The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1994
Dragan Popovic', Tucson, AZ (US);
John W Halloran, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Gregory E Hilmas, Saline, MI (US);
Guy Allen Brady, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Scott Somers, East Lansing, MI (US);
Andrew Barda, Battle Creek, MI (US);
Gregory Zywicki, Warren, MI (US);
The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for the preparation of a fibrous monolithic ceramic which exhibits non-brittle fracture characteristics from green monofilament ceramic fibers having a controlled texture. This method includes the steps of: (a) forming a first ceramic-laden composition includes a thermoplastic polymer and at least about 40 vol. % of a ceramic particulate into a substantially cylindrical core, (b) applying a layer of a second ceramic-laden composition includes a thermoplastic polymer and at least about 40 vol. % of a ceramic particulate which differs from the particulate contained in the first composition onto the core to form a substantially cylindrical feed rod having an average initial diameter, (c) extruding the feed rod to form a green ceramic monofilament fiber which has an average diameter that is less than the average diameter of the feed rod, and (e) arranging the green ceramic monofilament fibers into a desired configuration to provide a green fibrous monolith, wherein, during the extrusion step, each ceramic-laden composition has a viscosity which is approximately equivalent to that of each other ceramic-laden composition, and, if the ceramics present in the extruded ceramic monofilament fiber are sintered, a plane of weakness defined by the interface of the core and the layer is provided, the interface being relatively weaker than the core. The green fibrous monolith may be sintered to provide a fibrous monolith.