Densification of porous bodies
OwnerJonathan Graham Peel Binner, Toby John Huttoninventors
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Abstract
A porous perform body is infiltrated with carbon by a thermal gradient process using a multi-portion heating element to heat the body. Selected portions of the heating element are supplied with power to create the thermal gradient between different areas of the preform body.
Claims9
A method of heating a porous preform body to a temperature at which a carbon-containing gas can be cracked to deposit carbon in the pores, the method comprising placing the body adjacent a multi-portion heating element so that the portions thereof align with corresponding portions of the body, and supplying power to a selected portion of the heating element whereby to apply heat to the corresponding selected portion of the body and create a thermal gradient between the selected body portion and an adjacent portion or portions of the body and exposing the body to a carbon containing gas.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element comprises a base comprising an induction heating element shaped into substantially concentric coils and means are present to power each coil individually.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein each portion has a respective power supply.
A method of infiltrating a porous body with an infiltrating gas, the method comprising locating the body adjacent a multi-portion heating element so that the portions thereof align with corresponding portions of the body, and supplying power to a selected portion of the element whereby to heat a corresponding portion of the body to a selected temperature and to create a thermal gradient between that selected portion of the body and an adjacent portion or portions of the body and then contacting the selected portion with the infiltrating gas whereby to infiltrate the porous body in a relatively short time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.