Methods for producing proppants with a nanocomposite proppant coating are provided. The methods include coating the proppant particles with a nano-reinforcing agent, a surface modifier, and a resin to produce proppants with nanocomposite proppant coating. Additionally, a proppant comprising a proppant particle and a nanocomposite proppant coating is provided. The nanocomposite proppant coating includes a nano-reinforcing agent, a surface modifier, and a resin. The nanocomposite proppant coating coats the proppant particle. Additionally, a method for increasing a rate of hydrocarbon production from a subsurface formation through the use of the proppants is provided.

Disclosed is a multi nanolayer interface coating for a fiber of a composite including a first interface coating nanolayer deposited onto the fiber of the ceramic matrix composite, and a second interface coating nanolayer deposited onto the first interface coating nanolayer.

The disclosure describes techniques for forming a surface layer of an article including a CMC using a cast. In some examples, the surface layer includes three-dimensional surface features, which may increase adhesion between the CMC and a coating on the CMC. In some examples, the surface layer may include excess material, with or without three-dimensional surface features, which is on the CMC. The excess material may be machined to remove some of the excess material and facilitate conforming the article to dimensional tolerances, e.g., for fitting the article to another component. The excess material may reduce a likelihood that the CMC (e.g., reinforcement material in the CMC) is damaged by the machining.

A reflective particulate material includes a particulate substrate having high total solar reflectance, bulk and apparent densities and toughness, and a low dust index. The reflective particulate can have a total solar reflectance of 80% to 87%, a toughness of 1% or fewer fines, an apparent density of 2.75 g/cm.sup.3 or greater, and a dust index of 1 or lower. A method of manufacturing the reflective particulate material includes preparing a slurry of the particulate substrate, spray drying the slurry to form a spray dried particulate, crushing the spray dried particulate to form a crushed particulate, and heating/calcining the crushed particulate. The heated, crushed particulate may further be coated to form a coated roofing granule.

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 method of forming a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) comprises applying a boron nitride (BN) aerogel to a fibrous material to form a pretreated fibrous material, depositing, using chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), a BN interface coating (IFC) on the pretreated fibrous material, and depositing a matrix on the BN IFC and the pretreated fibrous material.

A method of repairing a nonconforming article includes applying a machinable coating to an article with a nonconformance. The article includes a preform at least partially infiltrated with a matrix material, to form a repaired article. The method also includes machining the machinable coating and completing infiltration of the repaired article with the matrix material. A method of repairing an article is also disclosed.

A method of repairing a nonconforming article includes applying a machinable coating to an article with a nonconformance. The article includes a preform at least partially infiltrated with a matrix material, to form a repaired article. The method also includes machining the machinable coating and completing infiltration of the repaired article with the matrix material. A method of repairing an article is also disclosed.

Provided is a hexagonal boron nitride powder that can achieve higher thermal conductivity when added as a filler to resin. A plasma treatment method of plasma-treating a hexagonal boron nitride powder under reduced pressure comprises: storing the hexagonal boron nitride powder in a treatment container; supplying a plasma generating gas into the treatment container and maintaining inside of the treatment container at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; applying high frequency waves to an electrode installed outside the treatment container while rotating the treatment container about a central axis of the treatment container as a rotation axis in a state in which the rotation axis of the treatment container is inclined with respect to horizontal, to plasma-treat the hexagonal boron nitride powder in the treatment container; and cooling one or both of the treatment container and the electrode during the plasma treatment.

Provided is a hexagonal boron nitride powder that can achieve higher thermal conductivity when added as a filler to resin. A plasma treatment method of plasma-treating a hexagonal boron nitride powder under reduced pressure comprises: storing the hexagonal boron nitride powder in a treatment container; supplying a plasma generating gas into the treatment container and maintaining inside of the treatment container at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; applying high frequency waves to an electrode installed outside the treatment container while rotating the treatment container about a central axis of the treatment container as a rotation axis in a state in which the rotation axis of the treatment container is inclined with respect to horizontal, to plasma-treat the hexagonal boron nitride powder in the treatment container; and cooling one or both of the treatment container and the electrode during the plasma treatment.