A reactive matrix infiltration process is described herein, which includes contacting a surface of a preform comprising reinforcement material particles with a molten infiltrant comprising a matrix material, the matrix material comprising an AlCe alloy, whereby the infiltrant at least partially fills spaces between the reinforcement material particles by capillary action and reacts with the reinforcement material particles to form a composite material form, the composite material comprising the matrix material, at least one intermetallic phase, and, optionally, reinforcement material particles. A composite material form also is described, which includes a plurality of reinforcement material particles comprising a metal alloy or a ceramic, a matrix material at least partially filling spaces between the reinforcement material particles; and at least one intermetallic phase surrounding at least some of the reinforcement material particles. The reinforcement material particles and intermetallic phase together may form a gradient core-shell structure.

A reactive matrix infiltration process is described herein, which includes contacting a surface of a preform comprising reinforcement material particles with a molten infiltrant comprising a matrix material, the matrix material comprising an AlCe alloy, whereby the infiltrant at least partially fills spaces between the reinforcement material particles by capillary action and reacts with the reinforcement material particles to form a composite material form, the composite material comprising the matrix material, at least one intermetallic phase, and, optionally, reinforcement material particles. A composite material form also is described, which includes a plurality of reinforcement material particles comprising a metal alloy or a ceramic, a matrix material at least partially filling spaces between the reinforcement material particles; and at least one intermetallic phase surrounding at least some of the reinforcement material particles. The reinforcement material particles and intermetallic phase together may form a gradient core-shell structure.

A magnetic structural body contains core-shell structure particles each including a core section and a shell section covering the surface of the core section. The core section is made of an alloy containing a first metal and a second metal. The shell section is made of an alloy which contains the first metal and the second metal and which has a first metal-to-second metal content ratio different from that of the core section. The first metal is a magnetic metal and has a standard redox potential higher than that of the second metal. The neighboring core-shell structure particles are linearly linked to each other.

A magnetic structural body contains core-shell structure particles each including a core section and a shell section covering the surface of the core section. The core section is made of an alloy containing a first metal and a second metal. The shell section is made of an alloy which contains the first metal and the second metal and which has a first metal-to-second metal content ratio different from that of the core section. The first metal is a magnetic metal and has a standard redox potential higher than that of the second metal. The neighboring core-shell structure particles are linearly linked to each other.

The disclosure relates to a method for preparing Ti(C,N)-based superhard metal composite materials, with Ti(C,N) powder and (W,Mo,Ta)(C,N) powder as main raw materials and Co powder as binding phase for preparation, thereby obtaining a material in which a microstructure is a double-core rim structure that has both a black core rim and a white core rim. The material has a complete and evenly distributed double-core rim structure. In the condition that the ensured hardness of the material is not reduced and even slightly increased, the toughness of the material is significantly improved, wherein the fracture toughness of the material is in the range of 11.3 to 12.5 MPa.Math.m.sup.1/2.

A magnetic structural body contains core-shell structure particles each including a core section and a shell section covering the surface of the core section. The core section is made of an alloy containing a first metal and a second metal. The shell section is made of an alloy which contains the first metal and the second metal and which has a first metal-to-second metal content ratio different from that of the core section. The first metal is a magnetic metal and has a standard redox potential higher than that of the second metal. The neighboring core-shell structure particles are linearly linked to each other.

A magnetic structural body contains core-shell structure particles each including a core section and a shell section covering the surface of the core section. The core section is made of an alloy containing a first metal and a second metal. The shell section is made of an alloy which contains the first metal and the second metal and which has a first metal-to-second metal content ratio different from that of the core section. The first metal is a magnetic metal and has a standard redox potential higher than that of the second metal. The neighboring core-shell structure particles are linearly linked to each other.

A magnetic material includes a soft magnetic metal grain containing Fe, and a multilayer oxide film covering the surfaces of the soft magnetic metal grain. The multilayer oxide film has a first oxide layer of crystalline nature containing Fe, and a second oxide layer of amorphous nature containing Si. In an embodiment, the silicon oxide film of amorphous nature is formed by dripping, divided into multiple sessions, a treatment solution containing TEOS (tetraethoxy silane), ethanol, and water into a mixed solution containing the soft magnetic metal grain, ethanol, and ammonia water, to mix the solutions.

A magnetic material includes a soft magnetic metal grain containing Fe, and a multilayer oxide film covering the surfaces of the soft magnetic metal grain. The multilayer oxide film has a first oxide layer of crystalline nature containing Fe, and a second oxide layer of amorphous nature containing Si. In an embodiment, the silicon oxide film of amorphous nature is formed by dripping, divided into multiple sessions, a treatment solution containing TEOS (tetraethoxy silane), ethanol, and water into a mixed solution containing the soft magnetic metal grain, ethanol, and ammonia water, to mix the solutions.

An electrically conductive tip member includes: an inner periphery portion including a Cu matrix phase and a second phase that is dispersed in the Cu matrix phase and contains a CuZr-based compound, the inner periphery portion having an alloy composition of Cu-xZr (where x is the atomic percentage of Zr and satisfies 0.5x16.7); and an outer periphery portion that is present on an outer circumferential side of the inner periphery portion, made of a metal containing Cu, and has higher electrical conductivity than the inner periphery portion.