Ceramic/ceramic composites in the Ti-B-C system were fabricated by a novel process referred to as transient plastic phase processing (TPPP). The basic concept is based on the following reaction:''soft" transient plastic matrix + reactant phase + hard matrix + reinforcement phase where the transient plastic phase is a phase with a wide range of stoichiometry and a yield point that is a strong function of that stoichiometry. The reactant phase is one that will react with the transient phase in such a way so as to shift the composition of the latter toward its harder and more refractory composition. The composite is formed in two stages: In the first, pressure is applied to shape and fully densify the reactants while the transient phase is soft, i.e., before reaction. Once the reactants are densified, the reaction is allowed to proceed, forming a new phase and rendering the matrix more refractory. If the volume change upon reaction is small, then the density of the final compact will remain near theoretical. Using this approach ceramidceramic composites in the Ti-B-C system were hotpressed to full density and complex shapes at temperatures as low as 1600°C.

Tin doped indium oxide films (ITO) with embedded silver nanoparticles were prepared by a sol-gel spin coating method. Delafossite structure of tin doped AgInO2 was found at lower annealing temperatures in all compositions and decomposed into ITO and Ag as annealing temperatures were increased. The interconnected network of Ag phases provides effective conducting paths that reduced the electrical resistivity of the films to 8.2×10−5Ωcm. The optical transmissions of the films are greater than 80% in visible wavelength and show an absorption band towards longer wavelength at higher Ag concentrations.

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