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:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
May. 18, 2001
John E. Holowczak, South Windsor, CT (US);
Elliot Olster, Hamden, CT (US);
Willard H. Sutton, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Stratford, CT (US);
Abstract
An erosion resistant ceramic component is synthesized from a silicon oxynitride precursor powder with a sintering aide. The sintering aide, preferably aluminum oxide and/or lutetium oxide are added to the silicon oxynitride precursor powder and ball milled. The composition is then decanted, dried and granulated. The composition is then formed into the shape of the desired component by hot pressing in a graphite die. A heat treatment process may also be applied after hot pressing to further improve erosion resistance by crystallizing amorphous grain boundary phases to provide a ceramic component having sand erosion characteristics superior to electro-formed nickel. The component provides a dielectric constant which is much lower than the dielectric constant of an electro-formed nickel component. The erosion resistant ceramic components are particularly applicable to leading edge components of main rotor blades, however, erosion protection of tail rotor blades, engine propellers, turbine blades, and other such components where high levels of erosion protection, and a low dielectric constant are desired will also benefit.