Laser glazing using hollow objects for shrinkage compliance
AssigneeSiemens Energy, Inc.
InventorsGerald J. Bruck, Ahmed Kamel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hollow objects (18) are incorporated into a layer of glazed material (10) formed on a substrate (12). Powdered glaze material (16) and the hollow objects are heated with an energy beam (22) to melt the glaze material without melting the hollow objects because the hollow objects have a relatively higher melting temperature. The hollow objects provide a degree of mechanical compliance that prevents cracking of the layer of glazed material upon its re-solidification. In other embodiments, a pool of molten material (38, 56) is formed on a substrate (32, 52) and hollow spheres (40, 54) are propelled into the molten material immediately behind the moving beam.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- directing an energy beam to create a layer of molten material on a substrate;
- including a plurality of hollow objects within the layer of molten material;
- and
- allowing the molten material to solidify around the hollow objects to create a glazed surface.
A method comprising:
- traversing a laser beam across a selected portion of a surface to create a layer of molten material;
- including a plurality of unmelted hollow spheres within the layer of molten material;
- and
- allowing the molten material to solidify around the hollow spheres to form a layer of glazed material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.