Patent ID: 7723247
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: C04B

Abstract:
1. A method of sintering a ZrB 2 —SiC composite body at ambient pressures, comprising in combination: a) blending between about 2 weight percent and about 25 weight percent SiC powder and about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent carbon-based reducing agent with ZrB b) mixing the blended powders to yield a substantially homogeneous powder mixture; c) forming a portion of the substantially homogeneous powder mixture into a green body; d) soaking the green body at a temperature of about 1650 degrees Celsius to reduce surface oxide impurities to eliminate oxides from the green body; and e) sintering the green body at ambient pressure and a temperature of at least about 2050 degrees Celsius to yield a sintered body with no more than 2 percent porosity; wherein the d) occurs at about 1650 degrees Celsius for about 6 hours in a partial vacuum and e) occurs at about 2050 degrees Celsius for about 4 hours in an inert gas atmosphere.