The Penn State Research Foundation

Qqc, Inc.

The Perkin-elmer Corporation

Dennis Tool Company

The Pennsylvania State Research Foundation

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Research, Incorporated

Kennecott Corporation

National Patent Development Corporation

The Pennsylvania State University

American Biotech Labs, LLC

Dennis Tool Corporation

Rustum N Roy

Dinesh K Agrawal

Jiping Cheng

Andrzej R Badzian

Mahlon D Dennis

Manuel C Turchan

Pravin Mistry

Sridhar Komarneni

William R Drawl

Theresa Badzian

Paul D Gigl

Shalva Gedevanishvili

Peter T Shaffer

William D Moeller

Balasubramaniam Vaidhyanathan

Santosh Y Limaye

Russell F Messier

Ann M Kazakos

Paul D Gigil

Laurence R Gilbert

Norman H Macmillan

Jaime Alamo

Hardial S Dewan

Ronnen A Roy

Russell Messier

Herbert A McKinstry

Palaniappan Ravindranathan

Multimode and single mode microwave energy is used to improve the extraction of metals from chalcogenide minerals. In one process microwave energy is used to comminute the mineral after which the mineral is reacted with acid in the presence of microwave energy. Following treatment the mineral is removed and the extracted metal is recovered from the acid. In another process chalcogenide minerals are exposed to the magnetic field maximum or the electrical field maximum of a single mode electromagnetic energy. This treatment causes a phase separation between metals and silicates within the mineral leaving metal rich regions from which the metal can be readily recovered by traditional methods.

Metal extraction from various chalcogenide minerals through interaction with separate electric fields and magnetic fields supplied by electromagnetic energy

An apparatus ( ) for the development of transparent alumina ceramics using microwave energy at the frequency between 0.915 and 2.45 GHz inclusive in hydrogen atmosphere at ambient pressure comprises an enclosed, insulated chamber ( ) to retain a workpiece ( ) for the application of microwave energy. The chamber comprises a TE single mode or a multimode microwave cavity into which is mounted a quartz tube ( ). An insulation material ( ), transparent to microwave energy, is positioned within the quartz tube. A port ( ) for the introduction of hydrogen penetrates the cavity so that the microwave sintering of the workpiece is performed in an ultra-pure hydrogen atmosphere. The workpiece is preferably mounted on a refractory ceramic such as alumina tube for the microwave sintering process. A method, preferably using the apparatus, develops transparent alumina ceramics and single crystal sapphire.

Method and apparatus for the preparation of transparent alumina ceramics by microwave sintering

A process for sintering green powder metal, metal alloy or metal composition parts employing microwave energy is described.

Process for sintering powder metal components

A method of heating an article with microwave energy is described in which a thin layer of highly microwave absorbent powdered material is provided around at least a portion of a container made of microwave transparent material. The article to be heated is placed at a position within the container where the article is adjacent the thin layer of highly microwave absorbent powdered material, and microwave energy is applied to the container.

Microwave processing using highly microwave absorbing powdered material layers

A diamond coating formed on a WC&mdash;Co substrate prepared through a process including employing a plasma and a variety of interactions from a multiple laser system demonstrates exceptional adhesion and indicates a durable cubic diamond structure. The coating on the WC&mdash;Co substrate is typically between 25 and 40 &mgr;m thick and has an average crystal size of between 10 and 20 &mgr;m. Various methods of confirming the cubic diamond structure of the coatings have been employed. The adhesion of the diamond coating to the substrate is very strong. An electron microprobe analysis shows tungsten and cobalt atoms incorporated into the film and a layer depleted in cobalt exists at the diamond-WC&mdash;Co interface. Particulates of WC&mdash;Co&mdash;C alloy are spread over the top surface, apparently formed by condensation from the vapor phase of metal-containing molecules. Carbon is confirmed as being the main component of the surface layer.

Diamond coatings deposited on WC-Co substrate by multiple laser

Embodiments include a process including providing a microwave radiation source and a processing chamber. The process includes generating a region of pure magnetic field from the microwave radiation in the processing chamber. A region of pure electric field from the microwave radiation is also generated. A material is positioned in the region of pure magnetic field while no portion of the material is positioned in the region of pure electric field, and the material is heated in the region of pure magnetic field. The heating may be conducted to sinter the material. The material may includes a metal.

Microwave processing in pure H fields and pure E fields

The present invention relates generally to methods for the synthesis of various solids such as diamonds, diamonds films, boron nitride and other similar materials. This invention specifically relates to utilizing novel sources of reaction species (e.g., in the case of diamond formation, novel sources of carbon and/or hydrogen and/or seeds) for the manufacture of various materials and the use of such materials for various commercial purposes.

Method for synthesizing solids such as diamond and products produced thereby

A method for producing well-crystallized adherent diamond layers on WC&mdash;Co substrates. An array of focused laser beams is scanned across the WC&mdash;Co sample. Useful lasers include the excimer, YAG:Nd, and carbon dioxide types. The process is conducted in open air with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases delivered for shrouding the substrate. A luminous plasma is found a few mm above the WC&mdash;Co insert. The duration of the deposition process in a typical case is approximately 40 s. This typically gives 20-40 &mgr;m thick coatings. The vertical growth rate is about 1 &mgr;m/s.

Laser approaches for diamond synthesis

The preparation and use of diamond as an electron emission material is disclosed. Satisfactory measurements were conducted on diamond coatings deposited on WC-Co alloy by a multiple pulsed laser process. The electron emission was measured in a diode configuration with a diamond surface-anode spacing of 20 and 50 &mgr;m in vacuum at P&equals;10,Torr. Current densities of 6 mA/cm were calculated at an applied of voltage of 3000 V (for 20 &mgr;m). Analysis proved that electron field emission provided by a diamond grown by a multiple pulsed laser process proved to satisfactorily meet the specified demands.

Application of electron field emission from diamond grown by a multiple pulsed laser process

The present disclosure is directed to a method of converting green particles to form finished particles. The apparatus used for sintering incorporates an elongate hollow tube, an insulative sleeve there about to define an elevated temperature zone, and a microwave generator coupled through a wave guide into a microwave cavity incorporated the tube. The particles are moved through the tube at a controlled rate to assure adequate exposure to the microwave radiation. Another form sintered a solid part in a cavity or mold.

Process and apparatus for the preparation of particulate or solid parts

This disclosure sets forth a method and apparatus for microwave processing of green work pieces. Typically, individual green work pieces are formed in a small mold cavity crucible, and individual crucibles are then indexed into and out of a tube for a controlled transit time along the tube. The tube extends in one embodiment through a preheater and then into the microwave cavity, the preheater providing an initial heating step to change the rate of absorption of microwave energy so that microwave sintering is accomplished in the cavity.

Method and apparatus for transporting green work pieces through a

Compositionally triphasic nanocomposite gel is made by mixing two or more sols of ceramic precursor oxides. Such gel is then dried and ground to a fine powder which is pressed into compact bodies. The compact bodies are thereafter fired in a sintering oven at from 1100.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C. and, aided by the heat of reaction of the two or more nono gel powders, the (heterogeneous) mixture of such powders crystallizes into a homogeneous crystalline ceramic of .alpha.-cordierite at up to 100% of theoretical density. Thus, novel method of manufacture and novel ceramic end-product are provided.

Highly dense cordierite and method of manufacturing same

Ceramic oxide diphasic xerogels of structurally dissimilar phases (crystalline and amorphous, semicrystalline or noncrystalline) but compositionally similar phases will be converted to crystalline ceramic oxide products having enhanced densification when subjected to substantially lower sintering temperature.

Method of preparing ceramic compositions at lower sintering temperatures

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State College, PA, United States of America

Rustum N Roy