Methods for production of surface coated niobium reinforcements for intermetallic matrix composites
First Claim
1. In a self-propagating, high-temperature synthesis, molten metal or powder metallurgical method of forming a composite body comprising a metal, intermetallic or ceramic matrix reinforced with a member selected from the group consisting of filaments, particles, platelets and mixtures thereof composed of a material containing elemental niobium, said method comprising admixing said reinforcing member with powders of said matrix component elements, forming said admixture into a desired shape and subjecting said shaped admixture to temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to convert said powders to a metal, intermetallic or ceramic matrix reinforced with said reinforcing member, the improvement wherein:
- said reinforcing member admixed with said powders has a surface coating thereon of a compound Nb2 O5, wherein said compound Nb2 O5 reacts in situ during formation of said matrix with a portion of at least one of said powdered elements according to the equation Nb2 O5 +Z→
ZO+Nb, wherein Z is said at least one powdered element and the reaction product ZO forms as a barrier layer at the reinforcing member/matrix interface to prevent further reaction between said reinforcing member and said matrix component elements.
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Abstract
An improved method of forming a composite body of a metal, intermetallic or ceramic matrix reinforced with niobium filaments, particles, platelets or mixtures thereof, the method comprising admixing the niobium reinforcing material with powders of the matrix component elements, forming the admixture into a desired shape and converting the powders to a matrix reinforced with the niobium material, the improvement wherein the reinforcing material has a surface coating thereon of a compound Nb2 O5, wherein the compound NbO reacts during formation of the matrix with a portion of at least one of the powdered elements to form a barrier layer at the reinforcer-matrix interface to prevent further reaction between the reinforcer and the matrix component elements. Also disclosed is a method of treating niobium particles, filaments, platelets or mixtures thereof by exposing the surface thereof to molecular O2 at temperatures and pressure conditions such that the niobium and molecular O2 react to form a surface coating on the niobium material of the compound Nb2 O5. Also disclosed are the novel products of the above-described methods.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a self-propagating, high-temperature synthesis, molten metal or powder metallurgical method of forming a composite body comprising a metal, intermetallic or ceramic matrix reinforced with a member selected from the group consisting of filaments, particles, platelets and mixtures thereof composed of a material containing elemental niobium, said method comprising admixing said reinforcing member with powders of said matrix component elements, forming said admixture into a desired shape and subjecting said shaped admixture to temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to convert said powders to a metal, intermetallic or ceramic matrix reinforced with said reinforcing member, the improvement wherein:
said reinforcing member admixed with said powders has a surface coating thereon of a compound Nb2 O5, wherein said compound Nb2 O5 reacts in situ during formation of said matrix with a portion of at least one of said powdered elements according to the equation Nb2 O5 +Z→
ZO+Nb, wherein Z is said at least one powdered element and the reaction product ZO forms as a barrier layer at the reinforcing member/matrix interface to prevent further reaction between said reinforcing member and said matrix component elements.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- 9. A method of treating a member selected from the group consisting of particles, filaments, platelets and mixtures thereof composed of a material containing elemental niobium comprising exposing a surface of said member to molecular O2 at temperature and pressure conditions such that said niobium and molecular O2 react to form a surface coating on said member of the compound Nb2 O5.
Specification