Fabrication of low density ceramic material

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5275572

Meek, T T; Blake, R D; Sheinberg, H

A precursor mixture and a method of making a low-density ceramic structural material are disclosed. The precursor mixture includes hollow microballoons, typically made of glass, together with a cementing agent capable of being cured by microwave irradiation. A preferred cementing agent is liquid hydrated potassium silicate, which is mixed with the glass microballoons to form a slurry. Upon irradiation the potassium silicate is dehydrated to form a solid porous matrix in which the microballoons are evenly distributed. Ground glass or other filling agents may be included in the slurry to enhance the properties of the final product. Low-density structural ceramics having densities on the order of 0.1 to 0.3 are obtained.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Application Number: ON: DE85017766
• OSTI ID: 5275572
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CERAMICS
FABRICATION
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
THERMAL INSULATION
BUILDING MATERIALS
DEHYDRATION
FOAMS
GLASS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
POTASSIUM SILICATES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MATERIALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
360201* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Preparation & Fabrication