Refractory metal borides and composites containing them
AssigneeEltech Systems Corporation
InventorAjit Y. Sane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Refractory metal borides, carbides, nitrides and mixtures thereof of the Group IVb, Vb and VIb metals are produced from a glass or microcrystalline gel formed from organo-metallic precursors. Typically TiO.sub.2.B.sub.2 O.sub.3 glass is produced by hydrolysis of titanium butoxide and trimethyl borate, followed by gelling/drying. The glass may have carbon inclusions or may be mixed with carbon or aluminum powder or a mixture thereof, and reacted. In the case of aluminothermic and carboaluminothermic reduction, there is a residual aluminum-containing phase in the product. Composites can also be produced by including inert materials in the reaction mixture.
Claims13
The method of producing titanium diboride or a mixture thereof with a carbide and/or a nitride of the Group IVb, Vb, or VIb metals, comprising:
- (a) preparing a solution of organic compounds comprising alkoxides of titanium and boron wherein the Ti:B molar ratio is at least about 1:2;
- (b) mixing particulate carbon or a carbon precursor in said solution in an amount to provide a Ti:B:C molar ratio or about 1:2:5;
- (c) hydrolyzing and gelling the solution to produce a glass or microcrystalline gell of an amorphous or microcrystalline oxide having a grain size up to 200 A and containing particulate carbon up to 500 A;
- (d) grinding said glass or microcrystalline gel to form a resulting material, optionally adjusting the Ti:B:C molar ratio of the resulting material, and pressing the resulting material into a body;
- and
- (e) heating the body to reaction temperature under vacuum, an inert atmosphere or nitrogen.
A method of producing a composite material of titanium diboride and an aluminum-containing phase or a mixture of titanium diboride with a carbide and/or a nitride of a Group IVb, Vb, or VIb metal and an aluminum-containing phase, comprising:
- (a) preparing a solution of organic compounds comprising alkoxides of titanium and boron wherein the Ti:B molar ratio is at least about 1:2;
- (b) hydrolyzing and gelling the solution to produce a glass or microcrystalline gel of amorphous or microcrystalline oxide having a grain size up to 200 A;
- (c) grinding said glass or microcrystalline gel into a ground material;
- (d) adding particulate aluminum or an aluminum compound to the ground material of step (c) to form a resulting mixture,
- (e) forming the resulting mixture of step (d) into a body;
- and
- (f) heating the body at elevated temperature under vacuum, an inert atmosphere or nitrogen to react the ground material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.