The present invention discloses potassium sodium bismuth niobate tantalate zirconate ferrite ceramics with non-stoichiometric Nb.sup.5+ and a preparation method therefor. A ceramic powder with a general formula of (K.sub.0.45936Na.sub.0.51764Bi.sub.0.023)(Nb.sub.0.89958+0.957xTa.sub.0.05742Zr.sub.0.04Fe.sub.0.003)O.sub.3 (?0.01?x?0.04) is prepared by a traditional solid phase method; and then piezoelectric ceramics are prepared by traditional electronic ceramic preparation processes such as granulating, molding, binder removal, sintering and silvering test. An excessive amount of Nb.sup.5+ doping improves the temperature stability of the ceramics by providing a domain wall pinning effect. This result demonstrates the promise of potassium sodium bismuth niobate tantalate zirconate ferrite ceramics for a wide range of applications, including sensors, actuators, and other electronic devices.

The invention provides novel articles of composite materials having hollow interior channels or passageways, or otherwise being hollowed out, and formulations and methods for their manufacture and uses. These hollow core objects are suitable for a variety of applications in construction, pavements and landscaping, and infrastructure.

Disclosed is a multi nanolayer interface coating for a fiber of a composite including a first interface coating nanolayer deposited onto the fiber of the ceramic matrix composite, and a second interface coating nanolayer deposited onto the first interface coating nanolayer.

A carbon fiber element comprising a carbon fiber to which a coating is applied that reduces its thermal coefficient of resistivity (TCR) can be included in a fiber reinforced structural component to improve sensing of strain therein by reducing errors arising from temperature variations. A method thereof includes providing, embedded within the structural component, at least one carbon fiber extending across a principle plane of the structural component, the carbon fiber being uniformly coated along its entire length with an electrically conductive material, the coating having a resistance that is equal to the carbon fiber and a TCR that is equal but opposite to the carbon fiber. The strain in the structural component is then determined by measuring changes in the electrical resistance of the carbon fiber element.

The invention provides novel articles of composite materials having hollow interior channels or passageways, or otherwise being hollowed out, and formulations and methods for their manufacture and uses. These hollow core objects are suitable for a variety of applications in construction, pavements and landscaping, and infrastructure.

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.

A ceramic matrix composite component and methods of making are described herein. The ceramic matrix composite may include a silicon containing matrix and refractory fibers embedded within the silicon containing matrix. The ceramic matrix composite component may further include a silicide layer sandwiched between the silicon containing matrix and the refractory fibers. A method of forming a ceramic matrix composite may include infiltrating a fluid that includes a refractory metal element containing compound into a fiber preform that includes fibers. The method may further include depositing the refractory metal element from the refractory metal element containing compound onto the fibers and forming, from the refractory metal element deposited onto the fibers, a refractory metal silicide.

The disclosure describes vacuum processing of a fiber tow. In some examples, the disclosure describes generating a metal carbide fiber tow by applying metal to a carbon fiber tow and vacuum processing the carbon fiber tow to convert at least a portion of the carbon fiber tow to a metal carbide fiber tow.

Disclosed is a method of making high temperature fiber including chemically bonding high temperature material to a fiber template at a first temperature to form a precursor fiber and processing the precursor fiber at a second temperature to form the high temperature fiber. The first temperature does not equal the second temperature. Also disclosed are high temperature fibers made by the method.

A carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet containing CNTs, arranged is a randomly oriented, uniformly distributed pattern, and having a basis weight of at least 1 gsm and a relative density of less than 1.5. The CNT sheet is manufactured by applying a CNT suspension in a continuous pool over a filter material to a depth sufficient to prevent puddling of the CNT suspension upon the surface of the filter material, and drawing the dispersing liquid through the filter material to provide a uniform CNT dispersion and form the CNT sheet. The CNT sheet is useful in making CNT composite laminates and structures having utility for electro-thermal heating, electromagnetic wave absorption, lightning strike dissipation, EMI shielding, thermal interface pads, energy storage, and heat dissipation.