Abstract:
The present invention relates to a novel method of manufacturing a composite body, such as a ZrB₂-ZrC-Zr composite body, by utilizing a post-treatment technique. Moreover, the invention relates to novel products made according to the process. The novel process modifies at least a portion (10) of a composite body by exposing said body to a source of second metal.
Abstract:
Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal (10) into a boron nitride material (12) typically resulting in a body comprising a boron-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing compound and metal. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron nitride (12), to produce a composite by reactive infiltration, which composite comprises a matrix which embeds the filler material. The matrix, in a composite body containing filler material, comprises one or more of metal, a boron-containing compound and a nitrogen-containing compound. 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.
Abstract:
Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal (10) into boron carbide (12) 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 (12), 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. 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 (16) having a venting means included therein.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a novel method of manufacturing a composite body (3), such as a ZrB₂-ZrC-Zr composite body, by utilizing a carburization technique. Moreover. the invention relates to novel products made according to the process. The novel process modifies the residual parent metal which remains in a composite body (3), by exposing said residual metal to a carburizing environment. Thus, by modifying the composition of residual parent metal, the properties of the resultant composite body (3) can also be modified. Parent metals such as zirconium, titanium and hafnium are well suited to be treated by the carburizing process according to the present invention.