DESCRIPTION

Materials with a grain size in the nanometer (10^-9 m) range have been the focus of considerable research interest, since such materials have been shown to possess useful properties not obtained with larger grain sizes. However, the preparation of these materials has required at least two processing steps, usually involving the preparation of nanometer-sized grains in powder form (either from rapid solidification from vapor phase or mechanical milling of larger-sized grains) followed by the consolidation of such powders into denser materials by rapid sintering.

A University of California scientist, in collaboration with an international research team, has invented a one-step method for synthesizing and consolidating dense nanophase materials. In the UC process, the activation of the synthetic reaction and its short duration ensure that grain growth is totally avoided or markedly minimized, while generating a highly consolidated product that does not require sintering. So far, this process has been successfully employed with ceramics, intermetallics, and composite materials ( e.g. MoSi₂, FeAl, TiB₂-TiN), and appears to be readily extensible to numerous other materials of varying complexity. Thus, commercial applications of this invention may extend to the production of a wide variety of ceramic materials and devices.

Patent Status

Inventors

• Bernard, Frederic
• Charlot, Frederic
• Gaffet, Eric
• Munir, Zuhair A.

Other Information

Contact

Andrei G. Chakhovskoi / chakhovs@ucdavis.edu / tel: View Phone Number. Please reference Tech ID #10144.

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ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGIES BY THESE INVENTORS

• Direct Synthesis Of Titanium Carbonitride
• An Improved, More Versatile Method Of Combustion Synthesis
• Improved Ceramics And Ceramic Composites
• Fuel Cells Using Low-Temperature Conducting Materials

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