Process for fabricating article comprising refractory dielectric body
First Claim
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1. A method for fabricating an article comprising a refractory dielectric body, comprising the steps of:
- providing the refractory dielectric body, wherein the refractory dielectric body is sold; and
treating a surface of the body with a plasma fireball such that the roughness of the surface is reduced, without substantial removal of the surface.
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Abstract
The smoothness of refractory dielectric bodies, particularly silica sol-gel bodies, is substantially improved by a relatively straightforward treatment. In particular, the surface of the body is treated with a plasma fireball, such as induced by a plasma torch. The treatment is able to reduce the roughness, as measured by RA, in overcladding tubes formed by a sol-gel process by at least a factor of 2, typically at least a factor of 5. It is also possible to improve the smoothness of silica tubes that are drawn from a billet. Typically, the process reduces the roughness of silica bodies to an RA of about 1 microinch or less.
32 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for fabricating an article comprising a refractory dielectric body, comprising the steps of:
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providing the refractory dielectric body, wherein the refractory dielectric body is sold; and treating a surface of the body with a plasma fireball such that the roughness of the surface is reduced, without substantial removal of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for fabricating an article comprising a refractory dielectric body, comprising the steps of:
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providing the refractory dielectric body; and treating a surface of the body with a plasma fireball such that the roughness of the surface is reduced without substantial removal of the surface, wherein the plasma fireball is generated by an isothermal plasma torch. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for fabricating an article comprising a refractory dielectric body, comprising the steps of:
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providing the refractory dielectric body, wherein the body is hollow; and treating an inner surface of the hollow body with a plasma fireball such that the roughness of the inner surface is reduced, without substantial removal of the inner surface, wherein the plasma fireball is generated by an isothermal plasma torch. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for fabricating an article comprising a refractory dielectric body, comprising the steps of:
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providing the refractory dielectric body, wherein the body is hollow; and treating an inner surface of the hollow body with a plasma fireball such that the roughness of the inner surface is reduced, without substantial removal of the inner surface, wherein the plasma fireball is generated by an isothermal plasma torch and wherein the hollow body constitutes a portion of the isothermal plasma torch. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification