This application relates to a method of preparing a composite material for a semiconductor test socket, and a composite material prepared through the method. In one embodiment, the method includes preparing a powder mixture including (i) a metal powder comprising aluminum or aluminum alloy particles and magnesium particles and (ii) a polymer powder. The method may also include sintering the powder mixture to produce the composite material using a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. This application also relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor test socket, the method including forming an insulating portion of the semiconductor test socket with the composite material. This application further relates to a semiconductor test socket produced through the method.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

A composite cemented carbide roll comprising an inner layer made of an iron-based alloy, and an outer layer made of cemented carbide which is metallurgically bonded to an outer peripheral surface of the inner layer; the cemented carbide of the outer layer comprising 55-90 parts by mass of WC particles and 10-45 parts by mass of an Fe-based binder phase having a particular composition; a shaft member and a shaft end member being metallurgically bonded to at least one axial end of the inner layer; the inner layer being made of an iron-based alloy containing 2.0% or more in total by mass of at least one selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni and Mo; and the shaft member and the shaft end member being made of an iron-based alloy containing 1.5% or less in total by mass of at least one selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni and Mo.

A component includes a multiplicity of individual powder particles of Mo, a Mo-based alloy, W or a W-based alloy that have been fused together to give a solid structure by a high-energy beam via an additive manufacturing method. The component has an oxygen content of not more than 0.1 at %. An additive manufacturing method includes producing the powder via the melt phase and providing a carbon content in the region of not less than 0.15 at %. The components are crack-free and have high grain boundary strength.

A cubic boron nitride sintered material includes cubic boron nitride and a binder. The binder includes a first material and a second material. The first material is one or two or more first chemical species each including at least one first metallic element selected from the group consisting of tungsten, cobalt, and aluminum. Each of the first chemical species is a metal, an alloy, an intermetallic compound, a compound, or a solid solution. The second material is one or two or more second chemical species each including at least one second metallic element selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, and chromium. Each of the second chemical species is a solid solution derived from at least one selected from the group consisting of nitride, carbide, and carbonitride. In each of the second chemical species, 0.1 atom % to 10 atom % of aluminum is dissolved.

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 method and device for manufacturing a bevelled stone, particularly for a timepiece are disclosed. A precursor is produced from a mixture of at least one material in powder form with a binder. The method includes pressing the precursor so as to form a green body, using a top die and a bottom die comprising a protruding rib, sintering the green body so as to form a body of the future stone in at least one material, the body including a peripheral face and a bottom face provided with a groove, and machining the body including a substep of planning the peripheral face up to the groove, such that an inner wall of the groove forms at least a flared part of the peripheral face of the stone.

The present disclosure relates to a wear part made in a foundry. The wear part has a reinforced portion comprising a ferrous alloy reinforced with metal carbides, nitrides, borides, or intermetallic alloys. The reinforced portion includes inserts of metal carbides, nitrides, metal, or intermetallic compounds manufactured beforehand with a defined geometry and inserted into an infiltrable structure of agglomerated grains including the reagents needed for the formation of metal or intermetallic carbides, nitrides, borides according to an in situ self-propagating thermal reaction initiated during the casting of the ferrous alloy.

A powder composition is used for the fabrication of casting inserts, designed to produce local composite zones resistant to abrasive wear. The composite zones are reinforced with carbides and borides or with mixtures thereof formed in situ in castings. The powder includes powder reactants of the formation of carbides and/or borides selected from the group of TiC, WC, ZrC, NbC, TaC, TiB2, ZrB2, or mixtures thereof. The carbides and/or borides forming after crystallization particles reinforces the composite zones in castings. The powder composition further includes moderator powders in the form of a mixture of metal powders, which after crystallization form matrix of the composite zone in casting. A casting insert is disclosed for the fabrication in casting of local composite zones resistant to abrasive wear. A method for the fabrication of local composite zones in castings uses for this purpose the reaction of the self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS).

A high-speed machining tool made of a steel-bonded carbide and a method for preparing the same relate to the technical field of lathe tools made of steel-bonded carbides, and overcome the problems of traditional steel-bonded carbide lathe tools about low hardness and low toughness. The high-speed machining tool includes a skeleton, a main body, and a coating. The main body is consolidated by the skeleton from inside. The skeleton and the main body are both ringlike in shape. The main body has its outer surface covered by the coating. The high-speed machining tool is such made that the skeleton is hard and the main body is tough. The blade of the tool is hard and can transfer vibrations to the main body, thereby protecting the tool from brittle fractures and improving the overall performance of the tool.