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Title: High-temperature zirconia insulation and method for making same

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7071187
Patent Number(s):
4743340
Application Number:
PPN: US 6-810899
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Energy Systems Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-26
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 20 Dec 1985
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS; FABRICATION; THERMAL INSULATION; ZIRCONIUM OXIDES; COMPOSITE MATERIALS; HEAT TREATMENTS; IMPREGNATION; MOLDING; OXIDATION; SHAPE; ZIRCONIUM NITRATES; CHALCOGENIDES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; MATERIALS; NITRATES; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS; 360601* - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture

Citation Formats

Wrenn, Jr, G E, Holcombe, Jr, C E, and Lewis, J Jr. High-temperature zirconia insulation and method for making same. United States: N. p., 1988. Web.
Wrenn, Jr, G E, Holcombe, Jr, C E, & Lewis, J Jr. High-temperature zirconia insulation and method for making same. United States.
Wrenn, Jr, G E, Holcombe, Jr, C E, and Lewis, J Jr. Tue . "High-temperature zirconia insulation and method for making same". United States.
@article{osti_7071187,
title = {High-temperature zirconia insulation and method for making same},
author = {Wrenn, Jr, G E and Holcombe, Jr, C E and Lewis, J Jr},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1988},
month = {5}
}