A reactive matrix infiltration process is described herein, which includes contacting a surface of a preform comprising reinforcement material particles with a molten infiltrant comprising a matrix material, the matrix material comprising an Al—Ce alloy, whereby the infiltrant at least partially fills spaces between the reinforcement material particles by capillary action and reacts with the reinforcement material particles to form a composite material form, the composite material comprising the matrix material, at least one intermetallic phase, and, optionally, reinforcement material particles. A composite material form also is described, which includes a plurality of reinforcement material particles comprising a metal alloy or a ceramic, a matrix material at least partially filling spaces between the reinforcement material particles; and at least one intermetallic phase surrounding at least some of the reinforcement material particles. The reinforcement material particles and intermetallic phase together may form a gradient core-shell structure.

A reactive matrix infiltration process is described herein, which includes contacting a surface of a preform comprising reinforcement material particles with a molten infiltrant comprising a matrix material, the matrix material comprising an Al—Ce alloy, whereby the infiltrant at least partially fills spaces between the reinforcement material particles by capillary action and reacts with the reinforcement material particles to form a composite material form, the composite material comprising the matrix material, at least one intermetallic phase, and, optionally, reinforcement material particles. A composite material form also is described, which includes a plurality of reinforcement material particles comprising a metal alloy or a ceramic, a matrix material at least partially filling spaces between the reinforcement material particles; and at least one intermetallic phase surrounding at least some of the reinforcement material particles. The reinforcement material particles and intermetallic phase together may form a gradient core-shell structure.

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.

Methods for forming a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit from catalyst-free synthesized polycrystalline diamonds are described. The polycrystalline diamonds are deposited within a mold. In some cases, a matrix body material is deposited within the mold, and an infiltration process is performed to bond the polycrystalline diamonds to the matrix body material to form the PDC drill bit. In some cases, a drill bit body is formed within the mold, and forming the drill bit body within the mold includes depositing a layer of matrix body material particles within the mold, depositing an adhesive ink within the mold, and curing the adhesive ink. In some cases, a sintering process is performed after forming the drill bit body to remove at least a portion of the adhesive ink and increase a density of the drill bit body to form the PDC drill bit.

A preparation method for a W—Cu composite plate with a Cu phase in finger-shaped gradient distribution is provided. The method includes adding WO.sub.X powder obtained with ammonium metatungstate as a raw material into W powder through a combustion synthesis method, adding a binder and a pore-forming agent to prepare a slurry, then performing tape casting, soaking in water and sintering to obtain a W framework with pores in finger-shaped distribution, and then infiltrating Cu to obtain a target product. The Cu phase in the W—Cu composite material prepared by the present method is distributed in a finger-shaped gradient manner from an infiltration surface to the interior of a specimen, the Cu phase and the W phase are mutually pinned, and the W—Cu interface has good bonding strength. The present method has the characteristics of adjustable material component performance, simple process, low cost, suitability for large-scale production and the like.

The present invention relates to a foam material comprising:—a structural matrix (1),—at least one guest phase (2), and—a fluid, the material being characterised in that the structural matrix (1) comprises a plurality of interconnected pores (3), the one or more guest phases (2) are accommodated inside at least one pore (3) of the structural matrix (1) and the fluid is accommodated inside the pores (3). The present invention further relates to the process for preparing the foam material according to the present invention and to the various uses of the foam material according to the present invention.

A vacuum impregnation system and processes that subject a part to a vacuum, immerse the part in a polymer impregnating liquid, and apply positive pressure to the part to introduce the polymer impregnating liquid into part porosities, releasing the pressure to atmospheric pressure and solidifying the polymer impregnating liquid, preferably without an active polymerization step.

A vacuum impregnation system and processes that subject a part to a vacuum, immerse the part in a polymer impregnating liquid, and apply positive pressure to the part to introduce the polymer impregnating liquid into part porosities, releasing the pressure to atmospheric pressure and solidifying the polymer impregnating liquid, preferably without an active polymerization step.

Provided is a novel sintered oil-impregnated bearing superior in wear resistance and cost performance under a severe use condition where the bearing collides with a shaft due to a high load and vibration, such as a condition associated with an output shaft of an electric motor installed in a vehicle and a wiper motor installed therein. The sintered oil-impregnated bearing contains: 15 to 30% by mass of Cu; 1 to 4% by mass of C; and a remainder consisting of Fe and inevitable impurities, in which a metal structure with copper being melted therein is provided at least on a bearing surface; pearlite or a pearlite with ferrite being partially scattered therein is provided in a matrix; a copper-rich phase arranged in a mesh-like manner is also provided in the matrix; and a free graphite is dispersed and distributed in the matrix as well.

The present disclosure relates to a hierarchical wear part including a reinforced portion comprising zirconia or an alumina-zirconia alloy. The reinforced portion also includes centimetric inserts with a predefined geometry. The inserts include micrometric particles of metal carbides, nitrides, borides, or intermetallic compounds bonded by a first metal matrix. The inserts are inserted into a reinforcement structure infiltrated by a second metal matrix, the reinforcement structure having a periodic alternation of millimetric areas of high and low concentration of micrometric particles of zirconia or alumina-zirconia alloy. The second metal matrix is different from the first metal matrix.