A method for producing an electrically-conductive pellet includes reducing a size of a first material. The method also includes wetting the first material to produce a first slurry. The method also includes introducing the first slurry into a fluidizer to produce a first pellet. The method also includes reducing a size of a second material. The second material is an electrically-conductive material. The method also includes wetting the second material to produce a second slurry. The method also includes applying the second slurry to the first pellet.

The disclosure relates to a carbon-based electrode material that has been graphitized to hold ions in the electrode of a battery and more particularly include carbide or carbide and nitride surfaces that protect the graphite core. The preferred batteries include metal ion such as lithium ion batteries where the carbon-based electrode is the anode although the carbon-based electrode may also serve in dual ion batteries where both electrodes may comprise the graphitized carbon-based electrodes. The electrodes are more amorphous than conventional graphite electrodes and include a carbide or nitride containing surface treatment.

A method of manufacturing ceramic matrix composites includes producing chemical vapor deposition functionalized ceramic particles before injecting the functionalized ceramic particles into the CMC fabric. The functionalized ceramic particles are mixed with a binder solution and then dispensed into voids present between adjacent tows of the CMC fabric. Injecting the particles in the center of the voids reduces the size and volume fraction of the voids/defects, improving the homogeneity of surface texture, homogeneity of microstructure, and part model shape conformity.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

The disclosure relates to a carbon-based electrode material that has been graphitized to hold ions in the electrode of a battery and more particularly include carbide or carbide and nitride surfaces that protect the graphite core. The preferred batteries include metal ion such as lithium ion batteries where the carbon-based electrode is the anode although the carbon-based electrode may also serve in dual ion batteries where both electrodes may comprise the graphitized carbon-based electrodes. The electrodes are more amorphous than conventional graphite electrodes and include a carbide or nitride containing surface treatment.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for fluidised-bed chemical vapour deposition from a gaseous phase allowing the temperature of the fluidised bed to be stabilised during the deposition and also to an associated method for its implementation, the apparatus being characterised in that it comprises a porous thermal insulator present in an inlet zone and configured to be passed through by the gaseous phase, said porous thermal insulator having an effective thermal conductivity at 20° C. less than or equal to 3.5 W.Math.m-1.Math.K-1.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a sintered body by sintering with laser irradiation, the method for manufacturing a sintered body, including: a raw material providing step of providing a raw material containing a ceramic powder and a laser absorbing oxide having an absorption rate at a laser wavelength higher by 5% or more than that of the ceramic powder; an article forming step of forming an article formed from the raw material, an article partially including a region consisting of only the raw material, or an article formed from the raw material and formed on a base material; and a sintering step of irradiating the article with a laser to form a sintered portion.

A method for producing an electrically-conductive pellet includes reducing a size of a first material. The method also includes wetting the first material to produce a first slurry. The method also includes introducing the first slurry into a fluidizer to produce a first pellet. The method also includes reducing a size of a second material. The second material is an electrically-conductive material. The method also includes wetting the second material to produce a second slurry. The method also includes applying the second slurry to the first pellet.

A method for producing microencapsulated fuel pebble fuel more rapidly and with a matrix that engenders added safety attributes. The method includes coating fuel particles with ceramic powder; placing the coated fuel particles in a first die; applying a first current and a first pressure to the first die so as to form a fuel pebble by direct current sintering. The method may further include removing the fuel pebble from the first die and placing the fuel pebble within a bed of non-fueled matrix ceramic in a second die; and applying a second current and a second pressure to the second die so as to form a composite fuel pebble.

Proppants having added functional properties are provided, as are methods that use the proppants to track and trace the characteristics of a fracture in a geologic formation. Information obtained by the methods can be used to design a fracturing job, to increase conductivity in the fracture, and to enhance oil and gas recovery from the geologic formation. The functionalized proppants can be detected by a variety of methods utilizing, for example, an airborne magnetometer survey, ground penetrating radar, a high resolution accelerometer, a geophone, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultra-sound, impedance measurements, piezoelectric activity, radioactivity, and the like. Methods of mapping a subterranean formation are also provided and use the functionalized proppants to detect characteristics of the formation.