Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A cermet comprising a first phase of ceramic particles and a second phase of a metallic material wherein at least a major proportion of the particles have their surfaces coated with an additive which bonds together the materials of the first and second phases, said ceramic particles comprising one or more refractory oxides having a melting point greater than that of the metallic material of the second phase, the metallic material comprising gold, silver, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum and the additive comprising at least one member of the group consisting of yttrium, aluminum, titanium, vanadium, chromium and nickel in elemental or compound form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A cermet comprising a first phase of ceramic particles and a second phase of a metallic material wherein at least a major proportion of the particles have their surfaces coated with an additive which bonds together the materials of the first and second phases, said ceramic particles comprising one or more refractory oxides having a melting point greater than that of the metallic material of the second phase, the metallic material comprising gold, silver, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum and the additive comprising at least one member of the group consisting of yttrium, aluminum, titanium, vanadium, chromium and nickel in elemental or compound form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
A cermet comprising a first phase of ceramic particles and a second phase of a metallic material wherein at least a major proportion of the particles have their surfaces coated with an additive selected to form a solid solution with the materials of the first and with the second phases and wherein the material of the second phase constitutes a skeletal lattice structure encapsulating the so-treated ceramic particles, said ceramic particles comprising one or more refractory oxides having a melting point greater than that of the metallic material of the second phase, the metallic material comprising gold, silver, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum and the additive comprising at least one member of the group consisting of yttrium, aluminum, titanium, vanadium, chromium and nickel in elemental or compound form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
A cermet comprising a first phase of ceramic particles and a second phase of a metallic material wherein at least a major proportion of the particles have their surfaces coated with an additive selected to form a solid solution with the materials of the first and with the second phases and wherein the material of the second phase constitutes a skeletal lattice structure encapsulating the so-treated ceramic particles, said ceramic particles comprising one or more refractory oxides having a melting point greater than that of the metallic material of the second phase, the metallic material comprising gold, silver, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum and the additive comprising at least one member of the group consisting of yttrium, aluminum, titanium, vanadium, chromium and nickel in elemental or compound form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cermet according to claim 1 wherein the ceramic material is alumina, magnesia, zirconia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cermet according to claim 1 wherein the metallic phase comprises at least one of the metals platinum, rhodium and iridium and wherein the additive comprises chromium nitrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cermet according to claim 1 wherein the ceramic phase is magnesia, the metallic phase is platinum and the additive is nickel nitrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cermet according to claim 1 wherein the ceramic phase is alumina, the metallic phase is an alloy of palladium and rhodium and the additive is chromium nitrate or alumina nitrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cermet according to claim 1 wherein the ceramic phase is zirconia, the metallic phase is platinum and the additive is titanium hydride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cermet according to claim 1 wherein the melting point of the ceramic material is greater than 2000° C. when the metallic phase is platinum, palladium, rhodium or ruthenium.