Patent ID: 6355211
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: A61F,B22F,B33Y,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
An article manufactured by a method comprising the steps of:mixing a particulate material with a binder to form a mold material; shaping said mold material into a plurality of partial molds having an external surface and an interior cavity and being of sufficient solidity to maintain a shape, yet being compressible under pressure; assembling said partial molds to form an integrated mold with an interior cavity; filling said interior cavity with a powdered material to be consolidated; placing said mold and powdered material in a container; initially heating said mold to an elevated temperature to remove or fix undesirable gases, or to transform said powdered material partially or entirely to another material; hermetically sealing the container under vacuum; subsequently heating said container with said mold and said powdered material to an elevated temperature; applying pressure to the external surface of said container sufficient to compress said container and said mold, and transfer a pressurizing force to said powdered material within said mold cavity, so as to consolidate said powdered material in said mold cavity and form an article; and removing material surrounding said article from said mold.