Methods of forming composite particles include forming a source material over a plurality of nucleation cores and forming a catalyst material over the source material. Compositions of matter include a plurality of composite particles, each particle of the plurality comprising a plurality of nucleation cores, a source material disposed over the nucleation cores, and a catalyst material disposed over the source material. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include forming a plurality of composite particles, combining the plurality of composite particles with a plurality of grains of hard material, and catalyzing the formation of inter-granular bonds between the composite particles and the grains of hard material to faun a polycrystalline material. The plurality of in situ nucleated grains of hard material and the plurality of grains of hard material may be interspersed and inter-bonded.

There are provided methods and systems for creating multi-phase covetics. For example, there is provided a process for making a composite material. The process includes forming a multi-phase covetic. The forming includes heating a melt including a metal in a molten state and a carbon source to a first temperature threshold to form metal-carbon bonds. The forming further includes subsequently heating the melt to a second temperature threshold, the second temperature threshold being greater than the first temperature threshold. The second temperature threshold is a temperature at or above which ordered multi-phase covetics form in the melt.

Graphene material-metal nanocomposites having a metal core with one or more graphene material layers disposed on the metal core. The nanocomposites may be formed by contacting metal nanowires and one or more graphene material and/or graphene material precursor in a dispersion. The nanocomposites may be used for form inks for coating or printing conductive elements or as conductors in various articles of manufacture. An article of manufacture may be an electrical device or an electronic device.

The product of and a process for forming a metal composite comprising particles of a carbon allotrope dispersed in a metal or a mixture of metals. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of: (a) contacting particles of a carbon allotrope with surfactant having an organic portion and an anionic portion wherein the anionic portion is bonded to the organic portion and wherein the anionic portion is ionically associated with a cation so that the organic portion of the surfactant is adsorbed onto the surface of the particles of the carbon allotrope to produce surfactant modified particles; (b) contacting the surfactant modified particles with a transition metal cation and/or a post-transition metal cation and/or mixtures thereof to replace some or all of the cations of the surfactant modified particles with a transition metal cation and/or a post-transition metal cation and/or mixtures thereof to produce metal ion modified particles; (c) mixing the metal ion modified particles with a metal or a mixture of metals to form a mixture thereof; and (d) processing the mixture to form a metal composite comprising particles of the carbon allotrope dispersed in the metal or mixture of metal. In another embodiment the process includes the steps of: (a) contacting particles of a carbon allotrope with a surfactant having an organic portion and an anionic portion wherein the anionic portion is bonded to the organic portion and wherein the anionic portion is ionically associated with a transition metal cation and/or a post-transition metal cation and/or mixtures to produce metal ion modified particles; (b) mixing the metal ion modified particles with a metal or a mixture of metals to form a mixture thereof; and (c) processing the mixture to form a metal composite comprising particles of the carbon allotrope dispersed in the metal or mixture of metals.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for carrying out rapid on-site optical chemical analysis in oil feeds are described. In one aspect, a system for manufacture of a tool includes a deposition reactor configured for molecular layer deposition or atomic layer deposition of metal powder to manufacture coated particles, a fabrication unit configured for 3D printing of the tool, and a controller that controls the deposition reactor and the fabrication unit, wherein the fabrication unit and the deposition reactor are integrated for automated fabrication of the tool using the coated particles from the deposition reactor as building material for the 3D printing.

The product of and a process for forming a metal composite comprising particles of a carbon allotrope dispersed in a metal or a mixture of metals. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of: (a) contacting particles of a carbon allotrope with surfactant having an organic portion and an anionic portion wherein the anionic portion is bonded to the organic portion and wherein the anionic portion is ionically associated with a cation so that the organic portion of the surfactant is adsorbed onto the surface of the particles of the carbon allotrope to produce surfactant modified particles; (b) contacting the surfactant modified particles with a transition metal cation and/or a post-transition metal cation and/or mixtures thereof to replace some or all of the cations of the surfactant modified particles with a transition metal cation and/or a post-transition metal cation and/or mixtures thereof to produce metal ion modified particles; (c) mixing the metal ion modified particles with a metal or a mixture of metals to form a mixture thereof; and (d) processing the mixture to form a metal composite comprising particles of the carbon allotrope dispersed in the metal or mixture of metal. In another embodiment the process includes the steps of: (a) contacting particles of a carbon allotrope with a surfactant having an organic portion and an anionic portion wherein the anionic portion is bonded to the organic portion and wherein the anionic portion is ionically associated with a transition metal cation and/or a post-transition metal cation and/or mixtures to produce metal ion modified particles; (b) mixing the metal ion modified particles with a metal or a mixture of metals to form a mixture thereof; and (c) processing the mixture to form a metal composite comprising particles of the carbon allotrope dispersed in the metal or mixture of metals.

A consolidated material formed by powder metallurgy is provided. The consolidated material includes particles of a first component consolidated with particles of a second component. The first component is a transition metal selected from group 4, group 5, group 6, or group 7 of the periodic table of the elements, or an alloy thereof. The second component is a solid lubricant. Also provided is a method of making the consolidated material and articles made from the consolidated material.

A consolidated material formed by powder metallurgy is provided. The consolidated material includes particles of a first component consolidated with particles of a second component. The first component is a transition metal selected from group 4, group 5, group 6, or group 7 of the periodic table of the elements, or an alloy thereof. The second component is a solid lubricant. Also provided is a method of making the consolidated material and articles made from the consolidated material.

A type of composite material where the matrix material and additive are held together by covalently or non-covalently bound ligands is described. A particularly useful composite material covered by the present invention is a carbon nanotube-reinforced composite material where the matrix consists of a polymer, covalently attached to a linker, where said linker is non-covalently attached to the carbon nanotube. Methods for the preparation of such composite materials are provided.

A fullerene-metal nanocomposite is described that comprises a metal nanoparticle bonded to a functionalized fullerene compound. A useful method of making a fullerene-metal nanocomposite is also described. The method consists essentially of the steps of mixing a solution of metal salt or metal ion with a functionalized fullerene compound, and purifying the fullerene-metal nanocomposite from the solution. Also described are antimicrobial surfaces, comprising a substrate surface and a coating on the substrate surface comprising a fullerene-metal nanocomposite that includes a metal nanoparticle bonded to a functionalized fullerene compound.