Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A process for the preparation of an article of silicon nitride - bonded silicon carbide comprising: a. forming an admixture of finely divided silicon metal, and SiC grain, shaping said admixture into discrete pellets, drying said pellets, firing said dried pellets in a nitrogenous non-oxidative atmosphere at a temperature and for a period sufficient to convert substantially all of said silicon metal to Si 3 N 4 , thereby resulting in formation of Si 3 N 4 -bonded SiC precursor material pellets having a Si 3 N 4 content of at least 50 weight percent; b. crushing said precursor material pellets; c. mixing from 30 to 75 weight percent of said crushed precursor material with from 16 to 60 weight percent finely divided silicon metal to form a green composition; d. shaping said green composition and drying said shaped green composition; and e. firing said dried green composition in a nitrogenous non-oxidative atmosphere at a temperature and for a period sufficient to convert substantially all of said silicon metal to Si 3 N 4 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A process for the preparation of an article of silicon nitride - bonded silicon carbide comprising: a. forming an admixture of finely divided silicon metal, and SiC grain, shaping said admixture into discrete pellets, drying said pellets, firing said dried pellets in a nitrogenous non-oxidative atmosphere at a temperature and for a period sufficient to convert substantially all of said silicon metal to Si 3 N 4 , thereby resulting in formation of Si 3 N 4 -bonded SiC precursor material pellets having a Si 3 N 4 content of at least 50 weight percent; b. crushing said precursor material pellets; c. mixing from 30 to 75 weight percent of said crushed precursor material with from 16 to 60 weight percent finely divided silicon metal to form a green composition; d. shaping said green composition and drying said shaped green composition; and e. firing said dried green composition in a nitrogenous non-oxidative atmosphere at a temperature and for a period sufficient to convert substantially all of said silicon metal to Si 3 N 4 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein firing of the precursor material pellets occur at about atmospheric pressure at a temperature of between 1300° C. and 1450° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 2 wherein reaction sintering of said dried green composition occurs at about atmospheric pressure at a temperature between 1300° C. and 1450° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the silicon metal powder has a particle size of about 200 mesh; and the green pellets have a density of 1.7 g/cc to 1.9 g/cc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 2 weight percent calcium aluminate cement and about 1 weight percent dextrin and sufficient water are added in step (a) and/or step (c) to form a plastic mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the green composition further includes up to 4 weight percent of calcium aluminate cement, up to 6 weight percent of Tennessee ball clay, from 1 to 6 weight percent of fumed silica powder and from 0.5 to 2 weight percent dextrin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising adding sufficient water to step (c) to result in formation of a castable liquid material and casting said castable liquid material into a mold into the configuration of a nozzle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising: f. crushing the material of step (e) after firing; and g. repeating steps (b) through (e) but with substitution of the material of step (f) for the precursor material of step (a).