Patent ID: 6375877
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: B22F,B28B,C04B

Abstract:
A gelcasting method of making an internally graded article comprising the steps of:a. preparing a multiphase slurry comprising a least two different phases suspended in a gelcasting solution, said phases characterized by having different settling characteristics; b. casting said multiphase slurry into a mold having a selected shape; c. gravitationally fractioning said slurry in order to achieve a compositional grading in the molded slurry; d. gelling said slurry to form a solid gel while preserving said vertical compositional grading in the molded slurry; d. drying said gel to form a dried green body; and e. sintering said dry green body to form a solid object, at least one of whose properties vary along said vertical direction because of compositional grading in the molded slurry.