An article formed of a metal alloy is covered at least partially with a metal hydride and a shell metal to form an assembly. Load is applied to the assembly and the assembly is heated. The shell metal deforms around the article and the metal hydride and forms a gas proof seal. The metal hydride thermally decomposes to form hydrogen gas. At least a portion of the hydrogen gas dissociates and moves as monoatomic hydrogen into the article. The metal alloy can be a zirconium metal alloy, the metal hydride can be a zirconium metal hydride, and the shell metal can be substantially copper.

An article formed of a metal alloy is covered at least partially with a metal hydride and a shell metal to form an assembly. Load is applied to the assembly and the assembly is heated. The shell metal deforms around the article and the metal hydride and forms a gas proof seal. The metal hydride thermally decomposes to form hydrogen gas. At least a portion of the hydrogen gas dissociates and moves as monoatomic hydrogen into the article. The metal alloy can be a zirconium metal alloy, the metal hydride can be a zirconium metal hydride, and the shell metal can be substantially copper.

Methods of forming an environmental barrier coating are disclosed. A method includes disposing a powder-based coating on a substrate, heat-treating the powder-based coating at a temperature greater than 800° C. and less than 1200° C. to form a porous coating that includes surface-connected pores, infiltrating at least some of the surface-connected pores of the porous coating with an infiltrant material to form an infiltrated coating, and sintering the infiltrated coating at a temperature greater than 1200° C. and less than 1500° C. to form the environmental barrier coating on the substrate.

Methods of forming an environmental barrier coating are disclosed. A method includes disposing a powder-based coating on a substrate, heat-treating the powder-based coating at a temperature greater than 800° C. and less than 1200° C. to form a porous coating that includes surface-connected pores, infiltrating at least some of the surface-connected pores of the porous coating with an infiltrant material to form an infiltrated coating, and sintering the infiltrated coating at a temperature greater than 1200° C. and less than 1500° C. to form the environmental barrier coating on the substrate.

Provided are methods and devices for forming high nitrogen steel. The processes include heating a steel precursor to a temperature that transforms the steel into an austenite of FCC wherein the heating is in a nitrogen containing atmosphere. After an optional nitrogen uptake time, the precursor is further heated to a temperature above the T.sub.γN of the steel yet below the melting point of the steel thereby preserving a solid and creating a solid solution of nitrogen. The second temperature is optionally maintained for a nitride conversion time, optionally wherein the nitride conversion time is too short to result in sintering of the steel. The process further includes rapid quenching of the precursor powder to maintain the nitrogen solid solution and prevent nitride formation thereby forming a high nitrogen steel with little to no nitride content and including nitrogen in solid solution.

Provided are methods and devices for forming high nitrogen steel. The processes include heating a steel precursor to a temperature that transforms the steel into an austenite of FCC wherein the heating is in a nitrogen containing atmosphere. After an optional nitrogen uptake time, the precursor is further heated to a temperature above the T.sub.γN of the steel yet below the melting point of the steel thereby preserving a solid and creating a solid solution of nitrogen. The second temperature is optionally maintained for a nitride conversion time, optionally wherein the nitride conversion time is too short to result in sintering of the steel. The process further includes rapid quenching of the precursor powder to maintain the nitrogen solid solution and prevent nitride formation thereby forming a high nitrogen steel with little to no nitride content and including nitrogen in solid solution.

Wellbore drill bits can be used for excavation through subterranean formations for extracting hydrocarbons from a reservoir. Wellbore drill bits can experience excessive force during extraction processes. Drill bits can be assembled with resilience. Thus, treating a subsurface of a metallic blank material by adding one or more elements to the subsurface of the metallic blank material inhibits chemical interactions between a metal binding mixture and one or more construing alloying agents of the metallic blank material. The metallic blank material and a reinforcing agent can be positioned in the drill bit mold to begin an infiltration process where the metal binding mixture fills gaps between the metallic blank material and the reinforcing agent to generate a metal-matrix composite.

A process for manufacturing a high nitrogen stainless steel pipe material includes keeping an outside surface and/or an inside surface of an austenite stainless steel pipe material in contact with a substance that becomes a nitrogen (N) source, heating the steel pipe together with the nitrogen source substance at a temperature of 800° C. to 1100° C. in a range of temperatures not higher than the critical temperature for crystal grain enlargement of the steel pipe material to cause nitrogen to be absorbed into the surface of the pipe and diffused into the steel solid phase, and applying to the heat-treated pipe material annealing treatment in the range of temperatures in vacuum, inert gas including argon gas or an atmosphere of a gas with a reducing substance including H.sub.2 gas added thereto, to result in a decrease of nitrogen concentration gradient.

A process for manufacturing a high nitrogen stainless steel pipe material includes keeping an outside surface and/or an inside surface of an austenite stainless steel pipe material in contact with a substance that becomes a nitrogen (N) source, heating the steel pipe together with the nitrogen source substance at a temperature of 800° C. to 1100° C. in a range of temperatures not higher than the critical temperature for crystal grain enlargement of the steel pipe material to cause nitrogen to be absorbed into the surface of the pipe and diffused into the steel solid phase, and applying to the heat-treated pipe material annealing treatment in the range of temperatures in vacuum, inert gas including argon gas or an atmosphere of a gas with a reducing substance including H.sub.2 gas added thereto, to result in a decrease of nitrogen concentration gradient.

A method for coating a substrate includes forming a conversion coat layer, depositing a protective coat onto the protective coat onto the conversion coat, and depositing a corrosion resistant top coat onto the protective coat. The conversion coat layer is formed by applying a conversion coat onto the substrate. The protective coat is deposited using a first atomic layer deposition. The corrosion resistant top coat is deposited using a second atomic layer deposition. The conversion coat layer has a volatizing temperature, and the first atomic layer deposition is performed at a deposition temperature that is no greater than 1.3 times the volatizing temperature of the conversation coat layer, calculated in Kelvin.