Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Robert A Pett

S Burhan Qaderi

Ares N Theodore

V Durga Rao

Ronald J Tabar

Larry Dean Elie

Mark Edward Nichols

John Matthew Ginder

Richard L Allor

Gary Mark Crosbie

Pierre A Willermet

George C DeBell

Fred G Oblinger

Alevtina Smirnova

A polymeric binder system and method of making, and a method for extruding thin-walled articles such as thin-walled tubes is provided. The extrusion method comprises providing a polymeric binder system comprising a substantially homogeneous solution of a polymeric binder and an organic solvent, adding a ceramic or metal powder to form a mixture, and evaporating the solvent from the mixture. The remaining mixture is then extruded from a die and heated to burn-off the binder and sinter the article.

Method of preparing thin-walled articles

This invention is directed to an ER elastomer composition comprising natural rubber and polarizable particles dispersed therein, which elastomer can undergo changes in Youngs modulus when subjected to an electric field and having a Youngs modulus of at least about 2 Mpa when not subject to an electric field, wherein the ratio of the electrical conductivity of the particles to the electrical conductivity of the natural rubber is between about 10.sup.4 and 10.sup.10. The invention also include variable stiffness mounts, such as engine mounts, made from the composition.

Electrorheological elastomers useful as variable stiffness articles

A locating pin for positioning weld nuts relative to sheet metal pieces. The locating pin includes a heat and wear resistant ceramic base having a central opening. The locating pin also includes a heat and wear resistant elastomeric tip attached to the base by a shaft depending from the tip into the central opening of the base. The ceramic and elastomeric materials provide the locating pin with an electrically non-conducting characteristic.

Composite insulating weld nut locating pin

This invention relates to an extrusion method of preparing tubular green bodies, in particular those having thin walled thickness, which after burnout and sintering have properties similar or better than those of tubular bodies produced by isostatic pressing and are suitable for use in the sodium/sulfur battery. The method comprises extruding a mixture of 40-60 volume percent of sinterable particulate solids consisting essentially of a particle size distribution of beta'-alumina precursor particulate comprising alpha-alumina and 60-40 volume percent organic sacrificial binder consisting essentially of a thermoplastic block copolymer, plasticizers comprising two oils and two waxes, stiffening thermoplastic polymers and processing aids. In the preferred embodiment, the composition of the particulate comprises 8.85 weight percent Na.sub.2 O, 0.75 weight percent Li.sub.2 O and 90.4 weight percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and the temperature of the material is maintained between about 135.degree.-150.degree. C. during extrusion. The die used to extrude the mixture has a ratio of the length of the die to the wall thickness of the tubular green body extruded of greater than about 5:1. The tubular green body is extruded over a mandrel.

Preparation of beta'-alumina tubes by the extrusion process

This invention relates to a compression molding method of preparing dimensionally precise highly contoured green bodies from a mixture of beta'-alumina percursor particulate and sacrificial binder. The binder comprises a thermoplastic block copolymer, oil, wax, stiffening molding, the green body may be heated to drive off the sacrificial binder and thereafter subjected to sintering. Such sintered articles are suitable for use in a sodium-sulfur battery.

Process for molding complex beta'-alumina shapes for sodium/sulfur

This invention comprises a method of ultrasonically end-capping a tubular green body which comprises a mixture of 40-60 volume percent sinterable beta'-alumina precursor particulate and 60-40 volume percent organic sacrificial binder wherein said sacrificial binder comprises a thermoplastic elastomer, a plasticizer which may be oil, wax or oil and wax, stiffening polymers, a processing aid and optional components. The tube is preferably formed by extrusion molding. The green body tube may be end-capped by ultrasonic forming or by ultrasonic bonding of an end-cap to the tube. During this process, ultrasonic vibration energy is dissipated as heat energy which melts the thermoplastic binder composition and welds the joining surfaces.

Ultrasonic end-capping of beta'-alumina tubes

The invention comprises a thermally conductive elastomer which may be used at high temperatures, e.g. 240.degree.-260.degree. C., mechanical applications. The elastomer composition comprises organopolysiloxanes, particulates and a viscosity modifier. The organopolysiloxane crosslinks between the vinyl or allyl functionality of an organopolysiloxane polymer and the silyl hydride functionality of an organopolysiloxane oligomer. The particulates comprise silica as well as a thermally conductive metal powder. The addition of a viscosity modifier comprising silicone oil is essential to the inclusion of such high levels of the high levels of particulates.

Highly filled thermally conductive elastomers I

Improvements in molded articles from sinterable particulate solids, improvements in method for making such articles, and novel sacrificial binders for use in making such articles are disclosed. The sacrificial binders used in this invention comprise block polymers having the structural formula

Sacraficial binders for molding particulate solids

Moldable mixture of sacrificial binder and sinterable particulate solids

Improvements in molded articles which can be converted to porous carbon bodies, improvements in method for making such articles, and sacrificial binders for use in making such articles are disclosed. The sacrificial binders used in this invention comprise block polymers having the structural formulae

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Franklin, MI, United States of America

Robert A Pett