Beverly Y Lum

US Patent:

49901800, Feb 5, 1991

Filed:

Sep 1, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/401698

Inventors:

Danny C. Halverson - Modesto CA
Beverly Y. Lum - Livermore CA
Zuhair A. Munir - Davis CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C22C 2902

US Classification:

75239

Abstract:

A self-sustaining combustion synthesis process for producing hard, tough, lightweight, low exothermic potential product (LEPP)/high exothermic potential product (HEPP) composites is based on the thermodynamic dependence of adiabatic temperature and product composition on the stoichiometry of the LEPP and HEPP reactants. For lightweight products the composition must be relatively rich in the LEPP component. LEPP rich composites are obtained by varying the initial temperature of the reactants. The product is hard, porous material whose toughness can be enhanced by filling the pores with aluminum or other metal phases using a liquid metal infiltration process. The process can be extended to the formation of other composites having a low exothermic component.

US Patent:

48792624, Nov 7, 1989

Filed:

Jul 28, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/225413

Inventors:

Danny C. Halverson - Modesto CA
Beverly Y. Lum - Livermore CA
Zuhair A. Munir - Davis CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C04G 3552

US Classification:

501 87

Abstract:

A self-sustaining combustion synthesis process for producing hard, tough, lightweight B. sub. 4 C/TiB. sub. 2 composites is based on the thermodynamic dependence of adiabatic temperature and product composition on the stoichiometry of the B. sub. 4 C and TiB. sub. 2 reactants. For lightweight products the composition must be relatively rich in the B. sub. 4 C component. B. sub. 4 C-rich composites are obtained by varying the initial temperature of the reactants. The product is hard, porous material whose toughness can be enhanced by filling the pores with aluminum or other metal phases using a liquid metal infiltration process. The process can be extended to the formation of other composites having a low exothermic component.