1. A powder comprising particles of a solid material comprising two or more non-oxide compounds, a first one of said two or more non-oxide compounds being a non-oxide ceramic compound, the two or more non-oxide compounds being present in relative amounts with respect to each other to form a eutectic composition mixture, the solid material comprising at least two discrete phases, each phase having a continuous lamellar structure,
wherein the continuous lamellar structure of a first phase is interpenetrating with the continuous lamellar structure of a second phase, the continuous lamellar structures being arranged in a three-dimensional microstructure that is interpenetrating in all three dimensions and contains randomly oriented lamellae.
2. The powder of claim 1, wherein each of said discrete phases comprises a different one of said two or more non-oxide compounds.
3. The powder of claim 1, wherein the two or more non-oxide compounds other than said first compound are each selected from the group consisting of non-oxide ceramics, carbon, and metals.
4. The powder of claim 1, wherein the solid material comprises a first compound selected from the group consisting of HfB2, HfC, ZrB2, ZrC, TaB2, and TaC, and a second compound selected from the group consisting of SiC, B4C, HfC, ZrC, and C.
5. The powder of claim 4, wherein the eutectic composition mixture of the first and second compounds is selected from the group consisting of HfB2SiC (about 4555 mole % ratio), HfB2HfC (about 6634 mol % ratio), HfB2B4C (about 2278 mole % ratio), HfB2C (about 6238 mole % ratio), HfCSiC (about 2872 mole % ratio), ZrB2SiC (about 5545 mole % ratio), ZrB2ZrC (about 6832 mole % ratio), ZrB2B4C (about 3565 mole % ratio), ZrB2C (about 6733 mole % ratio), and ZrCSiC (about 4258 mole % ratio).
6. The powder of claim 5, wherein the eutectic composition mixture of the first and second compounds is HfB2SiC (about 4555 mole % ratio) or ZrB2SiC (about 5545 mole % ratio).
7. The powder of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional microstructure has an interphase spacing of less than 10 \u03bcm.
8. The powder of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional microstructure has an interphase spacing of less than 1 \u03bcm.
9. An article comprising molded sintered particles of a solid material comprising two or more non-oxide compounds, a first one of said two or more non-oxide compounds being a non-oxide ceramic compound, the two or more non-oxide compounds being present in relative amounts with respect to each other to form a eutectic composition mixture, the solid material comprising at least two discrete phases, each phase having a continuous lamellar structure,
wherein the continuous lamellar structure of a first phase is interpenetrating with the continuous lamellar structure of a second phase, the continuous lamellar structures being arranged in a three-dimensional microstructure that is interpenetrating in all three dimensions and contains randomly oriented lamellae.
10. The article of claim 9, wherein each of said discrete phases comprises a different one of said two or more non-oxide compounds.
11. The article of claim 9, wherein the two or more non-oxide compounds other than said first compound are each selected from the group consisting of non-oxide ceramics, carbon, and metals.
12. The article of claim 9, wherein the article comprises a first compound selected from the group consisting of HfB2, HfC, ZrB2, ZrC, TaB2, and TaC, and a second compound selected from the group consisting of SiC, B4C, HfC, ZrC, and C.
13. The article of claim 12, wherein the eutectic composition mixture of the first and second compounds is selected from the group consisting of HfB2SiC (about 4555 mole % ratio), HfB2HfC (about 6634 mol % ratio), HfB2B4C (about 2278 mole % ratio), HfB2C (about 6238 mole % ratio), HfCSiC (about 2872 mole % ratio), ZrB2SiC (about 5545 mole % ratio), ZrB2ZrC (about 6832 mole % ratio), ZrB2B4C (about 3565 mole % ratio), ZrB2C (about 6733 mole % ratio), and ZrCSiC (about 4258 mole % ratio).
14. The article of claim 13, wherein the eutectic composition mixture of the first and second compounds is HfB2SiC (about 4555 mole % ratio) or ZrB2SiC (about 5545 mole % ratio).
15. The article of claim 9, wherein the three-dimensional microstructure has an interphase spacing of less than 10 \u03bcm.
16. The article of claim 9, wherein the three-dimensional microstructure has an interphase spacing of less than 1 \u03bcm.
17. A manufacturing method, comprising the steps of:
preparing a mixture comprising two or more non-oxide compounds, a first one of said two or more non-oxide compounds being a non-oxide ceramic compound, the two or more non-oxide compounds being present in relative amounts with respect to each other to form a eutectic composition mixture;
heating the eutectic composition mixture to form a molten eutectic composition mixture;
cooling the molten eutectic composition mixture to solidify the molten eutectic composition mixture and form a solid material comprising at least two discrete phases, each phase having a continuous lamellar structure,
wherein the continuous lamellar structure of a first phase is interpenetrating with the continuous lamellar structure of a second phase, the continuous lamellar structures being arranged in a three-dimensional microstructure that is interpenetrating in all three dimensions and contains randomly oriented lamellae; and
pulverizing the solid material to form a powder material comprising powder particles that retain the three-dimensional microstructure.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
forming a shaped article from the powder material;
sintering the shaped article; and
optionally, machining the shaped article to produce a net shape article.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for positioning and stabbing pipe within a drilling rig derrick comprising:
a. an articulating boom having a first end, a second end and at least one joint between said first and second ends, wherein each such at least one joint is pivotal about a horizontal axis intersecting said joint, and wherein said first end of said articulating boom is pivotally mounted inside a drilling rig derrick and is rotatable within said derrick about vertical and horizontal axes intersecting said first end;
b. a pipe gripper attached to the second end of said articulating boom;
c. means for selectively moving said boom about said vertical and horizontal axes intersecting said first end of aid articulating boom;
d. means for selectively extending and retracting said articulating boom; and
e. means for selectively increasing or decreasing the length of said articulating boom.
2. An apparatus for positioning pipe within a drilling rig derrick comprising:
a. a mounting apparatus attached to said derrick;
b. an articulating boom, pivotally attached to said mounting apparatus, comprising:
i. a first rigid member having a base and a distal end, wherein said base of said first rigid member rotates about vertical and horizontal axes intersecting said base; and
ii. a second rigid member having a base and a distal end, wherein the base of said second member is pivotally attached to the distal end of said first rigid member, and said second rigid member pivots about a horizontal pivot axis between said first and second rigid members; and
c. a pipe gripper attached to the distal end of said second rigid member.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pipe gripper is pivotally attached to the distal end of said second rigid member, and said pipe gripper pivots about a horizontal axis.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said pipe gripper comprises a pair of opposing arcuate jaws.
5. An apparatus for positioning pipe within a drilling rig derrick comprising:
a. a mounting apparatus attached to said derrick;
b. a vertical shaft rotatably attached to said mounting apparatus, wherein said vertical shaft rotates about a vertical axis;
c. a first boom member having a base and a distal end, wherein said base of said first boom member is pivotally attached to said vertical shaft, and said first rigid member pivots about a horizontal axis between said base and said vertical shaft.
d. a second boom member having a base and a distal end, wherein the base of said second boom member is pivotally attached to the distal end of said first boom member, and said second boom member pivots about a horizontal axis between said first and second boom members; and
e. a pipe gripper attached to the distal end of said second rigid member.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said pipe gripper is pivotally attached to the distal end of said second rigid member, and said pipe gripper pivots about a horizontal axis.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said pipe gripper comprises a pair of opposing arcuate jaws.