Pressureless sintering-based method for making a two-phase ceramic composite body

Abstract

Inventive manufacture of CrB2—Al2O3 composites is based on pressureless sintering. According to typical inventive practice, CrB2 powder and Al2O3 powder are mixed together in selected volumetric proportions so that the volume of the CrB2 does not exceed 50% of the overall volume of the CrB2—Al2O3 mixture. The CrB2—Al2O3 mixture is shaped into a green body. The green body is pressureless sintered in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a firing temperature in the approximate range between 1600° C. and 2050° C. The present invention succeeds in preparing, via pressureless sintering, a proportionality-associated range of compositions in the CrB2—Al2O3 system, which is a potentially “advanced” ceramic system. A typical inventively fabricated CrB2—Al2O3 composite is inventively configured in a complex shape, and has “advanced” material (e.g., mechanical) properties that are favorable for a contemplated application. Inventive manufacture of ceramic-ceramic composites is thus dually attributed, and uncommonly so, with complex shape-ability and advanced capability.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.