# US 4,395,219 A · Apparatus for forming compactible material into a body

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- Number: US 4,395,219 A
- Document ID: US4395219A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/424,689
- Filed: 1982-09-27
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1981-01-05
- Assignees: Western Electric Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Jeffrey J. Franken; Walter W. Gladney; William R. Yeich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395219A

## CPC

- C30B 15/00: Single-crystal growth by pulling from a melt, e.g. Czochralski method (under a protective fluid C30B27/00)
- B22F 3/04: by applying fluid pressure {, e.g. by cold isostatic pressing [CIP]}
- B30B 5/02: wherein the pressing means is in the form of a flexible element, e.g. diaphragm, urged by fluid pressure
- C30B 29/28: with formula A3Me5O12 wherein A is a rare earth metal and Me is Fe, Ga, Sc, Cr, Co or Al, e.g. garnets
- C30B: SINGLE-CRYSTAL GROWTH (by using ultra-high pressure, e.g. for the formation of diamonds, B01J3/06); UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL OR UNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL (zone-refining of metals or alloys C22B); PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE (casting of metals, casting of other substances by the same processes or devices B22D; working of plastics B29; modifying the physical structure of metals or alloys C21D, C22F); SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE (for producing semiconductor devices or parts thereof H10); APPARATUS THEREFOR
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)}

## Abstract

In the growth of gadolinium gallium garnet monocrystals, a crucible is charged with a preformed body (65) of oxide powders to form a melt. In preparation therefor, the oxide powders are formulated into a typical particulate material (16) which is compacted into a body (65) having a desired size and shape. For holding material (16), there is provided a pouch (38) of a first size having elastic walls expandable to a second size, larger than body (65). The pouch (38) is disposed within a chamber (36) having inside walls conforming to the desired shape of the body (65) but of the second size. An open neck (42) of the pouch (38) extends through and is sealed to an opening (60) in chamber (36). Then a vacuum is drawn between the pouch (38) and chamber (36) to expand pouch (38) to said shape and second size formed by the chamber walls. As the particulate material (16) is introduced into the expanded pouch (38), such material conforms to the shape and second size of such expanded pouch. The vacuum is broken, permitting pouch (38) to compress the loaded material (16) and maintain the shape for subsequent compacting. The loaded pouch (38) is removed from the chamber (36) and is thereafter isostatically compacted with sufficient pressure to form the body (65) therewithin having the desired size and shape.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for forming compactible material into a body having a desired size and shape, comprising:
a pouch of a first size, having elastic walls of sufficient strength to at least partially compact the material, such walls being expandable to a second size, larger than the body, said pouch having a necked opening therein at a first end thereof;
a chamber for receiving the pouch, said chamber having inside walls conforming to the desired shape of the body but of the second size, the first end of the pouch being extendable through a necked opening in said chamber and the walls of the first end being sealable to the walls of the opening such that the interior of the pouch is accessible from outside the chamber;
means for forming a sufficient vacuum condition between the pouch and chamber to substantially elastically expand the pouch to the size and shape of the inside walls of the chamber;
means for introducing the material into the pouch to load the same, said material substantially conforming, as it is introduced, to the shape and second size of the expanded pouch; and
means for introducing air into the chamber to break the vacuum condition thereby permitting the pouch to compress the loaded material and maintain the shape for further compacting into the desired body size and shape.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further including:
means for removing the loaded pouch from the chamber; and
means for further compacting the loaded pouch with sufficient pressure to form the body therewithin having the desired size and shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:
at least one substantially non-deformable member having a specific shape and being disposed within the pouch before the material is introduced therein; and
means for holding the member at an area in the pouch such that a desired surface condition is formed on an area of the body by cooperation of the member and the compacting means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the desired shape of the body is that of a vertically disposed cylinder having at least one flat end, further comprising:
a flat disc disposed at a second end of the pouch before the material is introduced therein and the material is compacted such that a flat surface is formed on the end of the body whereat the disc is disposed by cooperation of the disc and the compacting means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:
additional walls within the chamber having substantially smooth, porous surfaces forming the shape of the body but of the second size; and, as part of the vacuum forming means,
means for removing sufficient air from between the chamber and the walls having the smooth, porous surfaces to substantially elastically expand the pouch to the size and shape of the porous surfaces.