METHOD OF MAKING CERAMIC COMPOSITE ARTICLES BY INVERSE SHAPE REPLICATION OF AN EXPENDABLE PATTERN

摘要

There is disclosed a method of producing a self-supporting ceramic composite body having therein at least one cavity which inversely replicates the geometry of an expendable pattern (6). The method includes the steps of surrounding the expendable pattern (6) with a filler material (4) to thereby form a filled cavity within the filler material (4). The expendable pattern (6) is chemically or physically removed from the filler material (4) and a quantity of a parent metal is put into the cavity. The parent metal is heated to a temperature above its melting point and an oxidation reaction process begins whereby the oxidation reaction product infiltrates and embeds the surrounding filler material (4). Excess filler material and/or excess parent metal are removed, thus resulting in a self-supporting ceramic composite body having a cavity in the shape of the expendable pattern (6).