The present application provides a system and method for discharging and processing of lithium ion batteries to extract one or more metals. The extracted metals are in a powder form that can be reused at second stage processing facilities. The extracted metal powder can include lithium and at least one of cobalt, nickel, manganese, and carbon.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, γ-Fe and magnesium nitride.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, γ-Fe and magnesium nitride.

Some variations provide a method of making a nanofunctionalized metal powder, comprising: providing metal particles containing metals selected from iron, nickel, copper, titanium, magnesium, zinc, silicon, lithium, silver, chromium, manganese, vanadium, bismuth, gallium, or lead; providing nanoparticles selected from zirconium, tantalum, niobium, or titanium; disposing the nanoparticles onto surfaces of the metal particles, in the presence of mixing media, thereby generating nanofunctionalized metal particles; and isolating and recovering the nanofunctionalized metal particles as a nanofunctionalized metal powder. Some variations provide a composition comprising a nanofunctionalized metal powder, the composition comprising metal particles and nanoparticles containing one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, tantalum, niobium, titanium, and oxides, nitrides, hydrides, carbides, or borides thereof, or combinations of the foregoing.

Some variations provide a method of making a nanofunctionalized metal powder, comprising: providing metal particles containing metals selected from iron, nickel, copper, titanium, magnesium, zinc, silicon, lithium, silver, chromium, manganese, vanadium, bismuth, gallium, or lead; providing nanoparticles selected from zirconium, tantalum, niobium, or titanium; disposing the nanoparticles onto surfaces of the metal particles, in the presence of mixing media, thereby generating nanofunctionalized metal particles; and isolating and recovering the nanofunctionalized metal particles as a nanofunctionalized metal powder. Some variations provide a composition comprising a nanofunctionalized metal powder, the composition comprising metal particles and nanoparticles containing one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, tantalum, niobium, titanium, and oxides, nitrides, hydrides, carbides, or borides thereof, or combinations of the foregoing.

A method includes applying a material coating on a surface of a machine component using a thermal spray, wherein the material coating is formed from a combination of a hardfacing material and aluminum-containing particles. The method also includes thermally treating the material coating to generate an oxide layer comprising aluminum from the aluminum-containing particles, wherein the oxide layer is configured to reduce oxidation of the hardfacing material.

A superhard material-containing object is configured to have a controlled and repeatable three-dimensional geometry and/or shape. The object further includes a desired three-dimensional spatial variation in microstructure, grain size and/or composition. The superhard material is selected from the group consisting of diamond, boron-doped diamond and cubic boron nitride. A process for production of a superhard material-containing object from a powder of a superhard material, a binder and an optional additive, includes the steps of: (a) producing a feedstock of the superhard material and a polymer binder; (b) extruding one or more filaments from a granulated superhard material-binder feedstock; (c) preparing a printed superhard material-containing object using the one or more filaments; (d) subjecting the printed object to debinding to prepare a debindered object; and (e) sintering the debindered printed object to produce the superhard material-containing object.

A superhard material-containing object is configured to have a controlled and repeatable three-dimensional geometry and/or shape. The object further includes a desired three-dimensional spatial variation in microstructure, grain size and/or composition. The superhard material is selected from the group consisting of diamond, boron-doped diamond and cubic boron nitride. A process for production of a superhard material-containing object from a powder of a superhard material, a binder and an optional additive, includes the steps of: (a) producing a feedstock of the superhard material and a polymer binder; (b) extruding one or more filaments from a granulated superhard material-binder feedstock; (c) preparing a printed superhard material-containing object using the one or more filaments; (d) subjecting the printed object to debinding to prepare a debindered object; and (e) sintering the debindered printed object to produce the superhard material-containing object.

A metal-Si based powder contains a metal-Si based particle including a plurality of crystal phase grains. The crystal phase grains include a crystal phase containing a compound of a metal and Si. The crystal phase grains have an average grain size of, for example, 20 μm or less. The metal-Si based particle has an average particle size of, for example, 5 to 100 μm.

A metal-Si based powder contains a metal-Si based particle including a plurality of crystal phase grains. The crystal phase grains include a crystal phase containing a compound of a metal and Si. The crystal phase grains have an average grain size of, for example, 20 μm or less. The metal-Si based particle has an average particle size of, for example, 5 to 100 μm.