Patent ID: 6228299
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: C04B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for forming an inorganic powder, said inorganic powder comprising a plurality of inorganic particles, comprising the steps of:(a) making a slurry mixture comprising said inorganic powder, a monomer, a polymerization initiator system, a solvent, and a plasticizer, said plasticizer in an amount between approximately 10 wt % and 20 wt % of said monomer, said plasticizer soluble in said solvent;(b) forming the slurry mixture into a desired configuration;(c) reacting said monomers to polymerize them to form a polymer-solvent gel matrix, wherein said slurry mixture is formed into a solid product, and heating and pressurizing the solid product after said reacting step to remove a portion of the solvent from the solid product, the solid product being crack-free and having a thickness of at least 0.5 inches.