A sintered composite material obtainable by a method which includes providing a composition which includes at least one hardness carrier and a base binder alloy, and sintering the composition. The base binder alloy includes from 66 to 93 wt.-% of nickel, from 7 to 34 wt.-% of iron, from 0 to 9 wt.-% of cobalt, and up to 30 wt.-% of one or more elements selected from W, Mo, Cr, V, Ta, Nb, Ti, Zr, Hf, Re, Ru, Al, Mn, B, N and C. The wt.-% proportions of the base binder alloy add up to 100 wt.-%.

The invention regards a method for the synthesis of Zero-Valent metal micro- and nanoparticles, in which a first aqueous solution (SOL.sub.1) of a salt of a noble metal (A) is mixed with a third neutral or basic aqueous solution (SOL.sub.3) of an inorganic sulphur-based reducing agent (C), and wherein the mixture thus obtained is added to a second aqueous solution (SOL.sub.2) of a salt of a transition metal (B) and a second aliquot of the inorganic reducing agent; such method provides that the amount of the inorganic reducing agent (C) is in a stoichiometric excess in the reduction reaction to Zero-Valent of both the salt of the noble metal (A) contained in the first solution (SOL.sub.1) and the salt of the transition metal (B) contained in the second solution (SOL.sub.2). The invention also regards Zero-Valent micro and nanoparticles, preferably bimetallic, obtained with the above method. More generally, the invention regards a method for reduction of a transition metal (B) to Zero-Valent metal by an inorganic reducing agent (C), by prior or concurrent reduction of a noble metal (A), wherein the amount of inorganic reducing agent (C) is in stoichiometric excess in the reduction reaction to Zero-Valent of both the noble metal (A) and the transition metal (B). The present invention finds preferred and advantageous application in the remediation and/or the treatment of contaminated water containing at least one polluting substance. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that the noble metal (A) is silver, that the transition metal (B) is iron and/or manganese, and the inorganic reducing agent (C) is chosen from borohydrides, dithionites and bisulphites.

The invention regards a method for the synthesis of Zero-Valent metal micro- and nanoparticles, in which a first aqueous solution (SOL.sub.1) of a salt of a noble metal (A) is mixed with a third neutral or basic aqueous solution (SOL.sub.3) of an inorganic sulphur-based reducing agent (C), and wherein the mixture thus obtained is added to a second aqueous solution (SOL.sub.2) of a salt of a transition metal (B) and a second aliquot of the inorganic reducing agent; such method provides that the amount of the inorganic reducing agent (C) is in a stoichiometric excess in the reduction reaction to Zero-Valent of both the salt of the noble metal (A) contained in the first solution (SOL.sub.1) and the salt of the transition metal (B) contained in the second solution (SOL.sub.2). The invention also regards Zero-Valent micro and nanoparticles, preferably bimetallic, obtained with the above method. More generally, the invention regards a method for reduction of a transition metal (B) to Zero-Valent metal by an inorganic reducing agent (C), by prior or concurrent reduction of a noble metal (A), wherein the amount of inorganic reducing agent (C) is in stoichiometric excess in the reduction reaction to Zero-Valent of both the noble metal (A) and the transition metal (B). The present invention finds preferred and advantageous application in the remediation and/or the treatment of contaminated water containing at least one polluting substance. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that the noble metal (A) is silver, that the transition metal (B) is iron and/or manganese, and the inorganic reducing agent (C) is chosen from borohydrides, dithionites and bisulphites.

Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges, and methods for forming the same. The projectiles are formed from metal powder and include an anti-sparking agent. One or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form the metal powder. The projectiles may be formed from a compacted mixture of two or more different metal powders. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid, zinc chloride, and/or petrolatum. The anti-sparking agent may be dispersed within, and/or applied as a coating on, the exterior of the projectile. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. Such domains may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does form a liquid phase of the metal powder or utilize a polymeric binder.

Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges, and methods for forming the same. The projectiles are formed from metal powder and include an anti-sparking agent. One or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form the metal powder. The projectiles may be formed from a compacted mixture of two or more different metal powders. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid, zinc chloride, and/or petrolatum. The anti-sparking agent may be dispersed within, and/or applied as a coating on, the exterior of the projectile. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. Such domains may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does form a liquid phase of the metal powder or utilize a polymeric binder.

Provided is a sintered bearing (1), including 3 to 12% by mass of aluminum, 0.05 to 0.5% by mass of phosphorus, and the balance including copper as a main component, and inevitable impurities, the sintered bearing (1) having a structure in which an aluminum-copper alloy is sintered with a sintering aid added to raw material powder, a pore (db, do) in a surface layer portion of the sintered bearing (1) being formed smaller than an internal pore (di).

Provided is a sintered bearing (1), including 3 to 12% by mass of aluminum, 0.05 to 0.5% by mass of phosphorus, and the balance including copper as a main component, and inevitable impurities, the sintered bearing (1) having a structure in which an aluminum-copper alloy is sintered with a sintering aid added to raw material powder, a pore (db, do) in a surface layer portion of the sintered bearing (1) being formed smaller than an internal pore (di).

A method for producing a valve seat ring via powder metallurgy may include compacting a powder mixture including 4% by weight to 16% by weight particles of cobalt to form the valve seat ring. The method may also include sintering the powder mixture after compacting the powder mixture. Before compacting the powder mixture, 80% of the particles of cobalt may have a particle diameter of approximately 4.4 μm to 17.5 μm.

In an example of a method for forming three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics, a build material is applied. A fusing agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the build material. The build material is exposed to radiation and the portion of the build material in contact with the fusing agent fuses to form a layer. An electronic agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the layer, which imparts an electronic property to the at least the portion of the layer.

In an example of a method for forming three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics, a build material is applied. A fusing agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the build material. The build material is exposed to radiation and the portion of the build material in contact with the fusing agent fuses to form a layer. An electronic agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the layer, which imparts an electronic property to the at least the portion of the layer.