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 (14) admixed with the boron carbide (12) to produce a composite by reactive infiltration, which composite comprises a matrix of metal and boron-containing compound embedding the filler (14). 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.