Kinetic deposition of particles

Claim 1

A method of forming coherent bodies fom a pulverulent material, comprising the steps of: a. juxtaposing a pair of electrodes in spaced relationship with one another for producing a shock wave upon energization; b. providing a mass of particulate material in close proximity to at least one of said electrodes for activation thereby and propulsion of said material by said shock wave upon the formation of a discharge across said electrodes, said mass being at least in part within the discharge; c. positioning a substrate ahead of said mass of material in said direction whereby a surface of said substrate is disposed for impingement of said particulate material thereon upon the generation of a spark discharge between said electrodes while maintaining a noncombustible gaseous environment between said electrode and said substrate; and d. energizing said electrodes by applying an electric pulse thereto to generate an impulsive spark discharge between said electrodes and propel said material in the direction of said substrate and form a coherent mass of said material thereon, said mass being admixed with a binder and forming an explodable sheath surrounding said electrodes prior to the generation of said discharge.

Claim 2

A method of forming coherent bodies from a pulverulent material, comprising the steps of: a. juxtaposing a pair of electrodes in spaced relationship with one another for producing a shock wave upon energization; b. providing a mass of particulate material in close proximity to at least one of said electrodes for activation thereby and propulsion of said material by said shock wave upon the formation of a discharge across said electrodes, said mass being at least in part within the discharge; c. positioning a substrate ahead of said mass of material in said direction whereby a surface of said substrate is disposed for impingement of said particulate material thereon upon the generation of a spark discharge between said electrodes while maintaining a noncombustible gaseous environment between said electrode and said substrate; and d. energizing said electrodes by applying an electric pulse thereto to generate an impulsive spark discharge between sAid electrodes and propel said material in the direction of said substrate and form a coherent mass of said material thereon, said electrodes being initially bridged by an electrically destructible conductor adapted to explode upon the application of an electrical pulse, said method further comprising the step of explosively destroying said conductor by incipient passage therethrough of the electrical pulse forming said discharge to form an electrode gap sustaining said discharge during the remainder of said pulse, said mass being at least in part created by destruction of said conductor.

Claim 3

A method of forming coherent bodies from a pulverulent material, comprising the steps of: a. juxtaposing a pair of electrodes in spaced relationship with one another to form an impulse generator; b. disposing a mass of pulverulent material in force-receiving relationship with said generator; c. positioning a substrate in force-receiving relationship with said generator whereby a surface of said substrate is disposed for impingement of said pulverulent material thereon upon the generation of a spark discharge between said electrodes, said particles being supported between at least one of said electrodes and said surface in a layer substantially parallel thereto upon a rupturable electrically conductive diaphragm forming the other electrode; and d. energizing said electrodes by applying an electric pulse thereto to generate an impulsive spark discharge and shock wave between said electrodes of an intensity sufficient to cause impingement of said pulverulent material upon said substrate and to bond said pulverulent material into a coherent mass on said substrate, said electrodes being spacedly juxtaposed in a gaseous environment.

Claim 10

A method of forming coherent bodies from a pulverulent material, comprising the steps of: a. juxtaposing a pair of electrodes in spaced relationship with one another to form an impulse generator adapted to produce a shock wave; b. positioning a substrate in force-receiving relationship with said generator whereby a surface of said substrate is exposed to said shock wave and disposed for impingement of pulverulent material propelled thereby; c. disposing a mass of a pulverulent material in force-receiving relationship with said generator and in the form of a relatively loose mass of particles supported on a solid surface between at least one of said electrodes and said surface in a layer substantially parallel thereto; and d. energizing said electrodes by applying an electric pulse thereto to generate an impulsive spark discharge between said electrodes at least in part through said mass of pulverulent material and of an intensity sufficient to propel said particles against said substrate and to bond said pulverulent material into a coherent mass thereon, said electrodes being spacedly juxtaposed in a noncombustible gaseous environment.

Claim 16

An apparatus for forming coherent bodies from a particulate material, comprising: an impulse generator provided with a pair of electrodes in spaced relationship with one another; means for disposing a mass of said particulate material in close proximity to the electrodes of said generator; circuit means for energizing said electrodes by applying thereto an electric pulse to generate an impulsive spark discharge between said electrodes of an intensity sufficient to bond said particulate material into a coherent mass; housing means open in the direction of a substrate adapted to receive a layer of said particulate material and containing said generator; and solid support means for said particulate material in said housing means between at least one of said electrodes and a surface of said substrate adapted to receive said layer.

Claim 21

An apparatus for forming coherent bodies from a pulverulent material, comprising an impulse generator provided with a pair of electrodes in spaced relationship with one another; means for disposing a mass of said pulverulent material in force-receiving relationship with said generator; circuit means for energizing said electrodes by applying thereto an electric pulse to generate an impulsive spark discharge between said electrodes of an intensity sufficient to bond said pulverulent material into a coherent mass; housing means open in the direction of a substrate adapted to receive a layer of said pulverulent material and containing said generator; and support means for said pulverulent material in said housing means between at least one of said electrodes and a surface of said substrate adapted to receive said layer, said support means being formed as a foil extending parallel to said surface and defining a frangible diaphragm between said generator and said surface, said diaphragm retaining said mass.