Systems and methods for plasma spray fabrication of textured ceramics
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorChase A Benson
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Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are provided to fabricate ceramic templates adapted for the production of textured ceramics. Embodiments may include a lidded canister loaded with ceramic particles, pressurized inert gas adapted to force the ceramic particles through the canister, a rotatable plate at an end of the canister, a particle tube connecting the end of the canister to a plasma torch, and a plasma arc at an end of the plasma torch heated to a temperature for melting the ceramic particles. A ceramic plasma spray may be generated that is adapted to coat a substrate with a non-equilibrium film, resulting in a ceramic template adapted for the production of textured ceramics.
Claims11
A method for fabricating ceramic templates, comprising the steps of:
- loading a canister with ceramic particles;
- closing the canister with a canister lid;
- releasing pressurized inert gas from an inert gas tube into the canister, whereby the ceramic particles are forced through the canister by the inert gas;
- rotating a plate at an end of the canister, the rotating plate having grooves adapted to accelerate and funnel the ceramic particles into a particle tube together with the released inert gas;
- positioning the canister in relation to a plasma torch, wherein the canister and the plasma torch are connected via the particle tube;
- passing the released inert gas together with the ceramic particles through the particle tube and a plasma arc at an end of the plasma torch;
- heating the passed inert gas via the plasma arc to a predetermined temperature, whereby the ceramic particles melt;
- generating a ceramic plasma spray that comprises the melted ceramic particles;
- and,
- dispensing the ceramic plasma spray unto a substrate, whereby the ceramic plasma spray coats the substrate with a non-equilibrium film, wherein the coated substrate comprises a ceramic template adapted for the production of textured ceramics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.