Method of impregnating crucibles and refractory articles
AssigneeZircoa Inc.
InventorArden L. Just
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of sealing a surface and structure of a refractory crucible with a ceramic, comprising the steps of: (a) heating a refractory crucible to a predetermined temperature; (b) applying a wetting agent to a surface of the crucible; (c) applying a ceramic slip along the inner surface of the crucible; (d) applying a vacuum to an outer surface of the crucible; (e) removing excess slip from the inner surface of the crucible; (f) heating the crucible to remove moisture therefrom; and (g) firing the crucible at a temperature between 1,300° C. and about 1,700° C.
Claims17
A method of sealing an inner surface of a refractory crucible with a ceramic, comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating a refractory crucible to a temperature between about 100° C. and about 150° C., said crucible having an inner surface defining a material-containing cavity and an outer surface;
- (b) applying a wetting agent to said inner surface of said crucible;
- (c) applying a ceramic slip having a viscosity of about 100 to 3,500 centipoise along the surface of said crucible, said ceramic slip comprised of water, a wetting agent/dispersant and about 20% to 80% by weight of ceramic powder, at least 90% of said ceramic powder having a particle size of less than 1 micron said ceramic slip is applied to the inner surface of said crucible by filling said crucible with said ceramic slip;
- (d) applying a vacuum to said crucible to draw said ceramic slip into the inner surface of said crucible;
- (e) removing excess slip from the inner surface of said crucible;
- (f) heating said crucible to remove moisture therefrom;
- and
- (g) firing the crucible at a temperature between 1,300° C. and about 1,700° C. for about 2 to about 6 hours.
A method of sealing a surface and structure of a refractory article with a ceramic, comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating a refractory article to a temperature between about 100° C. and about 150° C.;
- (b) applying a wetting agent to a surface of said article;
- (c) applying a ceramic slip having a viscosity of about 100 to 3,500 centipoise along the surface of said article, said ceramic slip comprised of water, a wetting agent/dispersant and about 20% to 80% by weight of ceramic powder, at least 90% of said ceramic powder having a particle size of less than 1 micron;
- (d) applying a vacuum to said article to draw said ceramic slip into the surface of said refractory article;
- (e) removing excess slip from the surface of said refractory article;
- (f) heating said article to remove moisture therefrom;
- and
- (g) firing the article at a temperature between 1,300° C. and about 1,700° C. for about 2 to about 6 hours.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.