Task 6.3 -- Engineering performance of advanced structural materials. Semi-annual report, January 1--June 30, 1995
SiC sublimes without melting at temperatures over 2,000 C. This makes SiC difficult to use in the fabrication of large structures, because pieces made from SiC cannot be joined together in the same way that metals can be welded. Therefore, the size of the monolithic ceramic structures that can be manufactured are limited by the size of the sintering furnaces (approximately 10 feet for sintered alpha silicon carbide). In order to make larger objects such as heat exchangers, many small ceramic pieces must be fused or joined. In addition, repair of the objects will require the use of field joining techniques. At present, no joining techniques for high-temperature structural ceramics are routinely available. The objective of this work at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) is to develop a patentable technique for joining large silicon based advanced ceramics in the field. The key to developing a successful technique will be the use of reactive joining compounds to lower the joining temperature but without leaving continuous channels of unreacted compounds that can weaken the joint or be conduits for corrosion at temperatures over 1,400 C. Special efforts will be made in this project to transfer the developed technologies to the materials industry via licensing agreements through the EERC Foundation.
- Research Organization:
- North Dakota Univ., Energy and Environmental Research Center, Grand Forks, ND (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC21-93MC30097
- OSTI ID:
- 634161
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/MC/30097--5608; ON: DE97002255
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Task 6.3 - Engineering Performance of Advanced Structural Materials Semi-annual report, July 1- December 31, 1996.