Various embodiments include methods for densifying a melt infiltrated ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article, and a densified melt infiltrated CMC article formed thereby. Particular embodiments include a method including: providing a porous CMC preform within a first region of a casting apparatus; providing a molten densifier within a pressure head area of a second region of the casting apparatus, the first and second regions being operably connected and the molten densifier including at least one source of silicon; and applying a first pressure to the molten densifier within the pressure head, thereby infiltrating voids within the porous CMC preform with the molten densifier and forming a densified melt infiltrated CMC article.

A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal whose affinity for oxygen is greater than the affinity for oxygen of any of the one or more materials. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium. At least a first portion of the metal may be present in un-oxidized form at the entrance to and/or within grain boundaries within the fiber. A method of improving at least one of the strength, creep resistance, and toughness of a fiber comprises adding to a fiber, initially comprising a bulk material having a first affinity for oxygen, a metal that has a second affinity for oxygen higher than the first affinity. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium.

A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal whose affinity for oxygen is greater than the affinity for oxygen of any of the one or more materials. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium. At least a first portion of the metal may be present in un-oxidized form at the entrance to and/or within grain boundaries within the fiber. A method of improving at least one of the strength, creep resistance, and toughness of a fiber comprises adding to a fiber, initially comprising a bulk material having a first affinity for oxygen, a metal that has a second affinity for oxygen higher than the first affinity. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium.

A ceramic fiber processing apparatus and method for processing ceramic fibers for the manufacture of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) is provided. The apparatus includes a frame including a plurality of unidirectional ceramic fibers wound thereabout and extending across a void therein the frame to define a first planar array of ceramic fibers and a second planar array of ceramic fibers. During use, the frame is disposed in the ceramic fiber processing apparatus in a manner to enable gripping of the first planar array of ceramic fibers with a first gripper assembly and gripping of the second planar array of ceramic fibers with a second gripper assembly. A cutting mechanism provides cutting of the plurality of unidirectional ceramic fibers to separate the first planar array of ceramic fibers and the second planar array of ceramic fibers from one another.

A reflective particulate material comprises a particulate substrate, and a coating on the particulate substrate. The coated reflective particulate material may have a relative error of an amount of the coating on the particulate substrate of about 5% to about 15%, and/or a dust index of about 5 or lower, and/or a staining loss of about 8% to about 11%. A method of manufacturing the reflective particulate material comprises mixing the particulate substrate with a liquid coating composition to form a wet particulate mixture, passing the wet particulate mixture through at least one heat zone to remove water and/or moisture, and curing the coating material in the coating composition.

A reflective particulate material comprises a particulate substrate, and a coating on the particulate substrate. The coated reflective particulate material may have a relative error of an amount of the coating on the particulate substrate of about 5% to about 15%, and/or a dust index of about 5 or lower, and/or a staining loss of about 8% to about 11%. A method of manufacturing the reflective particulate material comprises mixing the particulate substrate with a liquid coating composition to form a wet particulate mixture, passing the wet particulate mixture through at least one heat zone to remove water and/or moisture, and curing the coating material in the coating composition.

Disclosed herein are coated gemstones, coatings for gemstones, methods of coating gemstones, and methods of using coatings on gemstones to avoid blemishes on gemstones. In some embodiments, diamonds are functionalized with anchor molecules that bind hydrophilic cyclodextrin molecules to confer hydrophilicity on the diamond. In some embodiments, the diamonds resist dirt and grime build-up.

A method of decontaminating a lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method includes soaking the lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a first thickness of surface contaminants in a first organic solvent containing an inorganic salt at an inorganic salt concentration to obtain a soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method further includes rinsing the soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material in a second organic solvent to obtain a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a second thickness of surface contaminants less than the first thickness of surface contaminants.

A method of decontaminating a lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method includes soaking the lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a first thickness of surface contaminants in a first organic solvent containing an inorganic salt at an inorganic salt concentration to obtain a soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method further includes rinsing the soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material in a second organic solvent to obtain a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a second thickness of surface contaminants less than the first thickness of surface contaminants.

A method of forming a composite article includes impregnating an inorganic fiber preform with a slurry composition. The slurry composition includes a particulate, a solvent, and a pre-gellant material. Gelling of the pre-gellant material in the slurry composition is initiated to immobilize the particulate and yield a gelled article, and substantially all solvent is removed from the gelled article to form a green composite article. The green composite article is then infiltrated with a molten infiltrant to form the composite article.