The tris(trimethylsilyl)silanol (H-SST) ligand can be reacted with a Group 4 or 5 metal alkoxides in a solvent to form an SST-modified metal alkoxide precursor. Exemplary Group 4 precursors include [Ti(SST).sub.2(OR).sub.2] (OR=OPr.sup.i, OBu.sup.t, ONep); [Ti(SST).sub.3(OBu.sup.n)]; [Zr(SST).sub.2(OBu.sup.t).sub.2(py)]; [Zr(SST).sub.3(OR)] (OR=OBu.sup.t, ONep); [Hf(SST).sub.2(OBu.sup.t).sub.2]; and [Hf(SST).sub.2(ONep).sub.2(py).sub.n] (n=1, 2), where OPr.sup.i=OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, OBu.sup.t=OC(CH.sub.3).sub.3, OBu.sup.n=O(CH.sub.2).sub.3CH.sub.3, ONep=OCH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, and py=pyridine. Exemplary Group 5 precursors include [V(SST).sub.3(py).sub.2]; [Nb(SST).sub.3(OEt).sub.2]; [Nb(O)(SST).sub.3(py)]; 2[H][(Nb(-O).sub.2(SST)).sub.6(.sub.6-O)]; [Nb.sub.8O.sub.10(OEt).sub.18(SST).sub.2.Na.sub.2O]; [Ta(SST)(-OEt)(OEt).sub.3].sub.2; and [Ta(SST).sub.3(OEt).sub.2]; where OEt=OCH.sub.2CH.sub.3. When thermally processed, the precursors can form unusual core-shell nanoparticles. For example, HfO.sub.2/SiO.sub.2 core/shell nanoparticles have demonstrated resistance to damage in extreme irradiation and thermal environments.

A method of forming a water resistant boundary on a fissile material for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor is described. The method comprises mixing a powdered fissile material selected from the group consisting of UN and U.sub.3Si.sub.2 with an additive selected from oxidation resistant materials having a melting or softening point lower than the sintering temperature of the fissile material, pressing the mixed fissile and additive materials into a pellet, sintering the pellet to a temperature greater than the melting point of the additive. Alternatively, if the melting point of the oxidation resistant particles is greater than the sintering temperature of UN or U.sub.3Si.sub.2, then the oxidation resistant particles can have a particle size distribution less than that of the UN or U.sub.3Si.sub.2.

A method of producing a component of a composite of diamond and a binder, wherein a Hot Isostatic gas Pressure process (HIP) is used, includes the step of enclosing a de-bound green body having compacted diamond particles in an infiltrant. The method includes the further steps of enclosing the de-bound green body and the infiltrant in a Zr-capsule that has Zirconium as a main constituent and sealing the Zr-capsule, and applying a predetermined pressure-temperature cycle on the unit formed by the de-bound green body, infiltrant and capsule in which the infiltrant infiltrates the de-bound green body and the de-bound green body is further densified in the sense that the volume thereof is decreased.

Disclosed are: damage-resistant ECMCs that need to work and remain elastic between minus 120 C. and positive 300 C.; ECMCs that need to be able to contain a flame of 1900 C. for more than 90 minutes; and composite structures, especially highly stressed structures. One of the characteristic problems of ceramic matrices is their fragility. Indeed, when a fracture starts, it propagates easily in the matrix. Disclosed are elastic ceramic matrix composites (ECMCs), for which: the ceramic matrix is split into solid ceramic microdomains (CMDs); the CMDs are connected to one another by a dense network of elastic microelements (EMEs); and the bonds between the EMEs and the CMDs are strong chemical bonds, preferably covalent.

A ceramic electronic component that includes a plurality of ceramic layers which are stacked together, and an internal conductor layer disposed between two adjacent ceramic layers among the plurality of ceramic layers, and in which a ceramic layer that is adjacent to the internal conductor layer includes a plurality of pores.

A material that facilitates dissipation of heat is provided and includes hexagonal boron nitride and alumina.

A nanocomposite optical ceramic (NCOC) material includes a plurality of coated (core-shell) nanoparticles having nanoparticles of a first material coated with a coating of a second material. The first material and the second material are mutually insoluble and each have a transmissivity of at least 80% for an intended wavelength. The first material and the second material have a difference in index of refraction of less than 25%. The first material and second material have grins with a diameter of less than 1/20.sup.th the intended wavelength. The coating of the second material on the nanoparticles of the first material is up to 50 nm thick. The NCOC contains no more than 0.01% voids per unit volume.

The present disclosure provides for ceramic composite materials and methods of making ceramic composite materials. In an aspect, the ceramic composite materials can be made of polymer derived ceramics (PDCs) as the matrix, while substrates can be used as the microwave absorbing phases.

Nanopowders containing nanoparticles having a core particle with a thin film coating. The core particles and thin film coatings are, independently, formed from at least one of a rare earth metal-containing oxide, a rare earth metal-containing fluoride, a rare earth metal-containing oxyfluoride or combinations thereof. The thin film coating may be formed using a non-line of sight technique such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). Also disclosed herein are nanoceramic materials formed from the nanopowders and methods of making and using the nanopowders.

The method for producing a surface-modified base material according to the present invention includes a step of bringing a base material having a polar group present on a surface thereof into contact with a hydrosilane compound having a molecular structure A and having a SiH group composed of a silicon atom of the molecular structure A and a hydrogen atom bonded to the silicon atom in the presence of a borane catalyst so as to allow a dehydrocondensation reaction to take place between the base material and the compound, thereby forming the base material surface-modified with the molecular structure A. This production method is capable of surface-modifying a base material at a lower temperature in a shorter time than conventional methods and allows a wide variety of options for the form, type, and application of the base material, the mode of the modification reaction, and the type of the molecular structure with which the base material is surface-modified.