Other

USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Uchicago Argonne, LLC

U.S. Department of Energy

David R Forrest

Uthamalingam Balachandran

Philip John Dudt

Stephen E Dorris

Beihai Ma

Tae H Lee

Christopher Klingshirn

Jennifer N Wolk

Stephen Szpara

Jennifer P Nguyen

A method for preparing a covetic, nanocarbon-infused, metal composite material is described is herein. The method comprises heating a stirring molten mixture of a metal (e.g., Cu, Al, Ag, Au, Fe, Ni, Pt, Sn, Pb, Zn, Si, and the like) and carbon (e.g., graphite) at a temperature sufficient to maintain the mixture in the molten state in a reactor vessel, while passing an electric current through the molten mixture via at least two spaced electrodes submerged or partially submerged in the molten metal. Each of the electrodes has an electrical conductivity that is at least about 50 percent of the electrical conductivity of the molten mixture at the temperature of the molten mixture. Preferably, the conductivity of the electrodes is equal to or greater than the conductivity of the molten mixture.

Electrodes for making nanocarbon-infused metals and alloys

A method for making covetic metal-nanostructured carbon composites or compositions is described herein. This method is advantageous, in that it provides substantially oxygen-free covetic materials and allows precise control of the composition of the covetic material to be produced. The method comprises introducing carbon into a molten metal in a heated reactor under low oxygen partial pressure, while passing an electric current through the molten metal. The reactor is heated at a temperature sufficient to form a network of nanostructured carbon within a matrix of the metal. After heating the covetic material is recovered from the reactor.

Method for making metal-nanostructured carbon composites

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for musical learning and interaction. Embodiments include presenting a playable portion of a musical instrument at a user interface. The user interface includes a video layer. The video layer is configured to visually present one or more frames of video. The user interface also includes a virtual musical instrument or a playable portion of the virtual musical instrument. At least the playable portion of the virtual musical instrument is overlaid over a least a portion of the video layer, and is at least partially transparent. As such, the portion of the video layer over which the playable portion of the virtual musical instrument is overlaid shows through the virtual musical instrument.

Musical learning and interaction through shapes

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for musical learning and interaction. Embodiments include presenting a musical instrument at a user interface. The user interface includes a video layer. The video layer is configured to visually present one or more frames of video. The user interface also includes a virtual musical instrument. The virtual musical instrument is overlaid over a least a portion of the video layer, and is at least partially transparent. As such, the portion of the video layer over which the virtual musical instrument is overlaid shows through the virtual musical instrument.

A metallic glass particle layer is applied to aluminum alloy armor and friction stir mixed into the surface in order to embed the material into the armor and to take advantage of its exceptional hardness. An advantage of the invention is that the hard material is an integral part of the armor, included within the body of the armor plate and not merely a surface coating. The advantage of the friction stir process is that it generates relatively low levels of heat and magnetic measurements show that the amorphous phase condition of the metallic glass is not deteriorated. The armor may be tempered to improve properties.

Forming ballistic aluminum armor using cold spraying and friction stirring processes

An axially elongated cylindrical tool has a protrusion at a lower end thereof which is inserted into a metallic work piece substrate under pressure during rotation of the tool and displacement thereof in one direction. Mixing of a matrix of metal and particles by the protrusion occurs within a stir zone underlying the substrate surface which is thereby treated by dispersion of the particles therein in response to rotation of the tool. Influx of the hard particles into the work piece substrate is effected during said mixing by the rotating tool.

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Washington, DC, United States of America

David R Forrest