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US4190637A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Graphite having improved thermal stress resistance and method of preparation

Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1978-07-18
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Granted: 1980-02-26
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Expires: 1998-07-18
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Abstract

Abstract An improved method for fabricating a graphite article comprises the steps of impregnating a coke article by first heating the coke article in contact with a thermoplastic pitch at a temperature within the range of 250 DEG -300 DEG C. at a pressure within the range of 200-2000 psig for at least 4-10 hours and then heating said article at a temperature within the range of 450 DEG -485 DEG C. at a pressure of 200-2000 psig for about 16-24 hours to provide an impregnated article; heating the impregnated article for sufficient time to carbonize the impregnant to provide a second coke article, and graphitizing the second coke article. A graphite having improved thermal stress resistance results when the coke to be impregnated contains 1-3 wt.% sulfur and no added puffing inhibitors. An additional improvement in thermal stress resistance is achieved when the second coke article is heated above about 1400 DEG C. at a rate of at least 10 DEG C./minute to a temperature above the puffing temperature.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles R. Kennedy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 10:20
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/515; C04B35/52; C04B35/521

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A method for fabricating a graphite article comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first coke article containing 1-3 wt.% sulfur and no added puffing inhibitors; (b) impregnating said first coke article with a thermoplastic pitch by first heating said first coke article in contact with said thermoplastic pitch at a temperature within the range of 250°-300° C. at a pressure within the range of 200-2000 psig for at least 4-10 hours, and then heating said article at a temperature within the range of 465°-485° C. at a pressure of 200-2000 psig for about 16-24 hours to provide an impregnated article; (c) heating said impregnated article for sufficient time to carbonize the impregnant to provide a second coke article; and (d) graphitizing the second coke article at a temperature above the temperature at which puffing occurs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 136 words
A method for fabricating a graphite article comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first coke article containing 1-3 wt.% sulfur and no added puffing inhibitors; (b) impregnating said first coke article with a thermoplastic pitch by first heating said first coke article in contact with said thermoplastic pitch at a temperature within the range of 250°-300° C. at a pressure within the range of 200-2000 psig for at least 4-10 hours, and then heating said article at a temperature within the range of 465°-485° C. at a pressure of 200-2000 psig for about 16-24 hours to provide an impregnated article; (c) heating said impregnated article for sufficient time to carbonize the impregnant to provide a second coke article; and (d) graphitizing the second coke article at a temperature above the temperature at which puffing occurs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said graphitization step is carried out above 3100° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second coke article is heated at a heating rate of at least 10° C. per minute from about 1400° C. to a temperature above the temperature at which puffing occurs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first coke article contains about 1.60-1.75% sulfur.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 53 words
The graphite article prepared by the method of claim 2 characterized by a density at least 1.75 gm/cm 3 , a fracture strain at least 1%, a 1000° C. coefficient of thermal expansion less than 5.5×10 -6 ° C. -1 and a thermal stress resistance of at least 0.2%/(°C. -1 ×10 6 ).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
The graphite article prepared by the method of claim 3 characterized by a density at least 1.75 gm/cm 3 , a fracture strain at least 1.09%, a 1000° C. coefficient of thermal expansion less than 5×10 -6 ° C. -1 and a thermal stress resistance of at least 0.24%/(°C. -1 ×10 6 ).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The graphite of claim 5 further characterized by a Bacon Anisotropy factor less than 1.25.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The graphite of claim 6 further characterized by a Bacon Anisotropy factor less than 1.25.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 56 words
A graphite article characterized by a density at least 1.75 gm/cm 3 , a fracture strain of at least 1%, a 1000° l C. coefficient of thermal expansion less than 5.5×10 -6 ° C. -1 , a thermal stress resistance of at least 0.2%/(°C. -1 ×10 6 ) and a Bacon Anisotropy factor less than 1.25.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 56 words
A graphite article characterized by a density at least 1.75 gm/cm 3 , a fracture strain of at least 1%, a 1000° l C. coefficient of thermal expansion less than 5.5×10 -6 ° C. -1 , a thermal stress resistance of at least 0.2%/(°C. -1 ×10 6 ) and a Bacon Anisotropy factor less than 1.25.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The graphite article of claim 9 characterized by a fracture strain of at least 1.09%, a 1000° C. coefficient of thermal expansion less than 5×10 -6 , and a thermal stress resistance of at least 0.24%/(°C. -1 ×10 6 ).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB1117606A Cited
US3517092A Cited
US3563705A Cited
US3957957A Cited
US4091196A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-02-25 1983-08-27 1984-02-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-02-25 1987-08-27 1988-02-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-02-25 1991-08-27 1992-02-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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