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US 11,305,457 B2Granted
Pressure casting of submicron ceramic particles and methods of ejection
AssigneeJames R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
InventorsHugo Gonzalez, Sreeram Balasubramanian, Mathew David Campbell
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for pressure casting ceramic bodies. Methods and apparatus are provided for rapid ejection of cast ceramic bodies from a mold. A mold is described that has an impermeable cavity surface to provide dry release of the cast body. Ceramic bodies produced by the methods and apparatus have smooth, non-tacky surfaces after ejection from the mold.
Claims19
A method for making a ceramic block, comprising:
- a) providing a pressure casting apparatus that comprises a mold having an impermeable cavity surface and a cavity opening that is in direct contact with a porous casting substrate;
- b) delivering a ceramic slurry into the mold cavity and casting the slurry under pressure, vacuum, or a combination of pressure and vacuum greater than 20 psi;
- c) removing liquid from the slurry under pressure via the porous casting substrate;
- d) consolidating ceramic particles forming a ceramic green body within the cavity;
- e) removing the porous casting substrate from the apparatus to expose a mold opening;
- and
- f) ejecting the resulting ceramic green body from the mold opening by a dry release process using a pressure, vacuum, or a combination of pressure and vacuum greater than 5 psi;
- wherein the difference between the volume of the green body and the volume of the mold cavity is less than 2% when the green body is ejected from the mold cavity.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.