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US 5,394,929 AGranted
Method of preparing boron carbie/aluminum cermets having a controlled microstructure
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsAleksander J. Pyzik, Jack J. Ott, Dniel F. Carroll, Arthur R. Prunier, Jr.
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Abstract
The invention relates to subjecting boron carbide to a heat treatment at a temperature within a range of 1250.degree. C. to less than 1800.degree. C. prior to infiltration with a molten metal such as aluminum. This method allows control of kinetics of metal infiltration and chemical reactions, size of reaction products and connectivity of B.sub.4 C grains and results in cermets having desired mechanical properties.
Claims8
A method for making a boron carbide/aluminum composite comprising sequential steps:
- a) heating a porous boron carbide preform in an environment that is devoid of added free carbon to a temperature within a range of from 1250.degree. C. to less than 1800.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to reduce reactivity of the boron carbide with molten aluminum;
- and
- b) infiltrating molten aluminum into the heated boron carbide preform, thereby forming a boron carbide/aluminum composite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.