Abstract Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into a boron nitride material typically resulting in a body comprising a boron-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing compound and metal. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron nitride, to produce a composite by reactive infiltration, which composite comprises a matrix which embeds the filler material. The matrix, in a composite body containing filler material, comprises one or more of metal, a boron-containing compound and a nitrogen-containing compound. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may by altered or controlled to yield a body containing varying volume percents of ceramic, metal and/or porosity. The mass to be infiltrated can be contained within a refractory vessel having a venting means included therein.
A method for producing a self-supporting body comprising: selecting a parent metal; heating said parent metal in a substantially inert atmosphere to a temperature above its melting point to form a body of molten parent metal; contacting said body of molten parent metal with a permeable mass comprising boron nitride and at least one material selected from the group consisting of boron carbide, a boron donor material, and a carbon donor material; maintaining said temperature for a time sufficient to permit infiltration of molten parent metal into said permeable mass and to permit reaction of said molten parent metal with at least a portion of said permeable mass; and continuing said infiltration and reaction for a time sufficient to produce said self-supporting body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for producing a self-supporting body comprising: selecting a parent metal; heating said parent metal in a substantially inert atmosphere to a temperature above its melting point to form a body of molten parent metal; contacting said body of molten parent metal with a permeable mass comprising boron nitride and at least one material selected from the group consisting of boron carbide, a boron donor material, and a carbon donor material; maintaining said temperature for a time sufficient to permit infiltration of molten parent metal into said permeable mass and to permit reaction of said molten parent metal with at least a portion of said permeable mass; and continuing said infiltration and reaction for a time sufficient to produce said self-supporting body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said parent metal comprises a metal selected from the group of metals consisting of aluminum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, chromium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and tungsten.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said permeable mass further comprises at least one filler material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said permeable mass is shaped into a preform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said self-supporting body comprises at least one metal-phase comprising residual parent metal.