Patents by Inventor Iakovos Sigalas

Iakovos Sigalas 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).

  • Patent number: 10040724
    Abstract: The present invention provides for carbide ceramic matrix composite comprising Cf/C—SiC-xMC wherein Cf/C is a carbon fiber reinforced carbon matrix, x is at least 2, and wherein MC are carbides of transition metals with M being at least two different transition metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten. The invention further provides for a method for manufacturing the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Phylis Sarah Makurunje, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20170166486
    Abstract: The present invention provides for carbide ceramic matrix composite comprising Cf/C—SiC-xMC wherein Cf/C is a carbon fibre reinforced carbon matrix, x is at least 2, and wherein MC are carbides of transition metals with M being at least two different transition metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten. The invention further provides for a method for manufacturing the composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Phylis Sarah Makurunje, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20140007515
    Abstract: The invention relates to an abrasive compact comprising a mass of diamond particles and a silicon containing binder phase wherein the diamond particles are present in an amount less than 75 volume % and the binder phase contains less than 2 volume % unreacted (elemental) silicon. The invention further relates to a method of producing an abrasive compact including the steps of forming a feed diamond powder into a diamond preform, interposing a separating mechanism between the diamond preform and a silicon infiltrant source, heating the diamond preform and silicon infiltrant source until the infiltrant is molten and the preform and infiltrant are isothermal and allowing infiltration from the molten silicon infiltrant source to occur into the diamond preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Element Six Abrasives S.A.
    Inventors: Iakovos SIGALAS, Kekeletso MLUNGWANE, Mathias HERRMANN
  • Patent number: 8562702
    Abstract: The invention relates to an abrasive compact comprising a mass of diamond particles and a silicon containing binder phase wherein the diamond particles are present in an amount less than 75 volume % and the binder phase contains less than 2 volume % unreacted (elemental) silicon. The invention further relates to a method of producing an abrasive compact including the steps of forming a feed diamond powder into a diamond preform, interposing a separating mechanism between the diamond preform and a silicon infiltrant source, heating the diamond preform and silicon infiltrant source until the infiltrant is molten and the preform and infiltrant are isothermal and allowing infiltration from the molten silicon infiltrant source to occur into the diamond preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Element Six Abrasives S.A.
    Inventors: Iakovos Sigalas, Kekeletso Mlungwane, Mathias Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8426330
    Abstract: The invention provides a boron suboxide composite material comprising boron suboxide and a secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase contains a rare earth metal oxide. The rare earth metal oxide may be selected from the oxides of scandium, yttrium, which is preferred, and elements of the lanthanide series, and may be a mixture of rare earth metal oxides. The secondary phase may also include, in addition to the rare earth metal oxide(s), a further oxide or mixture of oxides of an element of the Groups IA, MA, MIA, and IVA of the periodic table. Moreover, the secondary phase may also contain a boride, and particularly a boride selected from the borides of transition metals of the fourth to eighth groups of the periodic table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventors: Anthony Andrews, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8426043
    Abstract: The invention provides a boron suboxide composite material comprising boron suboxide and a secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase contains a boride. The boride may be selected from the borides of transition metals of the fourth to eighth groups of the periodic table. Particularly, the boride may be selected from the borides of iron, cobalt, nickel, titanium, tungsten, hafnium, tantalum, zirconium, rhenium, molybdenum or chromium. The boride also may be a platinum group metal boride, preferably palladium boride. The secondary phase also may contain one or more oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventors: Anthony Andrews, David Stuart McLachlan, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8197780
    Abstract: A method of producing a boron suboxide composite material having improved fracture toughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Element Six (Production) (Pty) Ltd.
    Inventors: Geoffrey John Davies, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann, Thembinkosi Shabalala
  • Publication number: 20110203187
    Abstract: A boron suboxide composite material having improved fracture toughness consists of particulate or granular boron suboxide distributed in a binder phase, such as AlxByOz, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Geoffrey John Davies, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann, Thembinkosi Shabalala
  • Patent number: 7955579
    Abstract: A boron suboxide composite material having improved fracture toughness consists of particulate or granular boron suboxide distributed in a binder phrase, such as AlxByOz, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Element Six (Production) (Pty) Ltd.
    Inventors: Geoffrey John Davies, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann, Thembinkosi Shabalala
  • Publication number: 20100308256
    Abstract: The invention provides a boron suboxide composite material comprising boron suboxide and a secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase contains a rare earth metal oxide. The rare earth metal oxide may be selected from the oxides of scandium, yttrium, which is preferred, and elements of the lanthanide series, and may be a mixture of rare earth metal oxides. The secondary phase may also include, in addition to the rare earth metal oxide(s), a further oxide or mixture of oxides of an element of the Groups IA, MA, MIA, and IVA of the periodic table. Moreover, the secondary phase may also contain a boride, and particularly a boride selected from the borides of transition metals of the fourth to eighth groups of the periodic table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony Andrews, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20100307067
    Abstract: The invention relates to an abrasive compact comprising a mass of diamond particles and a silicon containing binder phase wherein the diamond particles are present in an amount less than 75 volume % and the binder phase contains less than 2 volume % unreacted (elemental) silicon. The invention further relates to a method of producing an abrasive compact including the steps of forming a feed diamond powder into a diamond preform, interposing a separating mechanism between the diamond preform and a silicon infiltrant source, heating the diamond preform and silicon infiltrant source until the infiltrant is molten and the preform and infiltrant are isothermal and allowing infiltration from the molten silicon infiltrant source to occur into the diamond preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Iakovos Sigalas, Kekeletso Mlungwane, Mathias Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20100300004
    Abstract: The invention provides a boron suboxide composite material comprising boron suboxide and a secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase contains a boride. The boride may be selected from the borides of transition metals of the fourth to eighth groups of the periodic table. Particularly, the boride may be selected from the borides of iron, cobalt, nickel, titanium, tungsten, hafnium, tantalum, zirconium, rhenium, molybdenum or chromium. The boride also may be a platinum group metal boride, preferably palladium boride. The secondary phase also may contain one or more oxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony Andrews, David Stuart McLachlan, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20100304138
    Abstract: The invention provides a boron suboxide composite material comprising boron suboxide and a secondary phase, wherein the secondary phase contains a mixture of at least two metal oxides, neither of which is a boron-containing oxide. At least one of the oxides may be selected from oxides of elements of Groups IA, IIA, IIIA, and IVA of the periodic table. Also, at least one of the oxides may be a rare earth metal oxide selected from the oxides of scandium, yttrium, and elements of the ianthanide series. The secondary phase of the composite material may also contain a boride, and particularly a boride selected from the borides of transition metals of the fourth to eighth groups of the periodic table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony Andrews, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7794821
    Abstract: A composite material consists of a plurality of cores dispersed in a matrix. The cores are formed of ultra-hard material, or the components for making an ultra-hard material. The matrix is formed of the components for making an ultra-hard material of a grade different to that of the cores, and a suitable binder. The ultra-hard material is polycrystalline in nature and is typically PCD or PcBN. The cores are typically provided as granules coated with the components for making an ultra-hard material and the binder. The composite material typically takes on a honeycomb structure of an ultra-hard material and cores within the pores of the honeycomb structure bonded to the honeycomb structure. The pores of the honeycomb structure may be ordered or random.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventors: Iakovos Sigalas, Mosimanegape Stephen Masete
  • Publication number: 20090000208
    Abstract: A composite material comprises a plurality of cores of material selected from the group comprising carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, cemented carbides, cemented nitrides, cemented carbonitrides and mixtures thereof, dispersed in a matrix. The matrix comprises the components for making an ultra-hard material, such as diamond or cBN abrasive particles, and a suitable binder. The ultra-hard material is polycrystalline in nature and is typically PCD or PcBN. The cores are typically provided as individual particles or in the form of granules. The granules may be further coated with a second coating, which may be a similar material to that of the cores or of an ultra-hard material of a different grade to that of the first coating. The composite material typically takes on a honeycomb structure of a hard material and cores within the pores of the honeycomb structure bonded to the honeycomb structure. The pores of the honeycomb structure may be ordered or random.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Iakovos Sigalas, Geoffrey John Davies, Mosimanegape Stephen Masete, Raymond Albert Chapman
  • Publication number: 20080317654
    Abstract: A boron suboxide composite material having improved fracture toughness consists of particulate or granular boron suboxide distributed in a binder phrase, such as AlxByOz, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Geoffrey John Davies, Iakovos Sigalas, Mathias Herrmann, Thembinkosi Shabalala
  • Publication number: 20070175103
    Abstract: A method of producing a tool component comprising a working portion of bonded abrasive particles including a non-homogeneous region. The method includes the step of providing at least two sources of a material comprising abrasive particles in a suitable binder, the materials of the sources differing from each other. The material of one source may comprise diamond or cubic boron nitride particles, whilst the material of the other source may comprise carbide particles. Alternatively, the materials of the two sources may contain the same abrasive particle, such as diamond or cubic boron nitride particles, but in different particle sizes. The materials are delivered to a zone where mixing occurs, and the mixture is applied to a surface to produce a layer of the mixed materials on the surface, typically by spraying. By controlling the quantity of material from each source which is delivered to the mixing zone, different mixtures of the two abrasives can be created. In this way, layers, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Iakovos Sigalas, Robert Fries
  • Publication number: 20070054101
    Abstract: A composite material consists of a plurality of cores dispersed in a matrix. The cores are formed of ultra-hard material, or the components for making an ultra-hard material. The matrix is formed of the components for making an ultra-hard material of a grade different to that of the cores, and a suitable binder. The ultra-hard material is polycrystalline in nature and is typically PCD or PcBN. The cores are typically provided as granules coated with the components for making an ultra-hard material and the binder. The composite material typically takes on a honeycomb structure of an ultra-hard material and cores within the pores of the honeycomb structure bonded to the honeycomb structure. The pores of the honeycomb structure may be ordered or random.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Iakovos Sigalas, Mosimanegape Masete
  • Patent number: 7104160
    Abstract: A method for producing a cutting tool such a twist grill, end mill, or the like. The method provides an unbonded assembly including a cylindrical core having ends and an elongate side surface covered partially or completely by a coherent, unsintered layer including ultra-hard abrasive particles for producing an ultra-hard material. The unbonded assembly is subjected to elevated temperature and pressure conditions at which the ultra-hard abrasive is crystographically stable. The sintered product is then recovered that includes a cylindrical core and a layer of ultra-hard abrasive material bonded to the core, and the sintered product is worked to produce one or more cutting edges in the layer of ultra-hard abrasive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Fries, Iakovos Sigalas
  • Publication number: 20060107602
    Abstract: A composite material comprises a plurality of cores of material selected from the group comprising carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, cemented carbides, cemented nitrides, cemented carbonitrides and mixtures thereof, dispersed in a matrix. The matrix comprises the components for making an ultra-hard material, such as diamond or cBN abrasive particles, and a suitable binder. The ultra-hard material is polycrystalline in nature and is typically PCD or PcBN. The cores are typically provided as individual particles or in the form of granules. The granules may be further coated with a second coating, which may be a similar material to that of the cores or of an ultra-hard material of a different grade to that of the first coating. The composite material typically takes on a honeycomb structure of a hard material and cores within the pores of the honeycomb structure bonded to the honeycomb structure. The pores of the honeycomb structure may be ordered or random.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Iakovos Sigalas, Geoffrey Davies, Mosimanegape Masete, Raymond Chapman