Patent ID: 6109332
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B08B,B22C,B22D,B22F,B24B,B29C,B33Y,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for fabricating a porous body comprising the steps of:a. building up said body by creating successive layers of a powder material, each layer being on average at least three powder particles thick, whereby due to said layer buildup, a surface of said body having a first surface roughness resulting from concave regions that are adjacent to convex regions, with a porous region between said concave and convex regions, made up of an edge of one of said layers that is, on average at least three particles thick; andb. casting a slip of fine particles against the concave and convex regions of said surface of the body, whereby said fine particles are smaller, on average, than the powder particles, and are drawn preferentially toward said concave regions to a degree greater than toward said convex regions, so that the surface of said body is coated with a surface coating of said fine particles, such that the surface roughness is decreased from said first degree to a smoother, second degree of roughness.