Abstract:
An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a part includes a support, a first dispenser to deliver a layer of first particles on a support or an underlying layer on the support, a second dispenser to deliver second particles onto the layer of first particles such that the second particles infiltrate into the layer of first particles, an energy source to fuse the first particle and second particles to form a fused layer of the part and a controller coupled to the first dispenser, second dispenser and energy source.
Abstract:
A method of forming a super hard polycrystalline construction comprises forming a liquid suspension of a first mass of nano-ceramic particles and a mass of particles or grains of super hard material having an average particle or grain size of 1 or more microns, dispersing the particles or grains in the liquid suspension to form a substantially homogeneous suspension, drying the suspension to form an admix of the nano-ceramic and super hard grains or particles, and forming a pre-sinter assembly comprising the admix. The pre-sinter assembly is then sintered to form a body of polycrystalline super hard material comprising a first fraction of super hard grains and a second fraction, the nano-ceramic particles forming the second fraction. The super hard grains are spaced along at least a portion of the peripheral surface by one or more nano-ceramic grains, the super hard grains having a greater average grain size than that of the grains in the second fraction which have an average size of less than around 999nm.
Abstract:
A negative electrode for an alkaline battery cell which includes zinc-based particles, wherein less than 20% of the zinc-based particles, by weight relative to the total zinc in the electrode, have a particle size of greater than about 150 micrometers, is provided. An alkaline electrochemical cell that includes the negative electrode and a method for reducing the gassing of the electrochemical cell is also provided.
Abstract:
A method of forming a super hard polycrystalline construction comprises forming a liquid suspension of a first mass of nano-ceramic particles and a mass of particles or grains of super hard material having an average particle or grain size of 1 or more microns, dispersing the particles or grains in the liquid suspension to form a substantially homogeneous suspension, drying the suspension to form an admix of the nano-ceramic and super hard grains or particles, and forming a pre-sinter assembly comprising the admix. The pre-sinter assembly is then sintered to form a body of polycrystalline super hard material comprising a first fraction of super hard grains and a second fraction, the nano-ceramic particles forming the second fraction. The super hard grains are spaced along at least a portion of the peripheral surface by one or more nano-ceramic grains, the super hard grains having a greater average grain size than that of the grains in the second fraction which have an average size of less than around 999nm.
Abstract:
Methods of removing oxygen from a metal are described. In one example, a method (100) can include forming a mixture (110) including a metal, a calcium de-oxygenation agent, and a salt. The mixture can be heated (120) at a de-oxygenation temperature for a period of time to reduce an oxygen content of the metal, thus forming a de-oxygenated metal. The de-oxygenation temperature can be above a melting point of the salt and below a melting point of the calcium de-oxygenation agent. The de-oxygenated metal can then be cooled (130). The de-oxygenated metal can then be leached with water and acid to remove by-products and obtain a product (140).
Abstract:
A particulate material is provided consisting of a plurality of porous particles comprising an electroactive material selected from silicon, germanium or a mixture thereof (especially a silicon-aluminium alloy), wherein the porous particles have a D 50 particle diameter in the range of 0.5 to 7 µm, an intra-particle porosity between 50 and 90%, and a pore diameter distribution having at least one peak in the range of 30 to 400 nm as determined by mercury porosimetry. Also provided are electrodes (especially anodes) and electrode compositions comprising the particulate material, a rechargeable metal-ion battery (especially a Li-ion battery) comprising the particulate material, and a process for the preparation of the particulate material. It is suggested that the claimed particulate material can be repeatedly lithiated without fracturing, allows easy access to the electrolyte and can be easily dispersed in an electrode slurry.