European Space Agency

Hany Salamam Sayed Ali Hassanin

Wayne Eric Voice

David John Jarvis

Nicholas John Elsworth Adkins

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a ceramic article () from a metal or metal matrix composite preform () provided by 3D-printing or by 3D-weaving. The preform () is placed in a heating chamber (), and a predetermined time-temperature profile is applied in order to controllably react the preform () with a gas introduced into the heating chamber (). The metal, the gas and the time-temperature profile are chosen so as to induce a metal-gas reaction resulting in at least a part of the preform () transforming into a ceramic. Preferred embodiments of the invention comprises a first oxidation stage involving a metal-gas reaction in order to form a supporting oxide layer () at the surface of the metal, followed by a second stage in which the heating chamber () is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the metal to increase the kinetics of the chemical reaction. The invention also relates to a number of advantageous uses of a ceramic article manufactured as described.

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Birmingham, United Kingdom

Hany Salamam Sayed Ali Hassanin