Rapid-induction sinter forge for roll-to-roll continuous manufacturing of thin films
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsJeffrey Sakamoto, Michael Wang, Nathan Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.
Claims40
A method of sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film, the method comprising:
- supporting a green yet-unsintered precursor powder on a substrate;
- and
- simultaneously heating and pressing the green yet-unsintered precursor powder in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area and wherein, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area.
A method of sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film, the method comprising:
- supporting a precursor powder on a substrate;
- and
- simultaneously heating and pressing the precursor powder in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area and wherein, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area,
- wherein, when the precursor powder is not being simultaneously heated and pressed, the substrate is movable in a direction generally along the plane perpendicular to the pressing direction.
A method of sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film, the method comprising:
- supporting a precursor powder on a substrate;
- and
- simultaneously heating and pressing the precursor powder in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area and wherein, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area,
- wherein a graphite particle layer is positioned between the substrate and the precursor powder.
A method of sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film, the method comprising:
- supporting a green yet-unsintered precursor powder on a substrate;
- and
- simultaneously heating and pressing the green yet-unsintered precursor powder in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area and wherein, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area,
- wherein a thickness dimension of the film is less than a width of the film and a length of the film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.