A method of manufacturing an elongated electrically conducting element having functionalized carbon nanotubes and at least one metal, includes the steps of mixing functionalized carbon nanotubes with at least one metal, to obtain a composite mixture, and forming a solid mass from the composite mixture from step (i). A solid element obtained from the solid mass from step (ii) is inserted into a metal tube, and the metal tube from step (iii) is deformed, to obtain an elongated electrically conducting element.

A method for densifying a surface of a powder metal part, includes blending a plurality of powdered metals to form a powder metal blend, actuating an upper punch and a lower punch to apply pressure to the powder metal blend to compact the powder metal blend, sintering the compacted powder metal blend in an oven, forming the compacted powdered metal blend into the powder metal part, heating a portion of the surface of the powder metal part, and densifying the portion of the surface of the powder metal part for a predetermined period of time after the portion of the powder metal part is heated to a predetermined temperature.

A method for densifying a surface of a powder metal part, includes blending a plurality of powdered metals to form a powder metal blend, actuating an upper punch and a lower punch to apply pressure to the powder metal blend to compact the powder metal blend, sintering the compacted powder metal blend in an oven, forming the compacted powdered metal blend into the powder metal part, heating a portion of the surface of the powder metal part, and densifying the portion of the surface of the powder metal part for a predetermined period of time after the portion of the powder metal part is heated to a predetermined temperature.

A refractory metal plate is provided. The plate has a center, a thickness, an edge, a top surface and a bottom surface, and has a crystallographic texture (as characterized by through thickness gradient, banding severity; and variation across the plate, for each of the texture components 100//ND and 111//ND, which is substantially uniform throughout the plate.

A refractory metal plate is provided. The plate has a center, a thickness, an edge, a top surface and a bottom surface, and has a crystallographic texture (as characterized by through thickness gradient, banding severity; and variation across the plate, for each of the texture components 100//ND and 111//ND, which is substantially uniform throughout the plate.

Methods and devices are disclosed for creating a multiple alloy composite structure by forming a three-dimensional arrangement of a first alloy composition in which the three-dimensional arrangement has a substantially open and continuous porosity. The three-dimensional arrangement of the first alloy composition is infused with at least a second alloy composition, where the second alloy composition comprises a shape memory alloy. The three-dimensional arrangement is consolidated into a fully dense solid structure, and the original shape of the second alloy composition is set for reversible transformation. Strain is applied to the fully dense solid structure, which is treated with heat so that the shape memory alloy composition becomes memory activated to recover the original shape. An interwoven composite of the first alloy composition and the memory-activated second alloy composition is thereby formed in the multiple alloy composite structure.

Methods and devices are disclosed for creating a multiple alloy composite structure by forming a three-dimensional arrangement of a first alloy composition in which the three-dimensional arrangement has a substantially open and continuous porosity. The three-dimensional arrangement of the first alloy composition is infused with at least a second alloy composition, where the second alloy composition comprises a shape memory alloy. The three-dimensional arrangement is consolidated into a fully dense solid structure, and the original shape of the second alloy composition is set for reversible transformation. Strain is applied to the fully dense solid structure, which is treated with heat so that the shape memory alloy composition becomes memory activated to recover the original shape. An interwoven composite of the first alloy composition and the memory-activated second alloy composition is thereby formed in the multiple alloy composite structure.

A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.

A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.

A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.