Claims
- 1. A method of diffusion bonding of ceramics by inserting a rhenium metal foil between two ceramic layers to create a sandwich construct, clamping said sandwich construct, and subjecting at least one surface of said sandwich construct to a defocused laser beam.
- 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said ceramic layers are selected from the group consisting of SiC, B4C and ZrC.
- 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said ceramic layers have a thickness between about 0.060 and 0.125 inches.
- 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said metal foil has a thickness between about 12 and 100 μm.
- 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said metal foil has a thickness between about 12 and 25 μm.
- 6. The method according to claim 5 wherein average laser power is between about 10 and 1080 watts.
- 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein average laser power is between about 800 and 1000 watts.
- 8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the sandwich construct is exposed to said defocused laser beam for 15-60 minutes.
- 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an inert atmosphere.
- 10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an atmosphere comprising primarily argon, with less than one part per million (ppm) each of oxygen, nitrogen, and moisture.
- 11. The method according to claim 4 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an inert atmosphere.
- 12. The method according to claim 4 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an atmosphere comprising primarily argon, with less than one part per million (ppm) each of oxygen, nitrogen, and moisture.
- 13. The method according to claim 5 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an inert atmosphere.
- 14. The method according to claim 5 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an atmosphere comprising primarily argon, with less than one part per million (ppm) each of oxygen, nitrogen, and moisture.
- 15. The method according to claim 6 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an atmosphere comprising primarily argon, with less than one part per million (ppm) each of oxygen, nitrogen, and moisture.
- 16. The method according to claim 7 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an inert atmosphere.
- 17. The method according to claim 7 wherein said diffusion bonding takes place in an atmosphere comprising primarily argon, with less than one part per million (ppm) each of oxygen, nitrogen, and moisture.
- 18. The product prepared in accordance with claim 17.
CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy.
US Referenced Citations (6)