Patents by Inventor Gerald W. Leech

Gerald W. Leech has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Process for producing nonequiaxed silicon aluminum oxynitride
    Patent number: 5108967
    Abstract: A .beta.'SiAlON produced from initial reactant materials comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and carbon that produces a .beta.'SiAlON material having a strength greater than about 50 ksi at approximately 1000.degree. C. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the .beta.'SiAlON material has a strength greater than about 50 ksi at approximately 1200.degree. C. In a second embodiment of the present invention is a low-cost process for producing unsintered high purity alpha silicon nitride structured SiAlON by carbothermic reaction from initial reactant materials comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 and carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Frankie E. Phelps, Gerald W. Leech, Robert W. Woods
  • Process for producing silicon aluminum oxynitride by carbothermic reaction
    Patent number: 4977113
    Abstract: A process for producing an unsintered SiAlON material by carbothermic reaction without the use of contaminating transition metal oxides to increase the rate of reaction. The process includes providing small quantities of SiAlON crystals which seed the reaction. The phase of the SiAlON seed crystals will determine the phase of the SiAlON produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Frankie E. Phelps, Gerald W. Leech