A method for producing a composite of cubic boron nitride dispersed in a SiAlON ceramic. This method involves mixing silicon nitride nanoparticles, aluminum nitride nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, calcium oxide nanoparticles, and cubic boron nitride microparticles to produce a mixture. The cubic boron nitride may be coated with nickel. The mixture is sintered to produce the composite, and this sintering may involve spark plasma sintering and/or sintering at a relatively low temperature. The composite may comprise a mixture of Ca--SiAlON and -SiAlON ceramic reinforced by boron nitride in either or both cubic and hexagonal phases.

A method for producing a composite of cubic boron nitride dispersed in a SiAlON ceramic. This method involves mixing silicon nitride nanoparticles, aluminum nitride nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, calcium oxide nanoparticles, and cubic boron nitride microparticles to produce a mixture. The cubic boron nitride may be coated with nickel. The mixture is sintered to produce the composite, and this sintering may involve spark plasma sintering and/or sintering at a relatively low temperature. The composite may comprise a mixture of Ca--SiAlON and -SiAlON ceramic reinforced by boron nitride in either or both cubic and hexagonal phases.

A process for manufacturing a ceramic powder with binder includes at least one additional element or compound, the ceramic powder with binder being in particular based on zirconia and/or alumina and/or strontium aluminate, wherein the process includes a step (E3) of depositing at least one additional element or compound on a ceramic powder with binder by a physical vapour deposition (PVD) and/or by a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and/or by an atomic layer deposition (ALD).

The method for manufacturing a ceramic component, in particular component containing zirconia and/or alumina, for a timepiece or a jewelry piece, is characterised in that it includes a step (E3) of depositing at least one additional element or compound on a ceramic powder, optionally bound, by atomic layer deposition (ALD).

A method for manufacturing a turbomachine blade made of ceramic matrix composite component includes at least a structural part and a functional part secured to the structural part, the method including obtaining an assembly including a first preform of the functional part that is mounted on a second preform of the structural part or on the structural part, the first preform including a fibrous reinforcement of short fibres, and the second preform or the structural part comprising a woven fibrous reinforcement, and densification of the first preform of the assembly by infiltration with a molten composition.

Conventional sintering processes convert a portion of cBN to hBN which is softer than cBN which negatively affects functional properties of an alumina composite. The invention is directed to method for making an alumina-cubic boron nitride (Al.sub.2O.sub.3-cBN) composite that contains substantially no hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) by non-conventional spark plasma sintering of cBN with nano-sized alumina particles. The invention is also directed to Al.sub.2O.sub.3-cBN/Ni composites, which contain substantially no hBN, and which exhibit superior physical and mechanical properties compared to alumina composites containing higher amounts of hBN.

Conventional sintering processes convert a portion of cBN to hBN which is softer than cBN which negatively affects functional properties of an alumina composite. The invention is directed to method for making an alumina-cubic boron nitride (Al.sub.2O.sub.3-cBN) composite that contains substantially no hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) by non-conventional spark plasma sintering of cBN with nano-sized alumina particles. The invention is also directed to Al.sub.2O.sub.3-cBN/Ni composites, which contain substantially no hBN, and which exhibit superior physical and mechanical properties compared to alumina composites containing higher amounts of hBN.

A PCD body comprises a skeletal mass of inter-bonded diamond grains defining interstices between them. At least some of the interstices contain a filler material comprising a metal catalyst material for diamond, the filler material containing Ti, W and an additional element M selected from the group consisting of V, Y, Nb, Hf, Mo, Ta, Zr Cr, Zr and the rare earth elements. The content of Ti within the filler material is at least 0.1 weight % and at most 20 weight %. The content of M within the filler material is at least 0.1 weight % and at most 20 weight %, and the content of W within the filler material is at least 5 weight % and at most 50 weight % of the filler material.

A method of making magnetizable abrasive particles includes: moistening the outer surfaces of ceramic particles with waterglass to provide moistened ceramic particles. Magnetizable particles are contacted with the moistened ceramic particles to provide powder-coated ceramic particles. The powder-coated ceramic particles are heated to at least a temperature sufficient to bond the magnetizable particles of the powder-coated ceramic particles to the respective ceramic particles thereby providing the magnetizable abrasive particles. On a respective basis, each magnetizable abrasive particle comprises a respective ceramic particle having a magnetizable particles bonded thereto.

Conventional sintering processes convert a portion of cBN to hBN which is softer than cBN which negatively affects functional properties of an alumina composite. The invention is directed to method for making an alumina-cubic boron nitride (Al.sub.2O.sub.3-cBN) composite that contains substantially no hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) by non-conventional spark plasma sintering of cBN with nano-sized alumina particles. The invention is also directed to Al.sub.2O.sub.3-cBN/Ni composites, which contain substantially no hBN, and which exhibit superior physical and mechanical properties compared to alumina composites containing higher amounts of hBN.