Disclosed are methods and apparatus for selectively sintering particulate material, the method comprising: providing a layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a radiation absorbent material over a selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a material that comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) over at least part of the selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; and providing radiation (8) across the selected surface portion of the layer of particulate material so as to sinter a portion of the material of the layer (6) including causing the plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) to become embedded in the sintered portion of material.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for selectively sintering particulate material, the method comprising: providing a layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a radiation absorbent material over a selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a material that comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) over at least part of the selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; and providing radiation (8) across the selected surface portion of the layer of particulate material so as to sinter a portion of the material of the layer (6) including causing the plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) to become embedded in the sintered portion of material.

A stator for use in a positive displacement motor. The stator comprises a rubber compound including fiber reinforcement. The fiber reinforcement includes a plurality of elongated fibers. The elongated fibers in the fiber reinforcement create a grain direction generally with the grain in the longitudinal direction of the stator tube and across the grain in the transverse direction. The rubber compound has a 25% tensile Modulus that is at least 10% lower across the grain than with the grain. The fiber reinforcement includes a fiber loading of greater than about 2.5 phr of elongate fibers, the elongate fibers have a Modulus of greater than about 60 GPa, and the rubber compound has a 25% tensile Modulus of greater than about 400 psi against the grain and a 50% tensile Modulus of greater than about 700 psi against the grain. In some embodiments, the rubber reinforcement also comprises a blend of fibrillated fibers and short cut fibers.

A stator for use in a positive displacement motor. The stator comprises a rubber compound including fiber reinforcement. The fiber reinforcement includes a plurality of elongated fibers. The elongated fibers in the fiber reinforcement create a grain direction generally with the grain in the longitudinal direction of the stator tube and across the grain in the transverse direction. The rubber compound has a 25% tensile Modulus that is at least 10% lower across the grain than with the grain. The fiber reinforcement includes a fiber loading of greater than about 2.5 phr of elongate fibers, the elongate fibers have a Modulus of greater than about 60 GPa, and the rubber compound has a 25% tensile Modulus of greater than about 400 psi against the grain and a 50% tensile Modulus of greater than about 700 psi against the grain. In some embodiments, the rubber reinforcement also comprises a blend of fibrillated fibers and short cut fibers.

A method of manufacturing a composite material may include providing one or more layers of reinforcement material penetrated with viscous matrix material that is doped with electrically conductive particles. The method may further include applying a magnetic field to arrange the particles into one or more electrically conductive pathways, and curing the matrix material to secure the pathways in position relative to the reinforcement material.

A method and an apparatus for producing a radially aligned magnetorheological elastomer molded body containing a matrix resin and a magnetic filler are provided. The method includes the following: placing a permanent magnet 11 in at least one position selected from positions that are spaced from a metal mold 14a having a cavity 14b and located above and below the center of the metal mold 14a; providing a closed magnetic circuit that allows a magnetic flux 19a generated by the permanent magnet 11 to pass through the metal mold 14a from a side thereof, filling the cavity 14b with a composition containing the matrix resin and the magnetic filler; and molding the composition while the magnetic filler is radially aligned. With this configuration, the elastomer material is molded while the magnetic filler is radially aligned by using the permanent magnet.

The present invention relates to a method for the formation of virtually defect-free monolayers of particles with long-range order. The technique involves assembling the monolayer of particles on the interface between a solidifiable liquid and a fluid, which can be air or another liquid, ordering the particles using an electric field and then solidifying the former, e.g., by applying UV light. The monolayer becomes embedded on the surface of the solidified film. The monolayers can be coated onto the surface of materials to optimize their mechanical, thermal, electrical and optical properties.

The present invention relates to a method for the formation of virtually defect-free monolayers of particles with long-range order. The technique involves assembling the monolayer of particles on the interface between a solidifiable liquid and a fluid, which can be air or another liquid, ordering the particles using an electric field and then solidifying the former, e.g., by applying UV light. The monolayer becomes embedded on the surface of the solidified film. The monolayers can be coated onto the surface of materials to optimize their mechanical, thermal, electrical and optical properties.

A method of identifying and/or tracking deformation of a mechanical part made of composite material for a turbine engine, in which the part includes a preform of fiber material and a resin, is provided. The method includes incorporating metal particles in the preform or the resin during fabrication of the part, and subjecting the mechanical part to two X-ray inspections on two different occasions so as to identify the part and/or so as to deduce deformation of its internal structure.

A method of identifying and/or tracking deformation of a mechanical part made of composite material for a turbine engine, in which the part includes a preform of fiber material and a resin, is provided. The method includes incorporating metal particles in the preform or the resin during fabrication of the part, and subjecting the mechanical part to two X-ray inspections on two different occasions so as to identify the part and/or so as to deduce deformation of its internal structure.