Electrolyte holder
AssigneeProgramme 3 Patent Holdings
InventorJohan Coetzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for making an electrochemical cell solid electrolyte holder. A layer of solid electrolyte powder or its precursor is formed around an externally screw threaded mandrel. The powder is pressed to form the holder in a green state with internal threads formed by the mandrel. The mandrel is screwed axially out of the green holder, after which the green holder is sintered. In the apparatus there is a mandrel which has external threads, and a flexible sheath. The mandrel is receivable in the sheath to provide an annular space around the mandrel for receiving a powder to be isostatically pressed by the sheath. The space is provided between the sheath and a mold, but can, instead, be provided between the mandrel and sheath, or between two sheaths between the mold and mandrel.
Claims7
A method of making a solid electrolyte holder for an electrode for an electrochemical cell, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a layer of particulate material comprising a solid electrolyte or a precursor thereof around a mandrel which is externally screw threaded;
- isostatically pressing the layer of particulate material to form the holder in a green state with internal screw threads formed by the threads of the mandrel;
- unscrewing the mandrel in an axial direction from the green holder;
- and
- sintering the green holder to provide the holder in the form of a unitary, polycrystalline ceramic solid electrolyte artifact, the layer of particulate material being isostatically pressed by means of a flexible sheath within which the mandrel is enclosed, the layer of particulate material in turn being enclosed by a mould which is internally screw threaded, the holder in the green state being formed with external screw threads formed by the threads of the mould, and the holder in the green state being removed from the mould after the pressing and before the sintering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.