The invention is directed at sputter targets including 50 atomic % or more molybdenum, a second metal element of titanium, and a third metal element of chromium or tantalum, and deposited films prepared by the sputter targets. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the sputter target includes a phase that is rich in molybdenum, a phase that is rich in titanium, and a phase that is rich in the third metal element.

In one aspect, a method of making a sintered article comprises providing a composite article comprising a porous exterior printed from a powder composition via one or more additive manufacturing techniques, the porous exterior defining an interior volume and providing a loose powder component in the interior volume. The porous exterior and loose powder component are simultaneously sintered to provide the sintered article comprising a sintered interior and sintered exterior.

In one aspect, a method of making a sintered article comprises providing a composite article comprising a porous exterior printed from a powder composition via one or more additive manufacturing techniques, the porous exterior defining an interior volume and providing a loose powder component in the interior volume. The porous exterior and loose powder component are simultaneously sintered to provide the sintered article comprising a sintered interior and sintered exterior.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

A nanoparticle with tunable radial gradients of compositions extending from the center of the nanoparticles. The nature of the gradient preserves the metallic state of the nanoparticles, the diffusion of the constituents, and the oxidation of the interface. The gradients can be purposely varied to allow for specific applications in fields ranging from corrosion, magnetics, information technology, imaging, electromagnetic absorption, coating technologies, and immuno-precipitation. The nanoparticles can be easily used to advance many areas of industry, technology, and life sciences.

A multilevel porous metal material, where the levels are classified based on the pore size of the material. The number of classified levels are at least more than two. The pore size of the smallest level of porous metal material is less than 1 micrometer. The elasticity modulus of the smallest level of porous metal material is less than 80 GPa. The porosity is no less than 48%. The preparation method thereof is as follows. The raw material powder used to prepare porous metal material and the pore-forming agent used to prepare the smallest level of pores cavities are mixed to prepare the slurry. The slurry is uniformly filled into polymer material support to form a green body. The green body is dried and crushed to obtain mixed grains.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

The invention is directed at sputter targets including 50 atomic % or more molybdenum, a second metal element of titanium, and a third metal element of chromium or tantalum, and deposited films prepared by the sputter targets. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the sputter target includes a phase that is rich in molybdenum, a phase that is rich in titanium, and a phase that is rich in the third metal element.

Red rust staining of Al/Zn coated steel strip in acid rain or polluted environments can be minimised by forming the coating as an AlZnSiMg alloy coating with an OT:SDAS ratio greater than a value of 0.5:1, where OT is the overlay thickness on a surface of the strip and SDAS is the measure of the secondary dendrite arm spacing for the Al-rich alpha phase dendrites in the coating. Red rust staining in acid rain or polluted environments and corrosion at cut edges in marine environments can be minimised in AlZnSiMg alloy coatings on steel strip by selection of the composition (principally Mg and Si) and solidification control (principally by cooling rate) and forming Mg.sub.2Si phase particles of a particular morphology in interdendritic channels.