide composite material, which is a composite material of SiC fibers and SiC ceramics with improved toughness and can be produced with high yield by relatively simple steps without complex steps such as a step of oxidation-resistant coating or an advanced interface control step. The silicon carbide composite material comprises a multiphase matrix and silicon carbide fibers disposed in the matrix, the matrix containing a silicon carbide phase and a phase that includes a substance of low reactivity with respect to silicon carbide. It can be obtained by steps suitable for mass production and ensures greatly improved fracture toughness while maintaining the excellent properties of SiC ceramics.

The invention relates to a method for producing structural components that have diamond particles embedded in a silicon carbide matrix, and to the structural components that can be obtained by this method.

A solid state heater and methods of manufacturing the heater is disclosed. The heater comprises a unitary component that includes portions that are graphite and other portions that are silicon carbide. Current is conducted through the graphite portion of the unitary structure between two or more terminals. The silicon carbide does not conduct electricity, but is effective at conducting the heat throughout the unitary component. In certain embodiments, chemical vapor conversion (CVC) is used to create the solid state heater. If desired, a coating may be applied to the unitary component to protect it from a harsh environment.

An example article may include a component, a substrate including a first ceramic, a joining layer between the component and the substrate, and a joint surface coating between the substrate and the joining layer. The joint surface coating may include a diffusion barrier layer including a second ceramic material, and a compliance layer including at least one of a metal or a metalloid. An example technique may include holding a first joining surface of a coated component adjacent a second joining surface of a second component. The example technique may further include heating at least one of the coated component, the second component, and a braze material, and brazing the coated component by allowing the braze material to flow in a region between the first joining surface and the second joining surface.

In an example of a three-dimensional (3D) printing method, a ceramic build material is applied. A liquid functional material, including an anionically stabilized susceptor material, is applied to at least a portion of the ceramic build material. A sintering aid/fixer fluid, including a cationically stabilized amphoteric alumina particulate material, is applied to the at least the portion of the ceramic build material. The applied anionically stabilized susceptor material and the applied cationically stabilized amphoteric alumina particulate material react to immobilize the anionically stabilized susceptor material, thereby patterning the at least the portion of the ceramic build material.

Methods of forming ceramic matrix composite structures include joining at least two lamina together to form a flexible ceramic matrix composite structure. Ceramic matrix composite structures include at least one region of reduced inter-laminar bonding at a selected location between lamina thereof. Thermal protection systems include at least one seal comprising a ceramic matrix composite material and have at least one region of reduced inter-laminar bonding at a selected location between lamina used to form the seal. Methods of forming thermal protection systems include providing one or more such seals between adjacent panels of a thermal protection system.