Other

Xform, Inc.

David E Alman

Randall M German

Rene M Cooper

Kazuo P McCoy

Karl G Shaw

Arthur V Petty, Jr

James C Rawers

A method is disclosed for controlling a self-propagating reaction in a particulate medium. The method comprises controlling the boundary heat flux of the reaction to produce reaction waves which travel through the particulate medium undergoing a self-propagating reaction. The method provides a product having a unitary, solid structure with layers of alternating density. Preferably the reaction is a reaction between two metals to produce an intermetallic compound or between a metal and a nonmetal to produce a ceramic compound. Nickel aluminide is a preferred intermetallic compound. Also disclosed is a controlled reactive sintering process for producing a finely divided intermetallic compound comprising comminuting the layered body of intermetallic compound. Also disclosed are a process for preparing an abrasive surface composed of a nickel aluminide binder and an abrasive material, an injection molding composition for preparing shaped articles of nickel aluminide, and a process for injection molding shaped nickel aluminide articles of greater than 98% theoretical density.

Process for producing finely divided intermetallic and ceramic powders

Industrial applications of composites often require that the final product have a complex shape. In this invention intermetallic or ceramic phases are formed from sheets of unreacted elemental metals. The process described in this invention allows the final product shape be formed prior to the formation of the composite. This saves energy and allows formation of shaped articles of metal-intermetallic composites composed of brittle materials that cannot be deformed without breaking.

Forming metal-intermetallic or metal-ceramic composites by

A method is disclosed for controlling a self-propagating reaction in a particulate medium. The method comprises controlling the boundary heat flux of the reaction to produce reaction waves which travel through the particulate medium undergoing a self-propagating reaction. The method provides a product having a unitary, solid structure with layers of alternating density. Preferably the reaction is a reaction between two metals to produce an intermetallic compound or between a metal and a non-metal to produce a ceramic compound. Nickel aluminide is a preferred intermetallic compound. Also disclosed is a controlled reactive sintering process for producing a finely divided intermetallic compound comprising comminuting the layered body of intermetallic compound. Also disclosed are a process for preparing an abrasive surface composed of a nickel aluminide binder and an abrasive material, an injection molding composition for preparing shaped articles of nickel aluminide, and a process for injection molding shaped nickel aluminide articles of greater than 98% theoretical density.

Process for making finely divided intermetallic

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Troy, NY, United States of America

David E Alman