Patent ID: 6248286
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: B22F,B28B,C04B

Abstract:
A gelcasting method of making an internally graded article comprising the steps of:a. preparing at least two slurries, each of said slurries comprising a different gelcastable powder suspended in a gelcasting solution, said slurries characterized by having comparable shrinkage upon drying and sintering thereof,b. casting said slurries into a mold having a selected shape, wherein relative proportions of said slurries is varied in at least one direction within said selected shape;c. gelling said slurries to form a solid gel while preserving the variation in relative proportions of said slurries;d. drying said gel to form a dried green body;e. sintering said dry green body to form a solid object, at least one of whose properties vary along said direction because of the variation in relative proportions of said starting slurries.