Ceramic foams
AssigneeLanxide Technology Company, LP
InventorsEugene S. Park, Steven D. Poste
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Abstract
Ceramic foams in which the open cells are connected by a three-dimensional, substantially continuous ceramic matrix formed of interconnected hollow ligaments, are made from an open-cell, reticulated precursor metal, i.e. a metal foam. The precursor metal first is treated so as to allow a support coating to form thereon, and thereafter the coated precursor is heated above the melting point of the metal in the presence of an oxidant to form an oxidation reaction product.
Claims15
A rigid ceramic foam comprising a reticulated body of interlacing hollow ligaments derived from precursor metal ligaments said hollow ligaments interconnected randomly in three dimensions, the external surfaces of said ligaments defining open channels interconnected randomly in three dimensions, and said hollow ligaments comprising a polycrystalline ceramic material formed in situ and consisting essentially of (i) the oxidation reaction product of said precursor metal reacted with at least one of a solid oxidant and a liquid oxidant and, optionally, (ii) metallic constituents.
A ceramic foam of claim I wherein said ceramic material comprises three-dimensionally interconnected aluminum oxide containing, optionally, aluminum.
A ceramic foam of claim I wherein said ceramic material comprises three-dimensionally interconnected aluminum nitride containing, optionally, aluminum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.