Patent ID: 7255757

Claim:
An x-ray tube comprising at least one x-ray target substrate, wherein said x-ray target substrate comprises a molybdenum-based nanocomposite, said molybdenum-based nanocomposite comprising: a) a metallic matrix comprising molybdenum; and b) a plurality of nanoparticles, said nanoparticles (a) having at least one dimension in a range from about 10 nanometers to about 500 nanometers and (b) being homogeneously dispersed throughout said metallic matrix, wherein said plurality of nanoparticles comprises from about 2 volume percent to about 20 volume percent of said molybdenum-based nanocomposite; wherein each of said plurality of nanoparticles comprises at least one of an inorganic oxide, an inorganic carbide, an inorganic boride, an inorganic oxycarbide, an inorganic oxynitride, an inorganic silicide, an inorganic aluminide, and combinations thereof.