Particle orientation method
OwnerKenneth H. G. Ashbeeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Glasses and other matrix phases containing asymmetrically shaped particles are converted into materials of improved mechanical strength by orienting the particles by introducing molten matrix containing the particles into an orientation zone and removing the molten matrix from the zone e.g. through at least one small orifice under conditions such that at the center of symmetry of the zone there is substantially no movement of the fluid molecules but in those regions of the zone spaced away from the centre of symmetry, there is extensional flow of the matrix molecules parallel to the direction of movement of the fluid stream(s) leaving the orientation zone whereby any asymmetrically shaped particles suspended in the flowing fluid become aligned parallel to the direction of movement of the stream(s) leaving the orientation zone.
Claims10
A method of orienting asymmetrically shaped particles suspended in a fluid, comprising the steps of:
- forcing a first stream of said fluid, under pressure, into a first conduit and forcing a second stream of said fluid, under pressure, into a second conduit in a direction opposite to said first stream, said conduits having parallel centerlines on a common axis;
- forcing the streams of said fluids into narrow, axial channels in each of said conduits, at the intersection of the said centerlines, such that said opposite-flowing axial streams meet at the intersection of centerlines under high biaxial pressure and such that the velocity of said streams falls to zero at said intersection;
- and removing said fluid from said intersection to a zone of lower pressure through a narrow bore, thereby subjecting said fluid to extensional flow under high strain rate and orienting the asymmetrically shaped particles in said fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.