Composition of matter tailoring: system I
The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.
1. A method of inducing a change in energy and/or electronic or physical properties in a metal or alloy comprising the steps of subjecting said metal or alloy to cycling wherein said cycling comprise increasing and decreasing the temperature of said metal or alloy in a molten state in the presence of a carbon source at saturating levels.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said carbon source is selected from graphite, fullerenes and diamonds.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said carbon source is a high purity graphite rod.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said matter is a metal and is kept molten in the presence of carbon for a period of about 0.5 to about 12 hours.
5. The method claim 1 , wherein said metal is selected from scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, osmium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, mercury, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminum, gallium, indium, tin, lead, boron, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, bismuth and silicon.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said carbon saturation levels is between 70% and 95% in the first cycling step, between 70% and 95% in the second cycling step, between 101% and 103% in the third cycling step, between 104% and 107% in the fourth cycling step, between 108% and 118% in the fifth cycling step, and between 114% and 118% in the sixth cycling step.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of cooling the metal or alloy below the solids temperature of said metal or alloy.
8. The method claim 1 , wherein said cycling steps are carried out in an induction furnace capable of operating within a frequency range of 0 kHz to about 10,000 kHz.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said change in energy and/or electronic or physical properties is reflected in a change in XRF spectrum of said metal of alloy.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said metal or alloy exhibit induced magnetism.