Compositions of particles comprising rare-earth oxides in a metal alloy matrix and related methods

Abstract

A composition includes a metal alloy matrix comprising iron and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within the metal alloy matrix. Each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises an oxide of a rare-earth metal and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, vanadium, and titanium. Some compositions include a metal alloy matrix comprising iron and a plurality of nanoparticles comprising at least two different oxides of rare-earth metals dispersed within the metal alloy matrix. Some methods include mixing an oxide of a rare-earth metal with a first metal and a second metal. Other methods include mixing a plurality of particles comprising at least one oxide of a rare-earth metal with a molten metal comprising iron. Each particle of the plurality may exhibit a density between about 6.9 g/cm 3 and about 9.0 g/cm 3 .

1 . A composition, comprising:
 a metal alloy matrix comprising iron; and   a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within the metal alloy matrix, wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises at least two different oxides of rare-earth metals.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises Pr2O3 and Nd2O3. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality further comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, vanadium, and titanium. 
     
     
         4 . A method, comprising:
 mixing a plurality of nanoparticles with a molten metal comprising iron to form a composition comprising a metal alloy matrix comprising iron and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within the metal alloy matrix, wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises at least two different oxides of rare-earth metals.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising selecting each nanoparticle of the plurality to comprise Pr 2 O 3  and Nd 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising selecting each nanoparticle of the plurality further to comprise at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, vanadium, and titanium. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising adding at least one niobium oxide to the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising forming a ternary oxide from the at least two different oxides of rare-earth metals. 
     
     
         9 . A composition, comprising:
 a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises an oxide of a first metal and an oxide of a second metal, wherein the second metal comprises a rare-earth metal.   
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises at least one complex oxide, the at least one complex oxide comprising the oxide of the first metal and the oxide of the second metal. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the first metal comprises titanium and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, and vanadium. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises at least one ternary oxide. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises at least two distinct phases. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 9 , further comprising an elemental metal. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the elemental metal is selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, and titanium. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 9 , further comprising a metal alloy matrix, wherein the nanoparticles are dispersed in the metal alloy matrix. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality comprises a phase exhibiting a density within 10% of a density of the metal alloy matrix. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein each nanoparticle of the plurality further comprises an oxide of a third metal and an oxide of a fourth metal, wherein the third metal is different from the first metal, and wherein the fourth metal comprises a rare-earth metal different from the second metal. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles have a mean diameter of less than about 100 nm. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles have a mean diameter of less than about 10 nm.