Heterogeneous composite bodies with isolated cermet regions formed by high temperature, rapid consolidation
AssigneePowdermet, Inc.
InventorsMark Grogan, Brian Doud, Andrew Sherman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heterogeneous composite consisting of near-nano ceramic clusters dispersed within a ductile matrix. The composite is formed through the high temperature compaction of a starting powder consisting of a core of ceramic nanoparticles held together with metallic binder. This core is clad with a ductile metal such that when the final powder is consolidated, the ductile metal forms a tough, near-zero contiguity matrix. The material is consolidated using any means that will maintain its heterogeneous structure.
Claims24
A heterogeneous body at least partially formed from a plurality of ceramic-metallic composites that are sintered together, each of said ceramic-metallic composites formed of a ceramic-rich cermet region that is coated with a metal coating, said ceramic-rich region formed of a plurality of ceramic particles that are bonded together by a metallic binder, a majority of said ceramic-rich cermet regions remain intact and are spaced from one another in a metal matrix material after the sintering of said plurality of ceramic-metallic composites, said metal matrix material at least partially formed of metal in said metal coating of said ceramic-metallic composites, a plurality of said ceramic-rich cermet regions being non-angular shaped and having an average thickness and an average width, said average width being between one and twenty times said average thickness, a plurality of said ceramic-rich cermet regions having an average width of about 1-600 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.