A dilution refrigerator is provided. The dilution refrigerator includes a first thermal stage configured to be cooled to a first temperature, a second thermal stage configured to be cooled to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and a vacuum chamber housing the first thermal stage and the second thermal stage. The dilution refrigerator also includes a first suspension system configured to suspend the first thermal stage from the vacuum chamber, and a second suspension system configured to suspend the second thermal stage from the vacuum chamber independently from the first thermal stage.

A distributed refrigeration system is provided. The distributed refrigeration system comprises a pre-cooling system configured to be thermally coupled to two or more cryogenic devices and to provide a first cooling stage to the two or more cryogenic devices. The two or more cryogenic devices may be two or more of a dilution refrigerator, a low-temperature microscopy system, a .sup.3He refrigeration system, and/or a superconducting CMOS system.

A distributed refrigeration system is provided. The distributed refrigeration system comprises a pre-cooling system configured to be thermally coupled to two or more cryogenic devices and to provide a first cooling stage to the two or more cryogenic devices. The two or more cryogenic devices may be two or more of a dilution refrigerator, a low-temperature microscopy system, a .sup.3He refrigeration system, and/or a superconducting CMOS system.

A dilution refrigerator is provided. The dilution refrigerator includes a plurality of thermal stages configured to be cooled to a plurality of temperatures. A coldest thermal stage of the plurality of thermal stages is disposed above warmer thermal stages of the plurality of thermal stages such that the coldest thermal stage is positioned furthest from a floor supporting the dilution refrigerator.

A dilution refrigerator is provided. The dilution refrigerator includes a plurality of thermal stages configured to be cooled to a plurality of temperatures. A coldest thermal stage of the plurality of thermal stages is disposed above warmer thermal stages of the plurality of thermal stages such that the coldest thermal stage is positioned furthest from a floor supporting the dilution refrigerator.

Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack that include providing a protective layer over at least one surface of an interconnect formed by powder pressing pre-alloyed particles containing two or more metal elements and annealing the interconnect and the protective layer at elevated temperature to bond the protective layer to the at least one surface of the interconnect.

A multi-metallic pressure-controlling component and a hot isostatic pressure (HIP) manufacturing process and system are disclosed. An example multi-metallic component for use in the oil field services industry includes a first metal alloy that forms a first portion of the multi-metallic pressure-controlling component, and a second metal alloy that forms a second portion of the multi-metallic pressure-controlling component. A diffusion bond is disposed at an interface between the first metal alloy and the second metal alloy that joins the first metal alloy to the second metal alloy within the multi-metallic pressure-controlling component.

A multi-metallic pressure-controlling component and a hot isostatic pressure (HIP) manufacturing process and system are disclosed. An example multi-metallic component for use in the oil field services industry includes a first metal alloy that forms a first portion of the multi-metallic pressure-controlling component, and a second metal alloy that forms a second portion of the multi-metallic pressure-controlling component. A diffusion bond is disposed at an interface between the first metal alloy and the second metal alloy that joins the first metal alloy to the second metal alloy within the multi-metallic pressure-controlling component.

Disclosed are mixtures for use in additive manufacturing, wherein the powder mixture comprises first and second materials. The first material includes a metal alloy or a mixture of elemental precursors thereof, and is in powder form. The second material includes a reinforcement material comprising powder particles having a particle diameter of from 1 to less than 30 μm (as determined by laser scattering or laser diffraction). The inventive powder mixtures allows for the processing to three dimensions objects which are free of cracking and which thus have favourable mechanical characteristics. Further disclosed are processes for the preparation of corresponding powder mixtures and three dimensional objects, three dimensional objects prepared accordingly and devices for implementing processes for the preparation of such objects, as well as the use of a corresponding powder mixture to suppress crack formation in a three-dimensional object, which is prepared by additive manufacturing.

A friction stir processing (FSP) tool includes a working material. The working material has a matrix phase and a particulate phase. The matrix phase includes tungsten and an alloy material. The particulate phase is located within the matrix phase, and the particulate phase has an indentation hardness less than 45 GPa.