Method for production of ceramic oxide and carbide bodies by polymer inclusion and decomposition
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorThomas C. Quinby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for the preparation of thin, free-standing metal oxide films which are useful as nuclear accelerator target materials. Cations of any metal except those of Group IA and precious metals, such as, U, Zr, Nd, Ce, Th, pr or Cr, are absorbed on a thin film of polymeric material, such as, carboxymethylcellulose, viscose rayon or cellophane. The cation impregnated polymeric material is dried. Then the impregnated film is heated in an inert atmosphere to form a carbonized membrane. The carbonized membrane is oxidized to yield a thin, self-supporting, metal oxide membrane. Or, the membrane can be heated in an inert atmosphere to yield a thin, self-supporting, metal carbide-containing membrane.
Claims32
Process for the preparation of a thin, free-standing metal oxide film comprising:
- (a) absorbing cations of a metal which forms a stable oxide on a thin film of polymeric material selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, viscose rayon and cellophane;
- (b) drying the film of cation-impregnated polymeric material;
- (c) heating the dried film of cation-impregnated polymeric material in an inert atmosphere to form a carbonized membrane;
- and
- (d) oxidizing the carbonized membrane to yield a thin, self-supporting, metal oxide membrane.
Process for the preparation of a thin, free-standing metal oxide or metal carbide film comprising:
- (a) absorbing cations of an inorganic acid which forms a carbide on a thin film of polymeric material selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, viscose rayon and cellophane;
- (b) drying the film of cation-impregnated polymeric material;
- (c) heating the dried film of cation-impregnated polymeric material in an inert atmosphere to form a carbonized membrane;
- and
- (d) heating the carbonized membrane in an inert atmosphere to yield a thin, self-supporting, metal carbide-containing membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.