Patent US3317816A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4585618A
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Cermets and their manufacture
Assignee: Moltech Invent SA
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Filing: 1984-02-15
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Granted: 1986-04-29
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Expires: 2004-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A cermet is produced by providing a bulk reaction mixture of particulate reactants which react to produce a self-sustaining ceramic body, and carrying out the reaction with the bulk reaction mixture in contact with molten metal which moderates the reaction and infiltrates the resulting ceramic body. The method is particularly applicable for boride-based ceramics infiltrated with aluminum, suitable as components of electroytic cells for the production of aluminum by molten salt electrolysis.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie Fresnel
- 👤 Pierre-Etienne Debely
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Waefler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:23
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B41/00; C04B41/009; C04B35/00; C04B35/622; C04B35/64; C04B35/65; C04B41/45; C04B41/50; C04B41/51; C04B41/515; C04B41/5155; C04B41/80; C04B41/81; C04B41/85; C04B41/88; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/10; C22C1/1036; C25; C25C; C25C3/00; C25C3/06; C25C3/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24149
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of producing a ceramic-metal composite (cermet), comprising providing a bulk reaction mixture of particulate reactants capable of reacting to produce a sintered self-sustaining ceramic body, bringing said reaction mixture to a reaction temperature in contact with a mass of molten metal, and carrying out a reaction with the bulk reaction mixture in contact with the molten metal whereby said ceramic body produced by said reaction is infiltrated with the molten metal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of producing a ceramic-metal composite (cermet), comprising providing a bulk reaction mixture of particulate reactants capable of reacting to produce a sintered self-sustaining ceramic body, bringing said reaction mixture to a reaction temperature in contact with a mass of molten metal, and carrying out a reaction with the bulk reaction mixture in contact with the molten metal whereby said ceramic body produced by said reaction is infiltrated with the molten metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ceramic is a boride-oxide composite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the reaction mixture is prepared from intimately mixed titanium oxide, boron oxide and aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the reactants are substantially in the molar ratio 3TiO 2 :3B 2 O 3 :(10-50)Al.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the reaction mixture is contacted with molten aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the reaction is started at a temperature in the range 660° C.-1100° C.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bulk reaction mixture comprises a self-sustaining body of the particulate reactants.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bulk reaction mixture comprises compacted particulate reactants.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
49 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 3 which is carried out in an electrolytic cell for the production of a metal by molten salt electrolysis, wherein the bulk reaction mixture is contacted with molten metal which is the same metal as that produced in the cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 which is carried out as part of a cell start-up procedure, wherein heat released by the reaction is used to heat up the cell.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing a component of an electrolytic cell for the production of metal by molten salt electrolysis which component comprises a ceramic-metal composite, comprising providing a bulk reaction mixture of particulate reactants capable of reacting to produce a sintered, self-sustaining ceramic body, bringing said reaction mixture to a reaction temperature in contact with a mass of molten metal, and carrying out a reaction with the bulk reaction mixture in contact with the molten metal whereby said ceramic body produced by said reaction is infiltrated with the molten metal which is the same metal as that to be produced in the cell.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing a component of an electrolytic cell for the production of metal by molten salt electrolysis which component comprises a ceramic-metal composite, comprising providing a bulk reaction mixture of particulate reactants capable of reacting to produce a sintered, self-sustaining ceramic body, bringing said reaction mixture to a reaction temperature in contact with a mass of molten metal, and carrying out a reaction with the bulk reaction mixture in contact with the molten metal whereby said ceramic body produced by said reaction is infiltrated with the molten metal which is the same metal as that to be produced in the cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the bulk reaction mixture comprises particulate reactants which are compacted on the cell bottom and/or between self-sustaining bodies protruding from the cell bottom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the bulk reaction mixture comprises at least one self-sustaining body of the particulate reactants which is pressed into shape outside the cell and introduced into the cell where the reaction takes place.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the reaction to produce the cermet cell component is carried out outside the cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A component of an electrolytic cell for the production of metal by molten salt electrolysis which comprises a cermet produced by the method of any one of claims 1 to 4, 11 and 12.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrolytic cell for the production of metal by molten salt electrolysis, comprising a cell component of a cermet produced by the method of any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the metal phase of the cermet is the same as the electrowon metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The production of metal in an electrolytic cell by molten salt electrolysis, in which the electrowon molten metal is in contact with a component of a cermet produced by any one of claims 1 to 3 and in which the metal phase of the cermet is the same as the electrowon metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-28 | 1989-10-28 | 1990-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-28 | 1993-10-28 | 1994-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-28 | 1997-10-28 | 1998-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |