A hierarchical composite wear component may have a reinforcement in the most exposed part to wear, the reinforcement including a three-dimensionally interconnected network of periodically alternating millimetric ceramic-metal composite granules with millimetric interstices. The ceramic-metal composite granules have at least 52 vol %, preferably at least 61 vol %, more preferably at least 70 vol % of micrometric particles of titanium carbide embedded in a first metal matrix. The ceramic-metal composite granules have a density of at least 4.8 g/cm.sup.3. The three-dimensionally interconnected network of ceramic-metal composite granules with its millimetric interstices is embedded in the second metal matrix. The reinforcement has on average at least 23 vol %, more preferably at least 28 vol %, most preferably at least 30 vol % of titanium carbide, the first metal matrix being different from the second metal matrix, the second metal matrix including a ferrous cast alloy.

A method of producing a powder suitable for additive manufacturing and/or powder metallurgy applications from a precursor particulate material comprising: subjecting the precursor particulate material to at least one high shear milling process, thereby producing a powder product having a reduced average particle size and a selected particle morphology.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, γ-Fe and magnesium nitride.

A sintered magnet body (R.sub.aT.sup.1.sub.bM.sub.cB.sub.d) coated with a powder mixture of an intermetallic compound (R.sup.1.sub.iM.sup.1.sub.j, R.sup.1.sub.xT.sup.2.sub.yM.sup.1.sub.z, R.sup.1.sub.iM.sup.1.sub.jH.sub.k), alloy (M.sup.1.sub.dM.sup.2.sub.e) or metal (M.sup.1) powder and a rare earth (R.sup.2) oxide is diffusion treated. The R.sup.2 oxide is partially reduced during the diffusion treatment, so a significant amount of R.sup.2 can be introduced near interfaces of primary phase grains within the magnet through the passages in the form of grain boundaries. The coercive force is increased while minimizing a decline of remanence.

Techniques are disclosed for milling an iron-containing raw material in the presence of a nitrogen source to generate anisotropically shaped particles that include iron nitride and have an aspect ratio of at least 1.4. Techniques for nitridizing an anisotropic particle including iron, and annealing an anisotropic particle including iron nitride to form at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain within the anisotropic particle including iron nitride also are disclosed. In addition, techniques for aligning and joining anisotropic particles to form a bulk material including iron nitride, such as a bulk permanent magnet including at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain, are described. Milling apparatuses utilizing elongated bars, an electric field, and a magnetic field also are disclosed.

Techniques are disclosed for milling an iron-containing raw material in the presence of a nitrogen source to generate anisotropically shaped particles that include iron nitride and have an aspect ratio of at least 1.4. Techniques for nitridizing an anisotropic particle including iron, and annealing an anisotropic particle including iron nitride to form at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain within the anisotropic particle including iron nitride also are disclosed. In addition, techniques for aligning and joining anisotropic particles to form a bulk material including iron nitride, such as a bulk permanent magnet including at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain, are described. Milling apparatuses utilizing elongated bars, an electric field, and a magnetic field also are disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, γ-Fe and magnesium nitride.

Provided is an Sm—Fe—N rare earth magnet comprising Sm—Fe—N crystal grains. An oxygen content in the Sm—Fe—N rare earth magnet is 0.5% by mass or less on the basis of a total amount of the Sm—Fe—N rare earth magnet, and an average grain size of the Sm—Fe—N crystal grains is 1 μm or less.

Provided is an Sm—Fe—N rare earth magnet comprising Sm—Fe—N crystal grains. An oxygen content in the Sm—Fe—N rare earth magnet is 0.5% by mass or less on the basis of a total amount of the Sm—Fe—N rare earth magnet, and an average grain size of the Sm—Fe—N crystal grains is 1 μm or less.

A process for producing silicon nano-particles from a raw silicon material, the process including steps of alloying the raw silicon material with at least one alloying metal to form an alloy; thereafter, processing the alloy to form alloy nano-particles; and thereafter, distilling the alloying metal from the alloy nano-particles whereby silicon nano-particles are produced.