High-temperature electrically conductive ceramic composite and method for making same

Patent · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864714

Beck, David E ^[1]; Gooch, Jack G ^[2]; Masters, David R ^[1]

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1. Knoxville, TN
2. Seymour, TN

The present invention relates to a metal-oxide ceramic composition useful in induction heating applications for treating uranium and uranium alloys. The ceramic composition is electrically conductive at room temperature and is nonreactive with molten uranium. The composition is prepared from a particulate admixture of 20 to 50 vol. % niobium and zirconium oxide which may be stabilized with an addition of a further oxide such as magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, or yttria. The composition is prepared by blending the powders, pressing or casting the blend into the desired product configuration, and then sintering the casting or compact in an inert atmosphere. In the casting operation, calcium aluminate is preferably added to the admixture in place of a like quantity of zirconia for providing a cement to help maintain the integrity of the sintered product.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: Beck, David E. (Knoxville, TN);Gooch, Jack G. (Seymour, TN);Holcombe, Jr., Cressie E. (Knoxville, TN);Masters, David R. (Knoxville, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 4406699
• OSTI ID: 864714
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/75/501/
20
50
added
addition
admixture
alloys
aluminate
applications
atmosphere
blend
blending
calcium
calcium aluminate
calcium oxide
casting
casting operation
cement
ceramic
ceramic composite
ceramic composition
compact
composite
composition
composition useful
conductive
conductive ceramic
configuration
desired
desired product
duct configuration
electrically
electrically conductive
heating
help
help maintain
high-temperature
high-temperature electrically
induction
induction heating
inert
inert atmosphere
integrity
magnesium
magnesium oxide
maintain
metal-oxide
metal-oxide ceramic
method
molten
molten uranium
niobium
nonreactive
operation
oxide
oxide ceramic
particulate
powders
preferably
preferably added
prepared
pressing
product
providing
quantity
relates
sintered
sintering
stabilized
temperature
treating
uranium
uranium alloy
uranium alloys
useful
vol
yttria
zirconia
zirconium
zirconium oxide