A heterogeneous composite consisting of near-nano ceramic clusters dispersed within a ductile matrix. The composite is formed through the high temperature compaction of a starting powder consisting of a core of ceramic nanoparticles held together with metallic binder. This core is clad with a ductile metal such that when the final powder is consolidated, the ductile metal forms a tough, near-zero contiguity matrix. The material is consolidated using any means that will maintain its heterogeneous structure.

Methods and compositions are provided for improving metal dusting corrosion, abrasion resistance and/or erosion resistance for various materials, preferably for applications relating to high-temperature reactors, including dense fluidized bed reactor components. In particular, cermets comprising (a) at least one ceramic phase selected from the group consisting of metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal borides, metal oxides, metal carbonitrides, and mixtures of thereof and (b) at least one metal alloy binder phase are provided. Ceramic phase materials include chromium carbide (Cr.sub.23C.sub.6). Metal alloy binder phase materials include β-NiAl intermetallic alloys and Ni.sub.3Sn.sub.2 intermetallic alloys, as well as alloys that contain α-Cr and/or γ′-Ni.sub.3Al hard phases. Preferably, bimetallic materials are provided when the cermet compositions are applied using a laser, e.g., a laser cladding method such as high power direct diode (HPDD) laser, or by plasma-based methods such as plasma transfer arc (PTA) welding and powder plasma welding (PPW).

This disclosure relates a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, composite material for use in friction stir welding. The PCBN composite material comprises tungsten (W), rhenium (Re) and aluminium (Al) in the binder matrix material.

Metallic matrix composites include a high strength titanium aluminide alloy matrix and an in situ formed aluminum oxide reinforcement. The atomic percentage of aluminum in the titanium aluminide alloy matrix can vary from 40% to 48%. Included are methods of making the metallic matrix composites, in particular, through the performance of an exothermic chemical reaction. The metallic matrix composites can exhibit low porosity.

The disclosure relates generally to tungsten carbide particles, and more particularly to textured spheroidal tungsten carbides, composites formed thereof, and methods of applying the composites. In one aspect, a powder blend comprises fused tungsten carbide particles. The fused tungsten carbide particles have a spheroidal or substantially spherical shape having ratio of a first length along a major axis to second length along a minor axis that is 1.20 or lower. The fused tungsten carbide particles have a surface that is textured to have a grain boundary area fraction greater than 5.0%.

A composite structure with an aluminum-based alloy layer containing boron carbide and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The composite structure includes a substrate with an open hole in that surface and the aluminum-based alloy layer containing boron carbide. The aluminum-based alloy layer is disposed in the open hole and contains aluminum, boron, carbon, and oxygen, wherein the content of aluminum is between 4 at. % and 55 at. %, the content of boron is between 9 at. % and 32 at. %, the content of carbon is between 13 at. % and 32 at. %, the content of oxygen is between 2 at. % and 38 at. %, and the ratio of the content of boron to carbon is between 0.3 and 2.7.

This disclosure relates a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, composite material for use in friction stir welding. The PCBN composite material comprises tungsten (W), rhenium (Re) and aluminium (Al) in the binder matrix material.

Provided is an article that includes silicon carbide as a main component and that has sufficient mechanical strength while manufactured by a three-dimensional shaping technology. The article that includes silicon carbide as a main component includes: silicon carbide; a metal boride having a melting point lower than a sublimation point of silicon carbide; and metal silicon.

A drill bit having reinforced binder zones and method of forming same are disclosed. The method includes the steps of mixing reinforcing particles with a binder-reinforcing material, placing the mixture of reinforcing particles and binder-reinforcing material in a mold used in forming a body of the drill bit, placing a universal binder in the mold, and heating the mold. The binder-reinforcing material is infiltrated with the universal binder which thereby forms reinforced binder zones.

An item produced in a cermet material including by weight between 85 and 94% of a ceramic phase and between 6 and 15% of a metal binder phase, the ceramic phase mostly including a tungsten carbide phase and optionally one or more phases of one or more secondary carbides selected from the elements Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr and Mo, the metal binder comprising Ag, Pd, Ru and Co. The invention generally relates to the method for manufacturing said item.