Process for preparing self-supporting bodies and products made thereby

摘要

Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal (10) into boron carbide (12) typically resulting in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound and metal. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron carbide (12), or at least one carbon donor material, to produce a composite by reactive infiltration, which composite comprises a matrix of metal and boron-containing compound embedding the filler. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing varying volume percents of ceramic, metal and/or porosity. The mass to be infiltrated can be contained within a refractory vessel (16) having a venting means included therein.