High-temperature zirconia insulation and method for making same

Patent · Tue May 10 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7071187

Wrenn, Jr, G E; Holcombe, Jr, C E; Lewis, J Jr

The present invention is directed to a highly pure, partially stabilized, fibrous zirconia composite for use as thermal insulation in environments where temperatures up to about 2,000 C are utilized. The composite of the present invention is fabricated into any suitable configuration such as a cone, cylinder, dome or the like by vacuum molding an aqueous slurry of partially stabilized zirconia fibers into a desired configuration on a suitably shaped mandrel. The molded fibers are infiltrated with zirconyl nitrate and the resulting structure is then dried to form a rigid structure which may be removed and placed in a furnace. The structure is then heated in air to a temperature of about 600 C for driving off the nitrate from the structure and for oxidizing the zirconyl ion to zirconia. Thereafter, the structure is heated to about 950 to 1,250 C to fuse the zirconia fibers at their nexi in a matrix of zirconia. The composite produced by the present invention is self-supporting and can be readily machined to desired final dimensions. Additional heating to about 1,800 to 2,000 C further improves structural rigidity.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 4743340
• Application Number: PPN: US 6-810899
• OSTI ID: 7071187
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
FABRICATION
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT TREATMENTS
IMPREGNATION
MATERIALS
MOLDING
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SHAPE
THERMAL INSULATION
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM NITRATES
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES