Patent ID: 9199227
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: B01J,B32B,C01B,C04B,C09K,C22C,D01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A continuous method of producing continuous boron carbide fibers from a continuous carbon fiber material, comprising: heating a solid boron source to form a boron oxide gas in a reaction zone of a continuous throughput tube furnace having a single reaction zone in which both (i) the boron oxide gas is formed and (ii) the boron oxide gas is reacted with the continuous carbon fiber material; continuously drawing the continuous carbon fiber material through the continuous throughput tube furnace so that only a portion of the continuous carbon fiber material being converted to boron carbide is disposed within the reaction zone of the continuous throughput tube furnace at any given time, that portion of the continuous carbon fiber material disposed within the reaction zone reacting with the boron oxide gas in the reaction zone of the tube furnace to convert at least a portion of the carbon of the continuous carbon fiber material to boron carbide fiber as the carbon reacts with the boron oxide gas; and the reaction zone being maintained at a temperature within a range of from approximately 1400° C. to approximately 2200° C.