초록 ▼

Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into boron carbide typically resulting in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound and metal. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron carbide, or at least one carb

Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into boron carbide typically resulting in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound and metal. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron carbide, or at least one carbon donor material, to produce a composite by reactive infiltration, which composite comprises a matrix of metal and boron-containing compound embedding the filler. In one embodiment of the invention, a parent metal is reactively infiltrated into a mass comprising a boron carbide material mixed with a carbon-containing compound. In this embodiment, a self-supporting composite is formed typically comprising a boron-containing compound, a carbon-containing compound, and metal. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing varying volume percents of ceramic, metal and/or porosity. The mass to be infiltrated can be contained within a refractory vessel having a venting means included therein.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for producing a self-supporting body, comprising: selecting a parent metal comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, chromium and niobium; heating said parent metal in a substantially inert atmosphere to a temperature above i

A method for producing a self-supporting body, comprising: selecting a parent metal comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, chromium and niobium; heating said parent metal in a substantially inert atmosphere to a temperature above its melting point to form a body of molten parent metal; contacting said body of molten parent metal with a permeable mass comprising boron carbide and a carbon donor material; maintaining said temperature for a time sufficient to permit infiltration of said molten parent metal into said permeable mass and to permit reaction of said molten parent metal with both said carbon donor material and said boron carbide to form at least one parent metal carbon-containing compound and at least one parent metal boron-containing compound; and continuing said infiltration and reaction for a time sufficient to react said boron carbide substantially completely to produce said self-supporting body comprising at least one parent metal carbon-containing compound and at least one parent metal boron-containing compound.