Methods of producing silicon carbide, and other metal carbide materials. The method comprises reacting a carbon material (e.g., fibers, or nanoparticles, such as powder, platelet, foam, nanofiber, nanorod, nanotube, whisker, graphene (e.g., graphite), fullerene, or hydrocarbon) and a metal or metal oxide source material (e.g., in gaseous form) in a reaction chamber at an elevated temperature ranging up to approximately 2400° C. or more, depending on the particular metal or metal oxide, and the desired metal carbide being produced. A partial pressure of oxygen in the reaction chamber is maintained at less than approximately 1.01×10.sup.2 Pascal, and overall pressure is maintained at approximately 1 atm.

Embodiments of the present invention describe secured fiber-reinforced aerogels and laminate structures formed therefrom. In one embodiment a laminate comprises at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer adjacent to at least one layer of fiber containing material wherein fibers from said at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of said at least one fiber-containing material. In another embodiment a laminate comprises at least two adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layers wherein fibers from at least one fiber-reinforced aerogel layer are interlaced with fibers of an adjacent fiber-reinforced aerogel layer.

A prepreg tape in which reinforcing fiber bundles are impregnated with a thermosetting resin composition, wherein the prepreg tape has a tack value measured at 23 C. at a plunger push pressure of 90 kPa of 5-40 kPa, a tack value measured at 45 C. and a plunger push pressure of 150 kPa of 35-100 kPa, and a drape value at 23 C. of 10-40, and includes unidirectional fibers arranged along the direction of length of the prepreg tape.

An electroless process for depositing gold (Au.sup.0) from a solution, comprising allowing gold (Au.sup.0) place from a solution of gold thiocyanate complex dissolved in a mixture of water-miscible organic solvent and water, or the deposition of gold (Au.sup.0) takes place on a deposition-directing layer comprising positively charged organic groups, said layer being provided on at least a portion of a surface of a substrate sought to be gold-coated.

Fibrous structures that exhibit a pore volume distribution such that greater than about 50% of the total pore volume present in the fibrous structure exists in pores of radii of from about 101 m to about 200 m, and methods for making such fibrous structures are provided.

Light weight composites with high flexural strength comprise epoxy foam sandwiched between two layers of facing material have high strength and low weight and can be used to replace steel structures. The facing layer may be fibrous material especially glass or carbon fibres, the facing material is preferably embedded into the epoxy matrix. Alternatively they may be matching box structures or concentric metal tubes. The sandwich structures may be prepared by laying up the fibre; coating and/or impregnating the layer with epoxy resin, laying a layer of heat activatable foamable epoxy material, providing a further layer of the fibrous material optionally coated and/or impregnated with epoxy resin on the foamable material ad heating to foam and cure the epoxy materials. Alternatively they may be formed by extrusion of the foamable material between the surface layers.

A composite comprising: a barrier, said barrier being configured to selectively pass water, and said barrier being degradable in the presence of water; a matrix material for disposition within said barrier, wherein said matrix material has a flowable state and a set state, and wherein said matrix material is degradable in the presence of water; and at least one reinforcing element for disposition within said barrier and integration with said matrix material, wherein said at least one reinforcing element is degradable in the presence of water, and further wherein, upon the degradation of said at least one reinforcing element in the presence of water, provides an agent for modulating the degradation rate of said matrix material in the presence of water.

A composite comprising: a barrier, said barrier being configured to selectively pass water, and said barrier being degradable in the presence of water; a matrix material for disposition within said barrier, wherein said matrix material has a flowable state and a set state, and wherein said matrix material is degradable in the presence of water; and at least one reinforcing element for disposition within said barrier and integration with said matrix material, wherein said at least one reinforcing element is degradable in the presence of water, and further wherein, upon the degradation of said at least one reinforcing element in the presence of water, provides an agent for modulating the degradation rate of said matrix material in the presence of water.

A composite implant comprising an injectable matrix material which is flowable and settable, and at least one reinforcing element for integration with the injectable matrix material, the at least one reinforcing element adding sufficient strength to the injectable matrix material such that when the composite implant is disposed in a cavity in a bone, the composite implant supports the bone.

A method for treating a bone, the method comprising: selecting at least one reinforcing element to be combined with an injectable matrix material so as to together form a composite implant capable of supporting the bone; positioning the at least one reinforcing element in a cavity in the bone; flowing the injectable matrix material into the cavity in the bone so that the injectable matrix material interfaces with the at least one reinforcing element; and transforming the injectable matrix material from a flowable state to a non-flowable state so as to establish a static structure for the composite implant, such that the composite implant supports the adjacent bone.

A method for making a carbon nanotube film includes providing an original carbon nanotube film and an angle control unit. The original carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end-to-end by van der Waals force, and the angle control unit defines a through hole. A first end of the original carbon nanotube film is converged to form a carbon nanotube wire structure and a carbon nanotube triangle structure having an open angle adjacent to the carbon nanotube wire structure. The carbon nanotube wire structure is passed through the through hole of the angle control unit. The carbon nanotube triangle structure is cut. The carbon nanotube film is also provided.