Abstract: A method to at least partially impregnate a porous ceramic body with a metal comprising positioning a sacrificial porous ceramic transport means in physical contact with the metal and between the porous ceramic body to be impregnated and the metal; interposing a sufficient amount of a ceramic powder in contacting relationship between the ceramic body and the transport means to enable the metal to flow from the ceramic transport means to the ceramic body and insufficient to permit metal bonding between the transport means and the ceramic body, at least one constituent of the powder being wettable by, and chemically reactive with the metal; and maintaining at least the ceramic body and metal transport means at a temperature, and for a time, sufficient for at least a portion of the metal to flow through the transport means and into the ceramic body to impregnate the ceramic body a predetermined amount to form a metal impregnated ceramic body of near net shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to subjecting boron carbide to a heat treatment at a temperature within a range of 1250.degree. C. to less than 1800.degree. C. prior to infiltration with a molten metal such as aluminum. This method allows control of kinetics of metal infiltration and chemical reactions, size of reaction products and connectivity of B.sub.4 C grains and results in cermets having desired mechanical properties.

Abstract: A dense, self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body and a method of making such body. The body has a composition that includes: (a) silicon nitride; (b) a glassy grain boundary phase containing oxygen, nitrogen, magnesium, yttrium, silicon, zirconium, and at least one of titanium and aluminum; and (c) a second crystalline phase containing zirconium oxide; and (d) crystalline phases of metal zirconium silicide and/or metal zirconium silicon nitride. The ceramic exhibits high fracture toughness and high fracture strength and has a density at least 98 percent of theoretical.

Abstract: Densified boron carbide-aluminum, ceramic-metal composites that are substantially free of AlB.sub.12, AlB.sub.12 C.sub.2 and Al.sub.4 C.sub.3 result from a two stage process. Admixtures of boron carbide are densified under pressure in stage one, In stage two, the densified admixture is heat treated. In both stages, the temperature is less than 800.degree. C. If the temperatures do not exceed 600.degree. C., the resultant densified cermet has only three phases: a) boron carbide; b) Al.sub.4 BC; and c) aluminum.

Abstract: Infiltrate a porous, self-reinforced .beta.-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 preform with a metal or a crystallizable glass to yield a composite material. The preform possesses a low glass phase and has a density of from about 50 to about 70 percent of theoretical density. Prepare the .beta.-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 preform by subjecting a porous body formed from an .alpha.-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 powder composition to two sequential heat treatments. The first heat treatment occurs below the .alpha.- to .beta.- conversion temperature and results in a strengthened body that can be machined. The second heat treatment occurs above that temperature and yields the self-reinforced .beta.-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 preform. Conventional infiltration procedures with an infiltrant that is a metal or a glass results in a Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 /metal or Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 /glass composite material that has 50 to 70 percent of its volume occupied by .beta.-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 whiskers.

Abstract: A method of infiltrating a porous ceramic compact with a molten metal to form a cermet is disclosed. A solid-phase metal is disposed on a surface of a porous ceramic compact. The surface of the porous ceramic compact is at an angle to the horizontal which is sufficient to allow molten metal formed from the solid-phase metal to rupture an oxide layer at least partially supporting the molten metal. The solid-phase metal is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the solid-phase metal and to allow the molten metal formed to rupture the oxide layer. The molten metal flows through an opening in the metal oxide layer formed by the rupture and infiltrates the porous ceramic compact. The porous ceramic compact, containing the molten metal, is then cooled to a temperature whereby the molten metal solidifies, thereby forming a cermet.

Abstract: A process for preparing a self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness comprising hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride, a densification aid such as sodium oxide, a conversion aid such as lanthanum oxide and a compound, such as gallium oxide, which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers-under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur. A novel silicon nitride ceramic of high fracture toughness and high fracture strength is disclosed comprising a .beta.-silicon nitride crystalline phase wherein at least about 20 volume percent of the phase is in the form of whiskers having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5; a glassy second phase containing the densificaton aid, the conversion aid, the compound which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers, and an amount of silica; and not greater than about 10 weight percent of the total weight as other phases.

Abstract: Ceramic metal compositions are described that include a ceramic phase content of at least 60 percent by volume of said composition and a copper metal phase permeating the ceramic phase. The resulting composition is substantially fully densified, having a connected or isolated ceramic grain structure, preferably of fine B.sub.4 C grains of less than 3 micrometers. Flexure strength and fracture toughness for 80 volume percent B.sub.4 C-20 volume percent Cu cermets are 6.62 MPa.multidot.m1/2 and 725 MPa, respectively. The process of the invention includes as a key element, contacting a porous article of ceramic phase with copper metal followed by heating to above melting and subjecting said article to pressure of at least 200 MPa, such that the porous body is filled with metal and the composition is substantially fully densified.

Abstract: Substantially dense, void-free ceramic-metal composites are prepared from components characterized by chemical incompatibility and non-wetting behavior. The composites have a final chemistry similar to the starting chemistry and microstructures characterized by ceamic grains similar in size to the starting powder and the presence of metal phase. A method for producing the composites requires forming a homogeneous mixture of ceramic-metal, heating the mixture to a temperature that approximates but is below the temperature at which the metal begins to flow and pressing the mixture at such pressure that compaction and densification of the mixture occurs and an induced temperature spike occurs that exceeds the flowing temperature of the metal such that the mixture is further compacted and densified. The temperature spike and duration thereof remains below that at which significant reaction between metal and ceramic occurs. The method requires pressures of 60-250 kpsi employed at a rate of 5-250 kpsi/second.

Abstract: The present invention employs poly(ethyloxazoline) as a temporary binder and lubricant during the preparation of greenware articles. According to the present invention, molten poly(ethyloxazoline) promotes the compressibility of the powder used to form the greenware article, thus improving the density and strength of both the greenware and the abrasive article. The molten poly(ethyloxazoline) acts as a lubricant to permit a more efficient grain rearrangement under applied pressure and thereby increases the average density of the greenware article by 6 to 8 percent as compared to standard cold pressing.

Abstract: A dense, self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic prepared by pressureless sintering or low pressure gas sintering. The composition comprises (a) silicon nitride, at least 20 percent of which is in the form of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high average aspect ratio, (b) from about 2 to about 10 weight percent of a glassy grain boundary phase containing magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, silica, zirconia, and optionally, one oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium, gallium, indium and hafnium oxides, and (c) a second crystalline phase in an amount ranging from 0.5 to about 5.0 weight percent comprising zirconium oxide, and (d) optionally, crystalline phases of metal zirconium silicide and/or metal zirconium silicon nitride in a combined amount from 0.1 to 3.0 weight percent, wherein the metal is tantalum, calcium, hafnium, gallium or indium, and wherein when the metal is calcium, hafnium, gallium or indium, the same metal occurs as the metal oxide in the glassy phase.

Abstract: A process for preparing a self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness comprising hot-pressing a powdcer mixture containing silicon nitride, a densification aid such as sodium oxide, a conversion aid such as lanthanum oxide and a compound, such as gallium oxide, which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers-under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur. A novel silicon nitride ceramic of high fracture toughness and high fracture strength is disclosed comprising a .beta.-silicon nitride crystalline phase wherein at least about 20 volume percent of the phase is in the form of whiskers having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5; a glassy second phase containing the densification aid, the conversion aid, the compound which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers, and an amount of silica; and not greater than about 10 weight percent of the total weight as other phases.

Abstract: A fully densified, self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness and high fracture strength is disclosed comprising (a) .beta.-silicon nitride in the form of whiskers having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5, and (b) a crystalline grain boundary phase having an oxynitride apatite structure, as determined by X-ray crystallography.A process for preparing the above identified silicon nitride body comprising hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride; silica; a densification aid including strontium oxide; a conversion aid, such as, yttrium oxide; and a compound, such as, calcium oxide which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers, under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur, and thereafter annealing the densified composition for a time sufficient to produce a crystalline grain boundary phase having an oxynitride apatite structure.

Abstract: Use a material which has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than silicon nitride and does not react with silicon nitride under hot pressing conditions either to fabricate or to coat hot-pressing die plates suitable for densification of silicon nitride. The die plates separate cleanly from the silicon nitride thereby allowing preparation of near-net shapes having complex geometries, but without post densification grinding or machining.

Abstract: Prepare a self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness by hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride and three other components under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur. The other components are silicon dioxide as a densification aid, a conversion aid such as yttrium oxide and a compound, such as calcium oxide, which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers. The resultant silicon nitride ceramic has a .beta.-silicon nitride cyrstalline phase, at least 20 volume percent of which is in the form of whiskers or elongated grains having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5, and a glassy second phase. The glassy phase contains the silicon dioxide, the conversion aid and the compound which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers. The glassy phase may also include a minor amount of aluminum nitride or boron nitride.

Abstract: Reactive ceramic-metal compositions are described that include a ceramic phase of at least 70 percent by volume, 95 percent of theoretical density and a metal phase that retains its chemical reactivity with the ceramic phase after the composition has been fully densified. The composition may be heat treated after densification to form additional ceramic phases in a controllable manner. Preferred ceramic metal compositions wherein the metal and ceramic components retain reactivity after densification include boron carbide ceramic and Al or Mg metals. The process employed in forming said compositions requires first forming a sintered porous body of the ceramic material followed by contacting with the metal component, which may be in chip or solid bar form. The system is then heated to the melting point of the metal and a pressure of at least 200 MPa is employed such that the porous body is filled with metal and the composition is substantially fully densified.

Abstract: A process for preparing a self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness comprising hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride, a densification aid such as sodium oxide, a conversion aid such as lanthanum oxide and a compound, such as gallium oxide, which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers-under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur. A novel silicon nitride ceramic of high fracture toughness and high fracture strength is disclosed comprising a .beta.-silicon nitride crystalline phase wherein at least about 20 volume percent of the phase is in the form of whiskers having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5; a glassy second phase containing the densification aid, the conversion aid, the compound which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers, and an amount of silica; and not greater than about 10 weight percent of the total weight as other phases.

Abstract: Substantially dense, void-free ceramic-metal composites are prepared from components characterized by chemical incompatibility and non-wetting behavior. The composites have a final chemistry similar to the starting chemistry and microstructures characterized by ceramic grains similar in size to the starting powder and the presence of metal phase. A method for producing the composites requires forming a homogeneous mixture of ceramic-metal, heating the mixture to a temperature that approximates but is below the temperature at which the metal begins to flow and presssing the mixture at such pressure that compaction and densification of the mixture occurs and an induced temperature spike occurs that exceeds the flowing temperature of the metal such that the mixture is further compacted and densified. The temperature spike and duration thereof remains below that at which significant reaction between metal and ceramic occurs. The method requires pressure of 60-250 kpsi employed at a rate of 5-250 kpsi/second.

Abstract: A process for preparing a self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness comprising hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride, magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide and calcium oxide under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur. A novel silicon nitride ceramic of high fracture toughness is disclosed comprising a .beta.-silicon nitride crystalline phase wherein at least about 20 volume percent of the phase is in the form of whiskers having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5; a glassy second phase containing magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, and silica in a total amount not greater than about 35 weight percent; and not greater than about 10 weight percent of the total weight as other phases.

Abstract: A process for preparing a self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness comprising hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride, magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide and calcium oxide under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur. A novel silicon nitride ceramic of high fracture toughness is disclosed comprising a .beta.-silicon nitride crystalline phase wherein at least about 20 volume percent of the phase is in the form of whiskers having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5; a glassy second phase containing magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, and silica in a total amount not greater than about 35 weight percent; and not greater than about 10 weight percent of the total weight as other phases.