A new scanning electrochemical microscopy tip positioning method that allows topography and surface activity to be resolved independently is presented. A SECM tip is oscillated relative to the surface of interest. Changes in the oscillation amplitude, caused by the intermittent contact of the SECM tip with the surface of interest, are used to detect the surface of interest, and as a feedback signal for various types of imaging

A new scanning electrochemical microscopy tip positioning method that allows topography and surface activity to be resolved independently is presented. A SECM tip is oscillated relative to the surface of interest. Changes in the oscillation amplitude, caused by the intermittent contact of the SECM tip with the surface of interest, are used to detect the surface of interest, and as a feedback signal for various types of imaging

A support tooling for porous preforms intended to be infiltrated by a molten metal includes a rack including two suspension bars each extending longitudinally along a first direction, the suspension bars being held spaced apart from one another along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a plurality or porous preform supports removably mounted on the suspension bars, each support including a first portion connected to one of the suspension bars by a connection sliding along a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions and a second portion extending from the first portion and including support elements which are able to hold a porous preform by point or linear contact.

A machine and process for making a composite battery electrode with a conductive lead cast ribbon extending along and attached to a portion of a carbon fiber material. A lead ribbon may be continuously cast along a longitudinally elongate strip of carbon fiber material. The ribbon may be cast along an edge or edges of a longitudinally elongate strip of carbon fiber material.

A hierarchical composite wear component may have a reinforcement in the most exposed part to wear, the reinforcement including a three-dimensionally interconnected network of periodically alternating millimetric ceramic-metal composite granules with millimetric interstices. The ceramic-metal composite granules have at least 52 vol %, preferably at least 61 vol %, more preferably at least 70 vol % of micrometric particles of titanium carbide embedded in a first metal matrix. The ceramic-metal composite granules have a density of at least 4.8 g/cm.sup.3. The three-dimensionally interconnected network of ceramic-metal composite granules with its millimetric interstices is embedded in the second metal matrix. The reinforcement has on average at least 23 vol %, more preferably at least 28 vol %, most preferably at least 30 vol % of titanium carbide, the first metal matrix being different from the second metal matrix, the second metal matrix including a ferrous cast alloy.

A selectively reinforced component comprises a metal body with at least one metal matrix composite insert embedded in a first surface of the metal body, with at least one weld bonding an outer surface of the metal matrix composite insert to the metal body. The selectively reinforced component is formed by introducing the or each metal matrix composite insert into a recess in the first surface of the metal body, before forming the at least one weld to bond the outer surface of the metal matrix composite insert to an opposing inner peripheral surface of the recess.

A selectively reinforced component comprises a metal body with at least one metal matrix composite insert embedded in a first surface of the metal body, with at least one weld bonding an outer surface of the metal matrix composite insert to the metal body. The selectively reinforced component is formed by introducing the or each metal matrix composite insert into a recess in the first surface of the metal body, before forming the at least one weld to bond the outer surface of the metal matrix composite insert to an opposing inner peripheral surface of the recess.

A biomedical device includes a zinc-based material including a matrix including zinc, and nanostructures dispersed in the matrix. Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to zinc (Zn)-based materials including dispersed nanostructures for biomedical applications and devices, such as bioresorbable vascular stents, bioresorbable ureteral stents, endoluminal springs for distraction enterogenesis, biodegradable bone implants with tunable modulus, guided bone generation membranes, bioresorbable dental membranes, and other biomedical implants, as well as other functional applications, such as biodegradable electronics and sensors.

A tastable, moldable, and/or extrudable structure using a metallic primary alloy. One or more additives are added to the metallic primary alloy so that in situ galvanically-active reinforcement particles are formed in the melt or on cooling from the melt. The composite contains an optimal composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rate in the entire composite. The in situ formed galvanically-active particles can be used to enhance mechanical properties of the composite, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final casting can also be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final composite over the as-cast material.

A tastable, moldable, and/or extrudable structure using a metallic primary alloy. One or more additives are added to the metallic primary alloy so that in situ galvanically-active reinforcement particles are formed in the melt or on cooling from the melt. The composite contains an optimal composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rate in the entire composite. The in situ formed galvanically-active particles can be used to enhance mechanical properties of the composite, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final casting can also be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final composite over the as-cast material.