Stone slabs, and systems and methods of forming slabs, are described. Some example slabs include a first pattern defined by a first particulate mineral mix and a second pattern defined by a second particulate mineral mix different from the first particulate mineral mix. The first particulate mix includes greater than 50 weight percent of first metallic particles.

A method for indirect additive manufacturing of an object constructed of boron carbide, silicon carbide, and free silicon, comprising: (i) producing a porous preform constructed of boron carbide and silicon carbide by an indirect ceramic additive manufacturing (ICAM) process in which particles of a powder mixture become bonded together with an organic binder, wherein the powder mixture comprises: a) boron carbide particles, and b) silicon carbide particles, wherein at least 80 vol % of the silicon carbide particles are larger than the boron carbide particles; and wherein the boron carbide and silicon carbide particles are each included in an amount of 40-60 wt. % of the powder mixture, provided that the foregoing amounts sum to at least 95 wt. %; (ii) subjecting the porous preform to a temperature of 500-900° C. to volatilize the organic binder; and (iii) infiltrating molten silicon into pores of the porous preform to produce the object.

A fiber reinforced polymer rebar composition and a method of forming the rebar composition is described. The method includes the steps of feeding a first fiber and a second fiber simultaneously through a preforming guide into a resin impregnator, pulling the fibers through the liquid polymeric resin in the resin impregnator to form a resin-soaked hybrid fiber, and passing the resin-soaked hybrid fiber through a heated stationary die where the resin of the resin-soaked hybrid fiber undergoes polymerization and cross-linking.

A method of making a ceramic fiber tow and the system regarding the same may be included. The method may include commingling a plurality of ceramic fibers with a fugitive fiber to form a single ceramic fiber tow. The fugitive fiber may be positioned between at least two ceramic fibers included in the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include forming a porous ceramic preform including at least the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include removing the fugitive fiber from the ceramic fiber tow leaving a space between at least two ceramic fibers of the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include replacing the spaces between ceramic fibers included in the ceramic fiber tows with a ceramic matrix.

A method for indirect additive manufacturing of an object constructed of boron carbide, silicon carbide, and free silicon, comprising: (i) producing a porous preform constructed of boron carbide and silicon carbide by an indirect ceramic additive manufacturing (ICAM) process in which particles of a powder mixture become bonded together with an organic binder, wherein the powder mixture comprises: a) boron carbide particles, and b) silicon carbide particles, wherein at least 80 vol % of the silicon carbide particles are larger than the boron carbide particles; and wherein the boron carbide and silicon carbide particles are each included in an amount of 40-60 wt. % of the powder mixture, provided that the foregoing amounts sum to at least 95 wt. %; (ii) subjecting the porous preform to a temperature of 500-900 C. to volatilize the organic binder; and (iii) infiltrating molten silicon into pores of the porous preform to produce the object.

A post-treatment process for increasing the hot strength of a formed part (100) made of particulate material and binder is disclosed, wherein the formed part (100) is formed a part manufactured by 3D printing (S72) and after its manufacture is heated (S30) using a heating device (40), and the heated formed part (100) is exposed (S50) to an atmosphere enriched with gaseous water generated by supplying water.

A method of making a ceramic fiber tow and the system regarding the same may be included. The method may include commingling a plurality of ceramic fibers with a fugitive fiber to form a single ceramic fiber tow. The fugitive fiber may be positioned between at least two ceramic fibers included in the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include forming a porous ceramic preform including at least the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include removing the fugitive fiber from the ceramic fiber tow leaving a space between at least two ceramic fibers of the single ceramic fiber tow. The method may further include replacing the spaces between ceramic fibers included in the ceramic fiber tows with a ceramic matrix.

A fiber reinforced polymer rebar composition and a method of forming the rebar composition is described. The method includes the steps of feeding a first fiber and a second fiber simultaneously through a preforming guide into a resin impregnator, pulling the fibers through the liquid polymeric resin in the resin impregnator to form a resin-soaked hybrid fiber, and passing the resin-soaked hybrid fiber through a heated stationary die where the resin of the resin-soaked hybrid fiber undergoes polymerization and cross-linking.

Stone slabs, and systems and methods of forming slabs, are described. Some example slabs include a first pattern defined by a first particulate mineral mix and a second pattern defined by a second particulate mineral mix different from the first particulate mineral mix. The first particulate mix includes greater than 50 weight percent of first metallic particles.