Compositional variations of tungsten monoboride

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems include a composition for a metal alloy comprising tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), and boron (B) crystallized in an orthorhombic phase, wherein the composition satisfies the formula W1-xTaxB wherein x has a value within the range 0.01 to 0.99, inclusively.

1 .- 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . A metal composition of Formula (I) crystallized in an orthorhombic phase,
   W 1-x N x B   Formula I
   wherein:   N is a non-radioactive Group V Transition Metal; and   x has a value within a range of 0.01 to 0.99, inclusively.   
     
     
         73 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein N is Tantalum (Ta), Vanadium (V), or Niobium (Nb). 
     
     
         74 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein x has a value within a range of 0.1 to 0.6, 0.2 to 0.6, 0.3 to 0.6, or 0.4 to 0.6, inclusively. 
     
     
         75 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein x has a value of about 0.5. 
     
     
         76 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein the metal composition has a bulk modulus of from about 336 GPa to about 346 GPa. 
     
     
         77 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein the metal composition has a hardness of about 33, about 34, about 35, about 36, about 37, or about 38 GPa. 
     
     
         78 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein the metal composition has at least one plane that exhibits a strain hardening effect when subjected to a pressure sufficient to induce strain hardening. 
     
     
         79 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein at least one plane of the metal composition further exhibits a discontinuous increase in directional incompressibility. 
     
     
         80 . A metal composition of Formula (I):
   W 1-x N x B   Formula I
   wherein:   N is a non-radioactive Group V Transition Metal; and   x has a value within a range of 0.01 to 0.99, inclusively; and   wherein boron forms a plurality of chains within a crystal structure of the metal composition, and wherein each of the plurality of chains is aligned along a same axis of the crystal structure.   
     
     
         81 . The composition of  claim 80 , wherein N is Tantalum (Ta), Vanadium (V), or Niobium (Nb). 
     
     
         82 . The composition of  claim 80 , wherein x has a value within a range of 0.1 to 0.6, 0.2 to 0.6, 0.3 to 0.6, or 0.4 to 0.6, inclusively. 
     
     
         83 . The composition of  claim 80 , wherein the metal composition is crystallized in an orthorhombic phase. 
     
     
         84 . The composition of  claim 80 , wherein the axis is a c-axis. 
     
     
         85 . The composition of  claim 80 , wherein the plurality of chains of boron do not alternate to form a perpendicular array within the crystal structure. 
     
     
         86 . A method of making a stable metal composition comprising:
 introducing a plurality of additive particles into the interstices of a metal composition precursor to form a metal composition, wherein the plurality of additive particles is selected from vanadium, niobium, and tantalum; and   subjecting the metal composition to a temperature and pressure at which the metal composition is stable at room temperature.   
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the subjecting further comprises sintering the metal composition precursor with the plurality of additive particles to form the stable metal composition. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the stable metal composition has a formula W 1-x N x B, wherein N is an additive particle selected from vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta) and x has a value within a range of 0.01 to 0.99, inclusively. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein at least one plane of the stable metal composition further exhibits a discontinuous increase in directional incompressibility. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the metal composition has a crystalline structure, wherein boron forms a chain within the crystalline structure of the metal composition, and wherein the chain is aligned along a c-axis of the crystalline structure. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the stable metal composition is an entropically stable metal composition.