Abstract: Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into a boron carbide material which may contain one or both of a boron donor material and a carbon donor material. The reactive infiltration typically results in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound, a carbon-containing compound and residual metal, if desired. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron carbide material, boron-containing compound and/or carbon-containing compound. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing varying volume percents of ceramic, metal, ratios of one ceramic to another and porosity.

Abstract: To reduce thermal stress and improve bonding in a high temperature monolithic solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), intermediate layers are provided between the SOFC's electrodes and electrolyte which are of different compositions. The intermediate layers are comprised of a blend of some of the materials used in the electrode and electrolyte compositions. Particle size is controlled to reduce problems involving differential shrinkage rates of the various layers when the entire structure is fired at a single temperature, while pore formers are provided in the electrolyte layers to be removed during firing for the formation of desired pores in the electrode layers. Each layer includes a binder in the form of a thermosetting acrylic which during initial processing is cured to provide a self-supporting structure with the ceramic components in the green state.

Abstract: High temperature fuel cell wet seal strips around the periphery of a separator plate fabricated utilizing powder metallurgy technique. The material composition of said wet seal may be variably graded to afford ease of bonding of said wet seal with the separator plate on one side and provide corrosion inhibition on the other side in communication with an electrolyte. Similar wet seals may be formed from a single metal powder with surface treatment of the surface adjacent the electrolyte to provide resistance to corrosion by the electrolyte.

Abstract: A high-temperature direct-contact thermal energy storage element for use in a system for storage and retrieval of thermal energy in the range of about 400.degree. to about 3000.degree. F. The thermal energy is directly stored, without heat exchange tubes in composite latent/sensible heat thermal energy storage media utilizing the heat of fusion and high-temperature stability of alkaline metal and alkaline earth carbonates, chlorides, nitrates, nitrites, fluorides, hydroxides and sulfates and metal, metallic alloys and mixtures thereof maintained within a porous support-structure material which itself is capable of storage as sensible heat.

Abstract: A high-temperature direct-contact thermal energy storage element for use in a system for storage and retrieval of thermal energy in the range of about 400.degree. to about 2000.degree. F. The thermal energy is directly stored, without heat exchange tubes in composite latent/sensible heat thermal energy storage media utilizing the heat of fusion and high-temperature stability of alkaline metal and alkaline earth carbonates, chlorides, nitrates, nitrites, fluorides, hydroxides, sulfates, and mixtures thereof maintained within a porous support-structure material which itself is capable of storage as sensible heat. The thermal energy storage according to the invention may be effectively utilized for storage of thermal energy derived from solar, industrial waste, process heat, and high-temperature gas reactor energy sources and retrieved for a wide variety of uses such as combustion air preheating, drying, space heating, heating of process gases, and the like.

Abstract: A method for forming free standing ceramic bricks for use as tritium breeder material is disclosed. Aqueous solutions of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate are mixed with an organic hydrocolloid dispersion and powdered lithium carbonate, spray dried, and ceramic bricks formed by molding in a die and firing.