Patent ID: 8435438
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: B22F,C04B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a three-dimensional ordered ceramic microstructure, the method comprising: securing a volume of a photo-monomer; securing a single mask between at least one collimated light source and the volume of the photo-monomer, the mask having a plurality of apertures; directing a plurality of collimated light beams in different directions from the at least one collimated light source to the mask for a period of exposure time such that portions of the plurality of collimated light beams pass through the mask and are guided by the plurality of apertures into the photo-monomer to concurrently form a plurality of waveguides extending in the different directions through a portion of the volume of the photo-monomer, the plurality of concurrently formed waveguides interpenetrating each other at a plurality of nodes; removing any uncured photo-monomer to leave behind a three-dimensional polymer microstructure having a plurality of truss elements defined by the plurality of waveguides; and forming one or more ceramic layers on at least one of the truss elements, wherein the at least one collimated light source comprises at least two collimated light sources, and each of the at least two collimated light sources directs a corresponding one of the plurality of collimated light beams in different directions to the mask.