American Matrix, Inc.

Mary H Rawlins

Richard D Nixdorf

A process for the manufacture of single crystal titanium nitride whiskers having uniform diameters and lengths suitable for use in the reinforcing of many matrix materials. The process is carried out by rapidly heating a mixture of titanium dioxide, fibrous carbon and a catalyst selected from individual combinations of cobalt, nickel, magnesium and calcium, for example. This mixture of solids is maintained in a closed container and is rapidly heated to a temperature of about 1300.+-.100 degrees C. for about 1 hour. During this heating a halogen, preferably a chlorine-containing gas, in conjunction with nitrogen is passed into the container whereby the titanium dioxide is converted to titanium nitride in the form of single crystal whiskers. These whiskers have a uniform diameter of about 0.5 to about 1 micron and average lengths of about 30-60 microns. The exterior surface is particularly amenable to bonding to the matrix material to which these whiskers are added for strength.

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Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

Mary H Rawlins