Fabrication of ceramics from celestial materials using microwave sintering and mechanical compression
AssigneeTrans Astronautica Corporation
InventorsJames G. Small, Joel C. Sercel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for fabrication of ceramics from celestial materials using microwave sintering and mechanical compression for space mining applications are disclosed. In one aspect, a chamber for sintering loose mineral material into solid ceramic shapes includes a plurality of zirconia insulting plates configured to clamp the mineral material and forming a cavity in which the mineral loose material is contained, and at least one dipole array configured to generate microwave energy and apply the microwave energy to the mineral material.
Claims15
A chamber for sintering loose mineral material into solid ceramic shapes, comprising:
- a plurality of zirconia insulting plates configured to clamp the mineral material and forming a cavity in which the mineral material is contained;
- at least one dipole array configured to generate microwave energy and apply the microwave energy to the loose mineral material, thereby sintering the material into a solid ceramic having the shape of the cavity;
- a mechanical vice configured to apply uniaxial pressure to the mineral material via at least two of the zirconia insulating plates;
- a pair of pusher plates, each of the pusher plates arranged between the mechanical vice and one of the zirconia insulating plates;
- and
- a pair of alumina ceramic plates, each of the alumina ceramic plates arranged between one of the pusher plates and one of the zirconia insulating plates.
A chamber for sintering loose mineral material into solid ceramic shapes, comprising:
- a plurality of zirconia insulting plates configured to clamp the mineral material and forming a cavity in which the mineral material is contained;
- at least one dipole array configured to generate microwave energy and apply the microwave energy to the loose mineral material, thereby sintering the material into a solid ceramic having the shape of the cavity;
- wherein the at least one dipole array comprises a first dipole array positioned above the cavity and an orthogonally polarized second dipole array positioned below the cavity.
A method for sintering loose mineral material into solid ceramic shapes, comprising:
- applying electromagnetic wave heating simultaneously with mechanical pressure to the mineral material;
- wherein radio frequency or microwave energy is coupled into mineral material from radiating antennas of spatial extent equal to or larger than the wavelength of the radiant energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.