Fabrication of atomically alloyed synthetic materials

摘要

A method of forming a synthetically engineered composite mateiral. The composite mateiral has sub-micron scale ceramic zones and interior zones of different composition then the ceramic zones. The synthetically engineered composite material is prepared by a process that includes forming a body comprising at least two different materials. The materials are a relatively reactive first material and a relatively nonreactive second material. The body is then contacted with a highly excited reactant, i.e., an oxidant. This causes the relatively reactive first material to react with the reactant to form the sub-micron scale ceramic zones. The process leaves zones enriched in relatively nonreactive material content. In one exemplification the product is a synthetically engineered cermet type material.