Silicon-carbon composite materials and related processes are disclosed that overcome the challenges for providing amorphous nano-sized silicon entrained within porous carbon. Compared to other, inferior materials and processes described in the prior art, the materials and processes disclosed herein find superior utility in various applications, including energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.

The invention relates to the production of wear-resistant layers which are exposed to friction wear on surfaces of components of internal combustion engines. In the process, wear-resistant layers are formed on the respective surface by electric arc discharge under vacuum conditions. The wear-resistant layers are formed from at least approximately hydrogen-free tetrahedrally amorphous (ta-C) comprising a mixture of sp2 and sp3 hybridized carbon and have a microhardness of at least 3500 HV and an arithmetical mean roughness value Ra of 0.1 μm without a mechanical, physical and/or chemical surface processing taking place.

The invention relates to the production of wear-resistant layers which are exposed to friction wear on surfaces of components of internal combustion engines. In the process, wear-resistant layers are formed on the respective surface by electric arc discharge under vacuum conditions. The wear-resistant layers are formed from at least approximately hydrogen-free tetrahedrally amorphous (ta-C) comprising a mixture of sp2 and sp3 hybridized carbon and have a microhardness of at least 3500 HV and an arithmetical mean roughness value Ra of 0.1 μm without a mechanical, physical and/or chemical surface processing taking place.

A method of making polycrystalline diamond material includes providing a fraction of diamond particles or grains and a sintering additive, the sintering additive comprising a carbon source of nano-sized particles or grains, forming the diamond particles and sintering additive into an aggregated mass, consolidating the aggregated mass and a binder material to form a green body, and subjecting the green body to conditions of pressure and temperature at which diamond is more thermodynamically stable than graphite and for a time sufficient to consume the sintering additive, sintering it and forming polycrystalline diamond material that is thermodynamically and crystallographically stable and is substantially devoid of any nano-structures.

A method of making polycrystalline diamond material includes providing a fraction of diamond particles or grains and a sintering additive, the sintering additive comprising a carbon source of nano-sized particles or grains, forming the diamond particles and sintering additive into an aggregated mass, consolidating the aggregated mass and a binder material to form a green body, and subjecting the green body to conditions of pressure and temperature at which diamond is more thermodynamically stable than graphite and for a time sufficient to consume the sintering additive, sintering it and forming polycrystalline diamond material that is thermodynamically and crystallographically stable and is substantially devoid of any nano-structures.

Silicon-carbon composite materials and related processes are disclosed that overcome the challenges for providing amorphous nano-sized silicon entrained within porous carbon. Compared to other, inferior materials and processes described in the prior art, the materials and processes disclosed herein find superior utility in various applications, including energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.

Silicon-carbon composite materials and related processes are disclosed that overcome the challenges for providing amorphous nano-sized silicon entrained within porous carbon. Compared to other, inferior materials and processes described in the prior art, the materials and processes disclosed herein find superior utility in various applications, including energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.

A metal or composite component assembly includes a first metal or composite component, a second metal or composite component, and an adhesive layer arranged on an interface of the first and second components and bonding the first and second components. The adhesive layer comprises a fast-cure low-strength adhesive and a high-strength structural adhesive.

A metal or composite component assembly includes a first metal or composite component, a second metal or composite component, and an adhesive layer arranged on an interface of the first and second components and bonding the first and second components. The adhesive layer comprises a fast-cure low-strength adhesive and a high-strength structural adhesive.

Particulate composite materials and devices comprising the same are provided.