Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of manufacturing an open-celled ceramic article, said method comprising the steps of: forming a ceramic-based mixture into a plurality of sheets of wall-forming members, said mixture comprising an elastomeric binding material and silicon nitride powder; independently forming a disintegratable filler mixture into a plurality of wall support members, said mixture comprising an elastomeric binding material and graphite powder; applying a protective coating so as to cover the surfaces of said wall support members, said coating being chemically inert with respect to said wall-forming members and to said wall support members, and comprising a mixture of an elastomeric binding material and a material which is inert with respect to said filler mixture and to said ceramic based mixture under the temperature and pressure conditions of the method; assembling said wall-forming members and said coated wall support members in contiguous relation to provide a relatively solid structure with said wall-forming members being disposed in edgeward contact with each other to form a plurality of joints therebetween; heating said structure and permitting said support members and said coating to partially decompose while still bracing said wall-forming members and causing said wall-forming members to harden and said joints to fuse in a predetermined pattern; and, removing the remainder of said partially decomposed support members to provide a plurality of accurately-shaped openings in the ceramic article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of manufacturing an open-celled ceramic article, said method comprising the steps of: forming a ceramic-based mixture into a plurality of sheets of wall-forming members, said mixture comprising an elastomeric binding material and silicon nitride powder; independently forming a disintegratable filler mixture into a plurality of wall support members, said mixture comprising an elastomeric binding material and graphite powder; applying a protective coating so as to cover the surfaces of said wall support members, said coating being chemically inert with respect to said wall-forming members and to said wall support members, and comprising a mixture of an elastomeric binding material and a material which is inert with respect to said filler mixture and to said ceramic based mixture under the temperature and pressure conditions of the method; assembling said wall-forming members and said coated wall support members in contiguous relation to provide a relatively solid structure with said wall-forming members being disposed in edgeward contact with each other to form a plurality of joints therebetween; heating said structure and permitting said support members and said coating to partially decompose while still bracing said wall-forming members and causing said wall-forming members to harden and said joints to fuse in a predetermined pattern; and, removing the remainder of said partially decomposed support members to provide a plurality of accurately-shaped openings in the ceramic article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said coating mixture comprises an elastomeric binding material and a ceramic powder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said ceramic powder is boron nitride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of removing the remainder of said partially decomposed coating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of removing the remainder is performed by etching with molten sodium chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric binding material is chosen from the group consisting of ethylene propylene diene modified rubber, natural rubber, polyvinyl butyral, and a mixture of rubber and polyvinyl butyral.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of subjecting said structure to pressure during said heating thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said structure is subjected to pressure in the range of 1000 psi-5000 psi.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating includes the application of heat at a temperature at least about 2800° F.