Manufacture and Use of Engineered Carbide and Nitride Composites

Carbides and nitrides are provided containing a controlled amount of pre-determined diluents and methods for their manufacture and use are disclosed. The pre-determined diluents include at least one of the silica, silicon metal, carbon, alumina, boron oxide, alkaline earth oxides such as calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, alkali oxides such as sodium oxide, potassium oxide, iron oxide, titanium oxide, and other components typically present in glass, ceramics, or metals. The carbides and nitrides with pre-determined diluents are formed by optionally pyrolyzing a precursor material to form a carboneous mixture and heat treating the carboneous mixture for a pre-determined time and at an elevated temperature during which carbon and/or nitrogen reacts with silica in the mixture to form carbides and/or nitrides and controlled amounts of pre-determined diluents. The carbides and nitrides disclosed herein may be used as blowing agents in a glass, ceramic, or metal forming processes or for promoting dispersion of the carbides and nitrides throughout a glass, ceramic, or metal composite.