According to one or more embodiments presently described, metal-containing particles may be formed by a method including forming a molten material from a solid supply material, introducing the molten material into a reaction zone of a Barton reactor, and contacting the molten material with a processing gas in the reaction zone to form solid metal-containing particles comprising solid metallic particles and solid metal oxide particles. The Barton reactor may include a reaction vessel which may include a top cover and sidewalls defining the reaction zone, an agitator, a processing gas inlet, and a product outlet. The molten material may be introduced to the reaction zone in a laminar flow or as atomized molten particles. Less than 99% of the particles may include metal oxide.

According to one or more embodiments presently described, metal-containing particles may be formed by a method including forming a molten material from a solid supply material, introducing the molten material into a reaction zone of a Barton reactor, and contacting the molten material with a processing gas in the reaction zone to form solid metal-containing particles comprising solid metallic particles and solid metal oxide particles. The Barton reactor may include a reaction vessel which may include a top cover and sidewalls defining the reaction zone, an agitator, a processing gas inlet, and a product outlet. The molten material may be introduced to the reaction zone in a laminar flow or as atomized molten particles. Less than 99% of the particles may include metal oxide.

According to one or more embodiments presently described, metal-containing particles may be made by a method that includes introducing a molten material into a reaction zone of a reactor system, passing a process gas into the reaction zone in a direction substantially tangential to a sidewall of the reaction zone, and contacting the process gas with the molten material in the reaction zone to form metal-containing particles. The molten material may be introduced into an upper portion of the reaction zone The reaction zone may include a substantially circular cross-section, and the molten metal may be introduced into the reaction zone in a laminar flow or as atomized particles.

According to one or more embodiments presently described, metal-containing particles may be made by a method that includes introducing a molten material into a reaction zone of a reactor system, passing a process gas into the reaction zone in a direction substantially tangential to a sidewall of the reaction zone, and contacting the process gas with the molten material in the reaction zone to form metal-containing particles. The molten material may be introduced into an upper portion of the reaction zone The reaction zone may include a substantially circular cross-section, and the molten metal may be introduced into the reaction zone in a laminar flow or as atomized particles.

According to one or more embodiments presently described, a method for processing metal-containing materials may include passing a feed stream through a first conduit of a multi-conduit reactor, the feed stream including metal-containing material in a molten phase; passing a fluid stream through a second conduit of the multi-conduit reactor; and contacting the feed stream with the fluid stream in a mixing zone downstream of the first conduit and second conduit, thereby causing a chemical or physical change in the one or more materials of the feed stream to form a product stream comprising metal-containing particles.

According to one or more embodiments presently described, a method for processing metal-containing materials may include passing a feed stream through a first conduit of a multi-conduit reactor, the feed stream including metal-containing material in a molten phase; passing a fluid stream through a second conduit of the multi-conduit reactor; and contacting the feed stream with the fluid stream in a mixing zone downstream of the first conduit and second conduit, thereby causing a chemical or physical change in the one or more materials of the feed stream to form a product stream comprising metal-containing particles.

The invention concerns the field of hardmetal materials and relates to hardmetals such as those which can, for example, be used as cutting material for tools. The object of the present invention is to specify hardmetals which include a novel concept for the structural composition of the hardmetals. The object is attained with hardmetals which are at least made up of hard phases in particle form and metal binder arranged therebetween, wherein a high-entropy hard phase (HEH) is composed of at least four metals (Me) of the 4th and/or 5th and/or 6th subgroup of the PTE in the form of a solid solution of carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, oxycarbides, and/or oxycarbonitrides of the metals, wherein the respective amounts of the metals in the HEH are essentially equal.

The invention concerns the field of hardmetal materials and relates to hardmetals such as those which can, for example, be used as cutting material for tools. The object of the present invention is to specify hardmetals which include a novel concept for the structural composition of the hardmetals. The object is attained with hardmetals which are at least made up of hard phases in particle form and metal binder arranged therebetween, wherein a high-entropy hard phase (HEH) is composed of at least four metals (Me) of the 4th and/or 5th and/or 6th subgroup of the PTE in the form of a solid solution of carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, oxycarbides, and/or oxycarbonitrides of the metals, wherein the respective amounts of the metals in the HEH are essentially equal.

In a sliding member, fatigue resistance of a surface layer formed by dispersing a hard material in a soft metal matrix is improved. A sliding member includes a base material layer and a surface layer, the surface layer includes a metal matrix and a hard material harder than the matrix and dispersed in the matrix, the hard material has a gradient in hardness, and the gradient in hardness gradually decreases from an inner side to a surface of the hard material.

Metallic matrix composites include a high strength titanium aluminide alloy matrix and an in situ formed aluminum oxide reinforcement. The atomic percentage of aluminum in the titanium aluminide alloy matrix can vary from 40% to 48%. Included are methods of making the metallic matrix composites, in particular, through the performance of an exothermic chemical reaction. The metallic matrix composites can exhibit low porosity.