And Boride, Silicide, Nitride, Or Oxynitride Patents (Class 501/92)
  • Patent number: 6811868
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a ceramic body that can support a required amount of a catalyst component, without lowering the characteristics such as strength, being manufactured without forming a coating layer and providing a high performance ceramic catalyst that is excellent in practical utility and durability. A noble metal catalyst is supported directly on the surface of the ceramic body and the second component, consisting of compound or composite compound of element having d or f orbit in the electron orbits thereof such as W, Co, Ti, Fe, Ga and Nb, is dispersed in the first component made of cordierite or the like that constitutes the substrate ceramic. The noble metal catalyst can be directly supported by bonding strength generated by sharing the d or f orbits of the second component, or through interaction with the dangling bond that is generated in the interface between the first component and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hasegawa, Tomomi Hase, Kazuhiko Koike, Miho Ito
  • Patent number: 6777361
    Abstract: A ceramic composite material, for example, a ceramic molded body or a layer obtained by pyrolysis of a starting mixture, containing at least one polymer precursor material and at least one filler, which has an average particle size of less than 200 nm. Such a composite material may be used, for example, for producing fibers, filters, catalyst support materials, ceramic sheathed-element glow plugs, metal-containing reactive composite materials, porous protective shells for sensors, ceramic or partially ceramic coatings or microstructured ceramic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Aichele, Wolfgang Dressler, Christof Rau, Volker Knoblauch, Alexander Kloncynski, Horst Boeder
  • Patent number: 6770583
    Abstract: A transition metal-containing ceramic made by the process comprising the step of pyrolyzing an organometallic linear polymer containing at least one metallocenylene unit, at least one silyl or siloxyl unit, and at least one acetylene unit to form a ceramic; where the ceramic has a ceramic yield of at least about 75% by weight. A transition metal-containing ceramic made by the process comprising the steps of: forming an organometallic linear polymer containing at least one metallocenylene, at least one silyl or siloxyl unit, and at least one acetylene unit; crosslinking said linear polymer through the acetylene units, thereby forming a thermoset; and pyrolyzing said thermoset to form a ceramic; where the ceramic has a ceramic yield of at least about 75% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Teddy M. Keller
  • Patent number: 6764974
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon carbide-boron nitride composite material, which synthesised according to an in-situ chemical reaction between silicon nitride, boron carbide and carbon, and which contains fine boron nitride particles dispersed in a silicon carbide matrix, wherein aforementioned composite material is obtained by molding a powder mixture containing each of the components required in the in-situ reaction and sintering the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Japan as represented by Secretary of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tatsuki Ohji, Guo-Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 6762140
    Abstract: The present application is directed to ceramic compositions and, more specifically, to a silicon carbide composition and method of making it through liquid phase sintering. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an unsintered ceramic body including at least one liquid phase sintering aid. The unsintered ceramic body further includes a boron containing compound, a free carbon containing compound, and silicon carbide. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of making a sintered ceramic body. The method includes combining at least one liquid phase sintering aid, a boron containing compound, a free carbon containing compound, and silicon carbide to form a green ceramic, shaping the green ceramic into a ceramic body, and sintering the ceramic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vimal K. Pujari, William T. Collins, Matteo Scalabrino
  • Publication number: 20040053769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a silicone nitride based substrate for semi-conductor components, said substrate containing silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SIC) and silicon oxynitride(Si2N20) as crystalline phases. The silicon phase content is less or equal to 5%, the shrinkage during production is less than 5% and the open porosity of the substrate is less than 15% vol. %. The invention also relates to a method for the production and use of said substrate as an element of semi-conductor components, particularly thin film solar cells, and semi-conductor components which contain said substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Gerhard Wtting, Peter Woditsch, Christian Hssler, Gunther Stollwerck
  • Publication number: 20040043888
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for making a microporous ceramic material using a metal silicon powder and including a reaction sintering process of the silicon. A material for forming a microporous ceramic material used in these methods includes a metal silicon powder, a silicon nitride powder and/or a silicon carbide powder, and if desired, a yttrium oxide powder and/or an aluminum oxide powder. These methods can make a microporous ceramic material that can be used preferably as a gas or liquid filter, a catalyst carrier or a support of a gas separation membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicants: Noritake Co., Limited, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc
    Inventors: Yasunori Ando, Seiji Yamada, Hisatomi Taguchi, Yosuke Takahashi, Shigeo Nagaya, Kiyoshi Komura
  • Patent number: 6696144
    Abstract: The present invention is a low density hybrid airfoil comprising a temperature resistant exterior layer and a tough, high impact resistant interior layer. Specifically, the airfoil comprises a monolithic ceramic exterior layer and a fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite interior layer. Both the monolithic ceramic and fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite are low density materials. Additionally, the monolithic ceramic is a high temperature resistant material, and the fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite is a relatively high impact resistant structure. Encapsulating the airfoil with a temperature resistant exterior layer protects the airfoil in a high temperature environment, and supporting the airfoil with a high impact resistant, fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite improves the overall impact resistance of the airfoil thereby resulting in a tough, high temperature resistant, low density airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Holowczak, Karl M. Prewo, Jayant S. Sabnis, William K. Tredway
  • Patent number: 6695984
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a fabrication method of a silicon carbide sintered body, including a step of fabricating a mixed powder slurry by dissolving or dispersing silicon carbide powder, at least one organic material composed of a nitrogen source, and at least one organic material composed of a carbon source or carbon powder in a solvent, a step of fabricating a green body by pouring the mixed powder slurry into a mold and drying and a step of filling pores in the green body by immersing the green body in high purity metallic silicon that has been heated to 1450 to 1700° C. in a vacuum atmosphere or inert gas atmosphere and melted, and generating silicon carbide by reacting silicon sucked up into the pores in the green body by capillary action with free carbon in the green body; and a silicon carbide sintered body obtained by a reaction sintering method, having a density of 2.90 g/cm3 or more and a volume resistivity of 100 &OHgr;·cm or less, and containing nitrogen at 150 ppm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Odaka, Yoshitomo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6670294
    Abstract: Corrosion-resistive ceramic materials include a silicon based ceramic, wherein a percentage of respective metal elements other than metal elements constituting sintering agents and silicon is not more than 10 weight ppm. The corrosion-resistive ceramic materials show a high corrosion resistance with respect to corrosive substances and suppress particle generation due to an exposure to corrosive substances. Therefore, chippings and cracks do not occur easily during machining work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6667262
    Abstract: The invention comprises a self-lubricating ceramic composite characterized as having a low porosity derived from a mixture of at least one ceramic powder preferably selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, zirconia, alumina, zirconium nitride, tungsten carbide, and titanium carbide; a cemetitious binder, effective amounts of at least one metal silicide, and at least one metal oxide. The ceramic powder mixture can be slurried with sufficient amounts of water and subsequently subjected to pressures of about 6.0 to 7.0 MPa in a mold at temperatures of about 125° to 175° C. to form a self-lubricating ceramic composite capable of maintaining hot-hardness temperatures above 750° C. These self-lubricating ceramic composites are particularly useful in the manufacture of high-performance turbine engines, including engine parts, bearings, gears, rotors and in other areas where high-heat lubricating properties of the ceramic composite are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Vinod S. Agarwala, Alfeo A. Conte, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6667264
    Abstract: A silicon nitride sintered material includes a polycrystal material having silicon nitride crystal grains and a grain boundary phase. The sintered material contains a Yb element in an amount of 2 to 30% by weight in terms of its oxide and an Al element in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight in terms of its oxide and has a thermal conductivity of 40 W/mK or less at room temperature, a resistivity of 1×105to 1×1012 &OHgr;·cm at room temperature, and a porosity of 0.5% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Araki, Tsuneaki Ohashi, Katsuhiro Inoue, Masaaki Masuda
  • Patent number: 6660673
    Abstract: In order to reduce wear on refractory linings due to corrosion and the infiltration of slags and molten metals, particulate materials containing TiO2 are added to the refractory products consisting of a mixture of aggregates and binding agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sachtleben Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Djamschid Amirzadeh-Asl, Dieter Fünders
  • Publication number: 20030211930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon carbide-boron nitride composite material, which synthesised according to an in-situ chemical reaction between silicon nitride, boron carbide and carbon, and which contains fine boron nitride particles dispersed in a silicon carbide matrix, wherein aforementioned composite material is obtained by molding a powder mixture containing each of the components required in the in-situ reaction and sintering the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: JAPAN as represented by Secretary of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tatsuki Ohji, Guo-Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 6642165
    Abstract: Wear resistant member for electronic equipment comprises a silicon nitride sintered body that contains conductivity enhancing particles, and has electrical resistivity in the range from 1 to 105 &OHgr;·m. In silicon nitride sintered body, agglomeration of conductivity enhancing particles in which distance between conductivity enhancing particles is less than 1 &mgr;m exists by 30% or less by area ratio per unit area. Wear resistant member is used for a bearing ball or the like, being applied in a rotation actuator of electronic equipment such as a magnetic recorder and optical disk drive. Malfunction of electronic equipment due to static electricity may be cancelled due to electrical resistivity that silicon nitride sintered body has.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kimiya Miyashita, Michiyasu Komatsu, Hisao Yabe, Minoru Takao, Yukihiro Takenami, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Katsuhiro Shinosawa
  • Patent number: 6632762
    Abstract: There is provided a ceramic coating of zirconium diboride, silicon carbide, zirconium phosphate and silicon phosphate, that protects carbon-based materials from oxidation in high temperature oxidizing environments. The coating is applied at room temperature with a brush, roller, squeegee, doctor blade, spray gun, etc., and cured at room temperature. The cured material forms a hard, protective ceramic shell. The coating can be applied to various carbon based materials including, but not limited to, amorphous carbon foam, graphitic foam, monolithic graphite, and carbon-carbon composites. Alternative compositions of the coating can be the partial or complete substitution of hafnium diboride for zirconium diboride. Additional modifications of the coating can be accomplished by partial substitution of the borides or silicides of Ti, Ta, Cr, Nb, Ti, V, Re, for zirconium diboride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James A. Zaykoski, Inna G. Talmy, Jennifer K. Ashkenazi
  • Patent number: 6632761
    Abstract: A silicon carbide powder which can increase the densities of a green body and a sintered silicon carbide, a method of producing a green body having a high density and excellent handling properties, and a method of producing a sintered silicon carbide having a high density, in which methods the silicon carbide powder is used. The silicon carbide powder includes at a particulate volume ratio of 20% to 80% a silicon carbide powder whose model ratio is 1.7 &mgr;m to 2.7 &mgr;m and a silicon carbide powder whose model ratio is 10.5 &mgr;m to 21.5 &mgr;m. The silicon carbide powder is used in the method of producing a green body and in the method of producing a sintered silicon carbide powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Ushita, Fumio Odaka, Yoshitomo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6632379
    Abstract: A sialon type phosphor in the form of a powder comprising at least 40 wt % of &agr;-sialon represented by the formula (Cax,My)(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (where M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Eu, Tb, Yb and Er, 0.05<(x+y)<0.3, 0.02<x<0.27 and 0.03<y<0.3) and having a structure such that Ca sites of Ca-&agr;-sialon are partially substituted by other metal M, at most 40 wt % of &bgr;-sialon, and at most 30 wt % of unreacted silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: National Institute for Materials Science
    Inventors: Mamoru Mitomo, Tadashi Endo, Kyouta Ueda, Masakazu Komatsu
  • Patent number: 6589448
    Abstract: A ceramic bearing ball in which at least a portion of a constituent ceramic is formed of an electrically conductive inorganic compound phase, whereby a proper electrical conductivity is imparted to the ceramic. Thus, electrifying of a bearing ball is prevented or effectively suppressed. This prevents the problem involved in production of balls of small diameter wherein such balls adhere to an apparatus (e.g., a container) during production thereof, thus hindering smooth progress of the production process. In addition, when ceramic balls are used in precision electronic equipment, such as a hard disk drive of a computer, which is operated at high rotational speed, adhesion of foreign substance due to electrification of the balls, and resultant generation of abnormal noise or vibration can be prevented or effectively suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Niwa, Tetsuji Yogo
  • Patent number: 6589898
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials intended for use in an oxidative medium at high temperatures, including the manufacture of high-temperature electric heaters, parts, sensors and tools operating at temperatures of up to 1900° C. and higher. On the basis of tungsten and molybdenum suicides MeSi2—Me5Si3 and silicon carbides materials are prepared, noted for a high level of temperature resistance, resistance to thermal shocks, refractoriness and wear resistance. Alloying with silicides of rhenium, tantalum, titanium, zirconium, niobium, and hafnium makes it possible to enhance the mechanical properties of materials. Materials with controllable porosity make it possible, compared with high-density materials, at a smaller density of the materials, to increase the resistivity and to reduce the thermal conductivity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Institut Fiziki Tverdogo Tela Rossiiskoi Akademii
    Inventors: Boris Abramovich Gnesin, Pavel Artemovich Gurzhiyants
  • Patent number: 6582629
    Abstract: Ceramic igniter compositions are provided that contain components of conductive material and insulating material, where the insulating material component includes a relatively high concentration of metal oxide. Ceramic igniters of the invention are particularly effective for high voltage use, including throughout the range of from about 187 to 264 volts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics and Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. Lin, Craig A. Willkens, Kevin C. Solofra, Thomas J. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20030114294
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of ceramic bearing components in which a mixture of a metallo-organic compound and a chemically reactive filling substance is subjected to a pyrolysis reaction and the resulting product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Jurgen Gegner
  • Publication number: 20030106888
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of materials intended for use in an oxidative medium at high temperatures, including the manufacture of high-temperature electric heaters, parts, sensors and tools operating at temperatures of up to 1900° C. and higher. On the basis of suicides—solid solutions (Mo,W)5Si3 and (Mo,W)Si2 as well as Novotn{grave over (y)} phase (Mo,W) 5Si3C containing molybdenum and tungsten, a heat-resistant material is proposed, which makes it possible to produce parts fully made therefrom and a broad range of other heat-resistant materials for the provision of protective coatings and soldered joints: “REFSIC” composite materials, carbon, silicon carbide materials, refractory metals and their alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Boris Abramovich Gnesin, Pavel Artemovich Gurzhiyants
  • Patent number: 6562746
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cubic boron nitride-based sintered material excellent in durability and usable for a cutting tool material capable of carrying out high speed cutting of at least a high grade cast iron represented with a Ni-Resist cast iron and an austempered cast iron and having a long life. The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing the cubic boron nitride-based sintered material. The method for the production of a cubic boron nitride-based sintered material includes preparing a starting mixture by mixing particles of cubic boron nitride with a binding powders based on the system of TiCN, Si3N4, Al2O3, and CrxN, wherein x varyies from 1 to 2.7; and subjecting the starting mixture to a sintering process under pressure and at the same time at a high temperature; and recovering a sintered product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tomei Diamong Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Enya, Shoichi Kume, Yoshinori Nishida, Tatsuya Hara
  • Patent number: 6541406
    Abstract: A silicon nitride sintered material includes a polycrystal material having silicon nitride crystal grains and a grain boundary phase. The sintered material contains a Yb element in an amount of 2 to 30% by weight in terms of its oxide and an Al element in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight in terms of its oxide and has a thermal conductivity of 40 W/mK or less at room temperature, a resistivity of 1×105 to 1×1012 &OHgr;·cm at room temperature, and a porosity of 0.5% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Araki, Tsuneaki Ohashi, Katsuhiro Inoue, Masaaki Masuda
  • Publication number: 20030054940
    Abstract: By providing a cBN sintered body which containing, as a binder, at least one species selected from among nitrides, carbides, carbide nitrides, and borides of a Group IVa, Group Va, or Group VIa; and a boride containing a Group VIII element, and a Group IVa element, Group Va element, or Group VIa element; or when containing, as a binder, at least one species selected from among nitrides, carbides, carbide nitrides, and borides of a Group IVa, Group Va, or Group VIa element; a boride containing a Group VIII element, and a Group IVa element, Group Va element, or Group VIa element; and an Al compound, there can be provided a cBN sintered body which attain lower reactivity with a material to be cut while maintaining excellent ability to retain cBN grains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Showa Denko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Abe, Taishu Yanagisawa, Masao Fujimori, Kousuke Shioi
  • Publication number: 20030054939
    Abstract: The present application is directed to ceramic compositions and, more specifically, to a silicon carbide composition and method of making it through liquid phase sintering. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an unsintered ceramic body including a rare earth metal oxide, one of a glass phase metal oxide and a glass phase metal nitride, a boron containing compound, a free carbon containing compound and silicon carbide. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of making a sintered ceramic body. The method includes combining a rare earth metal oxide, one of a glass phase metal oxide and a glass phase metal nitride, a boron containing compound, a free carbon containing compound, and silicon carbide to form a green ceramic. The method further includes shaping the green ceramic into a ceramic body and sintering the ceramic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Vimal K. Pujari, William T. Collins
  • Patent number: 6534428
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a titanium diboride sintered body and a method for manufacturing thereof wherein silicon nitride is added to a titanium diboride as a sintering aid. The sintered body according to the present invention has a fine structure and excellent physical characteristics such as a strength, hardness, etc. Therefore, the sintered body according to the present invention may be applicable to certain materials which requires high strength and hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Agency For Defense Development
    Inventors: Yong Kee Baek, Hyoun-Ee Kim, June Ho Park, Eul Son Kang
  • Publication number: 20030050178
    Abstract: The invention comprises a self-lubricating ceramic composite characterized as having a low porosity derived from a mixture of at least one ceramic powder preferably selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, zirconia, alumina, zirconium nitride, tungsten carbide, and titanium carbide; a cemetitious binder, effective amounts of at least one metal silicide, and at least one metal oxide. The ceramic powder mixture can be slurried with sufficient amounts of water and subsequently subjected to pressures of about 6.0 to 7.0 MPa in a mold at temperatures of about 125° to 175° C. to form a self-lubricating ceramic composite capable of maintaining hot-hardness temperatures above 750° C. These self-lubricating ceramic composites are particularly useful in the manufacture of high-performance turbine engines, including engine parts, bearings, gears, rotors and in other areas where high-heat lubricating properties of the ceramic composite are required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Vinod S. Agarwala, Alfeo A. Conte
  • Patent number: 6531423
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polycrystalline SiC shaped body, which consists of 96% by weight to 99.5% by weight of hard-material grains having a core/shell structure, 0 to 0.1% by weight free carbon, remainder a partially crystalline binder phase; having the following properties: density at least 99.5% of the theoretical density, dark green coloring of ground sections or polished surfaces through characteristic light absorption in the orange spectral region at 1.8 to 2.2 eV, resistivity of at least 107 ohm·cm, and fracture toughness of at least 4.0 MPa.m½, measured using the bridge method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Wacker-Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Alexander Schwetz, Lorenz Sigl, Thomas Kempf, Georg Victor
  • Patent number: 6507481
    Abstract: The electronic component of the present invention includes a case having an opening, an electronic component element and electrolytic solution disposed in the case, and a sealing member disposed so as to seal the opening. The sealing member has elasticity and is formed of a cross-linked structure of compound. The compound contains butyl rubber polymer as main component, phenol-based additive, and silane-based additive. Accordingly, the sealing member is improved in air-tightness, and the volatilization of the electrolytic solution becomes lessened. Further, an electronic component having such sealing member ensures excellent mounting ability. As a result, it is possible to obtain an electronic component capable of assuring excellent reliability for a long period of time even in a high temperature atmosphere and under high-temperature high humidity conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Minato, Hiroshi Kurimoto, Junji Yamane
  • Patent number: 6485830
    Abstract: In material for ceramic ball that has a spherical portion of approximate sphere at both ends thereof and a belt-like portion at a center thereof over an entire circumferential direction, a difference between a diagonal diameter of the belt-like portion and a polar diameter of the spherical portion is 100 &mgr;m or less. A height of the belt-like portion from the spherical portion is preferable to be 1 mm or less. A width of the belt-like portion is preferable to be 5 mm or less. The material for ceramic ball can be used for material for bearing balls for instance. When applying in such a usage, the material for ceramic ball essentially consists of silicon nitride, Vickers hardness thereof being preferable to be 1400 or more. In the material for ceramic ball of the present invention, a difference between a diagonal diameter of a belt-like portion and a polar diameter of a spherical portion is set at 100 &mgr;m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Komorita, Minoru Takao, Isao Ikeda, Hiroki Tonai
  • Patent number: 6482759
    Abstract: Molybdenum silicide material with high strength at both room temperature and high temperatures, comprising a composite material, which is made from a mixture including MoSi2 and ZrO2. The mixture includes 5-30 vol-% ZrO2 and 5-15 vol-% MoB, and the content of oxygen, in the form of SiO2 on or in particles of MoSi2, is below 0.5 weight-%. According to a further embodiment, the composite material comprises 3-35 vol-% SiC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sandvik AB
    Inventors: Mats Sundberg, Changhai Li
  • Patent number: 6461990
    Abstract: Cubic boron nitride composite particles containing hard microparticles dispersed in cubic boron nitride particles. The hard microparticles have an average particle size of about 10 nm to about 10 &mgr;m and a particle size equal to or smaller than one-third of the particle size of any of the cubic boron nitride particles, and the amount of the hard microparticles dispersed in the cubic boron nitride particles is from about 1% to about 50% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Masuda, Kousuke Shioi
  • Patent number: 6458732
    Abstract: A dry refractory composition having superior insulating value. The dry refractory composition also may have excellent resistance to molten metals and slags. The composition includes filler lightweight material, which may be selected from perlite, vermiculite, expanded shale, expanded fireclay, expanded alumina silica hollow spheres, bubble alumina, sintered porous alumina, alumina spinel insulating aggregate, calcium alumina insulating aggregate, expanded mulllite, cordierite, and anorthite, and matrix material, which may be selected from calcined alumina, fused alumina, sintered magnesia, fused magnesia, silica fume, fused silica, silicon carbide, boron carbide, titanium diboride, zirconium boride, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, Sialon, titanium oxide, barium sulfate, zircon, a sillimanite group mineral, pyrophyllite, fireclay, carbon, and calcium fluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Allied Mineral Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Doza, John Y. Liu
  • Publication number: 20020096802
    Abstract: The invention comprehends a silicon nitride sintered body having consistent qualities, a process for producing the same, a ceramic heater employing the silicon nitride sintered body as a substrate and a glow plug containing the ceramic heater as a heat source. In the production of a silicon nitride sintered body through a hot press method, a sintering aid protecting agent is added to the raw material. The employable protecting agents are metallic elements such as Ta, W and Mo and compounds of the metallic elements such as nitrides and silicides. Conversion of these elements and compounds to carbides occurs preferentially to reduction of the sintering aid. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress reduction of the sintering aid in a reducing atmosphere formed, for example, of carbon monoxide, which is generated particularly when a graphite pressing die is employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Shindo Watanabe, Masahiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 6417126
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing alumina matrix carbide and boride reinforced ceramic composites wherein for any particular composite, the relative density is about 97% or more of the theoretical density. The composites are prepared in a container wherein the interior surfaces of the container are graphite and have a protective coating consisting of a first layer comprising silicon carbide and boron carbide with a binder and a second layer comprising silicon carbide particles, wherein the protective coating prevents carbon bleed-through and the protective coating maintains a boride-containing equilibrium atmosphere during the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: C-Max Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Xi Yang
  • Patent number: 6398991
    Abstract: Exemplary silicon carbide ceramic bodies having inclusions therein are produced according to the invention. An exemplary ceramic body includes silicon carbide in major amounts and unreacted particles of an additive in minor amounts which are bonded to the matrix. The particles are dispersed throughout the silicon carbide, and are preferably selected from one or more of the group consisting of boron nitride, aluminum nitride and titanium diboride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: CoorsTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Brazil, Eric G. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 6350713
    Abstract: This invention pertains to ceramic matrix composites that comprise the coated ceramic fibers wherein the coating comprises at least one binary coating of boron nitride (BN) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) within ceramic matrices derived from curable preceramic polymers. The composites can be formed into complex shapes which have good oxidation resistance at high temperature, good resistance to moisture high flexural strength and are resistant to moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Ralph Petrak
  • Publication number: 20020016248
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon carbide-boron nitride composite material, which synthesised according to an in-situ chemical reaction between silicon nitride, boron carbide and carbon, and which contains fine boron nitride particles dispersed in a silicon carbide matrix, wherein aforementioned composite material is obtained by molding a powder mixture containing each of the components required in the in-situ reaction and sintering the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: Japan as represented by Secretary of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tatsuki Ohji, Guo-Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 6331497
    Abstract: The polycrystalline cubic baron nitride cutting tool has a particle size in the range of from 10-17 microns. In addition to CBN, the tool has from 2%-15% by weight of a refractory compound selected from the group consisting of titanium carbonitride, titanium aluminum carbonitride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium diboride and aluminum diboride. When using one of the carbonitrides, the carbon to nitrogen proportion is preferably in the range of from 30 atomic percent carbon and 70 atomic percent carbon to 70 atomic percent carbon and 30 atomic percent nitrogen, and preferably is about 50/50. In addition, there is an infiltrate containing aluminum and/or silicon. A quantity of diamond crystals more than stoichiometric with the amount of silicon infiltrated is included in the composition for forming silicon carbide. The cutting tool is not formed on a cemented tungsten carbide substrate so is substantially free of cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Collier, Xian Yao, Brian G. Bowers
  • Patent number: 6328913
    Abstract: A composite monolithic element for use as a hot surface ignitor or the like includes first and second regions or layers. The first region or layer comprises a low pressure ejection molded mixture of silicon carbide and silicon nitride particles or other compatible mix which will alter processing art as a resistor. This resistor includes two cold portions and a hot portion intermediate thereof. The second region or layer also includes an ejection molded mixture of silicon carbide and silicon nitride particles or other appropriate mixture, while the second layer contains the same or similar compounds as the first, the rations of the compound differ so that after processing it acts as an insulator and as a support for the first layer. These first and second layers are bonded together to form a joint free mechanically continuous structure and densified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventors: Peter T. B. Shaffer, Marvin C. Lunde
  • Publication number: 20010036893
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cubic boron nitride-based sintered material excellent in durability and usable for a cutting tool material capable of carrying out high speed cutting of at least a high grade cast iron represented with a Ni-Resist cast iron and an austempered cast iron and having a long life and to provide a method for manufacturing the cubic boron nitride-based sintered material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Enya, Shoichi Kume, Yoshinori Nishida, Tatsuya Hara
  • Patent number: 6277774
    Abstract: A method comprising incorporation of an inorganic polymer precursor of a grain growth inhibitor into superfine materials or intermediates useful for the production of superfine materials. The precursor/nanostructured material composite is optionally heat treated at a temperature below the grain growth temperature of the superfine material in order to more effectively disperse the precursor. The composites are then heat treated at a temperature effective to decompose the precursor and to form superfine materials having grain growth inhibitors uniformly distributed at the grain boundaries. Synthesis of the inorganic polymer solution comprises forming an inorganic polymer from a solution of metal salts, filtering the polymer, and drying. Alloying additives as well as grain growth inhibitors may be incorporated into the superfine materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Inframat Corporation
    Inventors: Danny T. Xiao, Chris W. Strock, Donald M. Wang, Peter R. Strutt
  • Patent number: 6265336
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new class of novel inorganic-organic hybrid ceramics that are formed from novel linear polymers of varying molecular weight and varying carborane content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Teddy M. Keller, David Y. Son
  • Patent number: 6225247
    Abstract: A precursor composition includes (1) at least one crosslinking compound represented by the formula: wherein: u and x are independently selected positive integers, v and w are independently selected integers greater than or equal to zero, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl and mixtures thereof; A and E are independently selected from the group consisting of O, an aliphatic bridge, an aryl bridge and mixtures thereof; and R9 and R10 are unsubstituted or substituted vinyl or ethynyl groups, (2) at least one organosilicon compound containing at least two silicon hydride moieties per molecule, and (3) a hydrosilation catalyst, A cross-linked polymer is formed by reacting the crosslinking compound of formula I with the organosilicon compound via a hydrosilation reaction. A thermoset polymer is formed by thermally curing the crosslinked polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Teddy M. Keller, Eric J. Houser
  • Patent number: 6214755
    Abstract: A sintered silicon carbide containing nitrogen is obtained by sintering a mixture of a powder of silicon carbide and a nonmetallic auxiliary sintering agent. The sintered silicon carbide has a density of 2.9 g/cm3 or more and contains 150 ppm or more of nitrogen. The sintered silicon carbide preferably has a volume resistivity of 1 &OHgr;·cm or less and contains &bgr;-silicon carbide in an amount of 70% or more of total silicon carbide components. Nitrogen can be introduced into the sintered silicon carbide by adding a nitrogen source, for example, an amine such as hexamethylenetetramine, ammonia, and triethylamine in the production of the powder of silicon carbide which is used as the material powder for producing the sintered silicon carbide or by adding the nitrogen source in combination with the nonmetallic auxiliary sintering agent in the production of the sintered silicon carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Otsuki, Hiroaki Wada, Yoshitomo Takahashi, Tasuku Saito
  • Patent number: 6204213
    Abstract: A ceramic composition produced by the consolidation of a blend of starting components. The composition comprises a matrix with one or more of the carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of hafnium, molybdenum, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium and tungsten, titanium nitride, and titanium carbonitride in an amount that is greater than 50 volume percent of the matrix. The matrix comprises between 60 and 99.8 volume percent of the composition. Ceramic whiskers are uniformly dispersed throughout the matrix wherein the ceramic whiskers comprises between 0.2 and 40 volume percent of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kennametal PC Inc.
    Inventors: Pankaj K. Mehrotra, William R. Huston
  • Patent number: 6187703
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new class of novel inorganic-organic hybrid ceramics that are formed from novel linear polymers of varying molecular weight and varying carborane content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Teddy M. Keller, David Y. Son
  • Patent number: 6133180
    Abstract: A ceramic composite particle having an average particle size of 0.1-120 .mu.m, which comprises uniformly dispersed fine ceramic particle phases and a binder phase. The fine ceramic particle phases, each having a particle size of 1 nm to 1 .mu.m and comprising a ceramic primary particle, are bound together through the binder phase which is formed by a reaction between a sintering aid and a ceramic particle. The ceramic composite particle may be produced by heat-treating a homogeneous mixture of the ceramic particle and the sintering aid until the binder phase appears. The ceramic composite particle has a good moldability and provides a highly densified sintered body with a high strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Miyake, Yuuji Miki, Kazuyuki Yamada