Battelle Memorial Institute

Benno Lux

Wilfried Kurz

Guido Walt

Jean-Claude Hubert

Jacques Gillot

Francois Mollard

Stuart F Exell

This invention concerns a cellular, spherical bead of organic, macromolecular polymer material which when carbonized in the solid state retains its original beaded shape and has a high carbon content and methods for making such beads of polymer and carbon.

Cellular carbon beads and process for fabrication

A metallic alloy is cast in a mold to produce a solid body by unidirectional solidification. The alloy, initially in a molten state, is cast into a mold and is completely and progressively cooled in the mold while a unidirectional thermal gradient superimposed thereon parallel to a direction determined by the configuration of the mold (predetermined direction) until a metastable equilibrium is reached in which the entire body of the melt is in a super-cooled state as a homogeneous liquid. The equilibrium is then broken to cause solidification of the alloy and the formation of dendritic crystals with their principal axes parallel to the thermal gradient substantially instantly and without noticeable advance of a solidification front across the melt.

Casting process with instantaneous unidirectional solidification

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Veyrier, Switzerland

Benno Lux