A metal matrix composite comprising nanotubes; a method of producing the same; and a composition, for example a metal alloy, used in such composites and methods, are disclosed. A method for continuously infiltrating nanotube yarns, tapes or other nanotube preforms with metal alloys using a continuous process or a multistep process, which results in a metal matrix composite wire, cable, tape, sheet, tube, or other continuous shape, and the microstructure of these infiltrated yarns or fibers, are disclosed. The nanotube yarns comprise a multiplicity of spun nanotubes of carbon (CNT), boron nitride (BNNT), boron (BNT), or other types of nanotubes. The element that infiltrates the nanotube yarns or fibers can, for example, be alloyed with a concentration of one or more elements chosen such that the resulting alloy, in its molten state, will exhibit improved wetting of the nanotube material.

A method and apparatus for producing boron nitride nanotubes and continuous boron nitride nanotube yarn or tapes is provided. The apparatus includes rotating reaction tubes that allow for continuous chemical vapor deposition of boron nitride nanotubes. The rotation of the reaction tubes allows the boron nitride nanotubes to be spun into yarns or made into tapes, without post process or external rotation or spinning of the gathered nanotubes. Boron nitride nanotube yarns or tapes of great length can be produced as a result, thereby providing industry with a readily useable format for this type of material. Dopants such as carbon can be added to engineer the band gap of the nanotubes. Catalysts may be formed outside or inside the reactor.

Systems and methods are provided for braiding Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) tape. One method includes drawing multiple lanes of MMC tape, comprising a matrix of metal reinforced by fibers, from bobbins arranged around a mandrel. The method also includes braiding the multiple lanes to form a preform at the mandrel for an MMC part and consolidating the preform via application of heat and pressure.

A method and apparatus for producing boron nitride nanotubes and continuous boron nitride nanotube yarn or tapes is provided. The apparatus includes rotating reaction tubes that allow for continuous chemical vapor deposition of boron nitride nanotubes. The rotation of the reaction tubes allows the boron nitride nanotubes to be spun into yarns or made into tapes, without post process or external rotation or spinning of the gathered nanotubes. Boron nitride nanotube yarns or tapes of great length can be produced as a result, thereby providing industry with a readily useable format for this type of material. Dopants such as carbon can be added to engineer the band gap of the nanotubes. Catalysts may be formed outside or inside the reactor.

A method of synthesizing mechanically resilient titanium carbide (TiC) nanofibrous felts comprising continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix, comprising: (a) electrospinning a spin dope for making precursor nanofibers with diameters less than 0.5 J.Lm; (b) overlaying the nanofibers to produce a nano-fibrous mat (felt); and then (c) heating the nano-felts first at a low temperature, and then at a high temperature for making electrospun continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix; and (d) chlorinating the above electrospun nano-felts at an elevated temperature to remove titanium for producing carbide derived carbon (CDC) nano-fibrous felt with high specific surface areas.

A hybrid woven textile for reinforcing a polymer matrix of a composite material that includes inorganic fibers selected from glass fibers, basalt fibers, carbon fibers, ceramic fibers, quartz fibers and silica fibers, and natural organic fibers, characterized in that the inorganic fibers and the natural organic fibers are co-woven, co-braided or co-knitted with one another.

A method and apparatus for producing boron nitride nanotubes and continuous boron nitride nanotube yarn or tapes is provided. The apparatus includes rotating reaction tubes that allow for continuous chemical vapor deposition of boron nitride nanotubes. The rotation of the reaction tubes allows the boron nitride nanotubes to be spun into yarns or made into tapes, without post process or external rotation or spinning of the gathered nanotubes. Boron nitride nanotube yarns or tapes of great length can be produced as a result, thereby providing industry with a readily useable format for this type of material. Dopants such as carbon can be added to engineer the band gap of the nanotubes. Catalysts may be formed outside or inside the reactor.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions that can have improved thermal management properties, UV-absorbing properties, anti-bacterial properties, and/or fire-resistance properties that utilize sustainable materials and can be used to fabricate filaments, yarns, fabrics, and artificial leather. The disclosed compositions can comprise a boron nitride nanomaterial and a cellulose nanomaterial. The disclosed compositions can also comprise a boron nitride nanomaterial, a cellulose nanomaterial, and an alginate material. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A method of producing, from a continuous or discontinuous (e.g., chopped) carbon fiber, partially to fully converted metal carbide fibers. The method comprises reacting a carbon fiber material with at least one of a metal or metal oxide source material at a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the metal or metal oxide source material (e.g., where practical, at a temperature greater than the vaporization temperature of the metal or metal oxide source material). Additional methods, various forms of carbon fiber, metal carbide fibers, and articles including the metal carbide fibers are also disclosed.

A one-fabric fire resistant (FR) solution having 2 or more layers of FR yarns knit together into one fabric, the at 2 or more layers including a face layer and a back layer, the back layer includes a silica yarn.