United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

John O Ware

Peter Kennedy

A method of producing spheroids comprising a coherent mixture of carbon and silicon carbide powders for subsequent siliconizing and if desired grinding to improve their sphericity, involves the steps of preparing a slip consisting essentially of a suspension of silicon carbide and carbon powders in a liquid, and introducing drops of the slip into a medium in which the drops form individual solid casts. The said liquid may be water to which a dispersant (which may be a deflocculent) has been added. Sodium alginate may advantageously be added to the slip. The said medium may be an aqueous solution of an electrolyte such as a calcium salt. An organic liquid phase, immiscible with the electrolyte, may be provided on the surface thereof. Examples of organic liquid are petroleum ether, kerosene, and cyclohexanol.

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Lea, United Kingdom

John O Ware