A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.

A magnesiumdiboride (MgB.sub.2) powder-in-tube (PIT) wire has a cross-section showing —voids, —magnesiumdiboride, and —oxides, as measured by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Oxides are located at the borders between the voids and the magnesiumdiboride. The MgB.sub.2 PIT wire has a higher degree of superconductivity.

A ballistic protective composition having a sintered product of boron carbide and BAM where the sintered product includes up to about 80% BAM by weight based on the weight of the total BAM and boron carbide and wherein the sintered product is configured to prevent penetration of a ballistic threat through the sintered product. The ballistic protective composition may also be bonded to a ballistically protective fabric material to form a ballistic composite, which may be a wearable material, such as a body armor article.

The present invention relates to a method of producing ultra-high melting point nonoxide ceramics with low porosity based on sintering at low temperatures of below about 1000 C. with low DC electric fields of less than about 100 V/cm.

A magnesiumdiboride (MgB.sub.2) powder-in-tube (PIT) wire has a cross-section showing voids, magnesiumdiboride, and oxides, as measured by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Oxides are located at the borders between the voids and the magnesiumdiboride. The MgB.sub.2 PIT wire has a higher degree of superconductivity.