Method of synthesizing multi-phase oxide ceramics with small phase domain sizes

US8877119B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Connecticut Center for Science and Technology and Commercialization · US

Inventors

• Eric Jordan · Storrs, US
• Steven L. Suib · Storrs, US
• Aparna Iyer · Storrs, US
• Jacquelynn K M Garofano · Milford, US
• Chun-Hu Chen · Danei, TW

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 16, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Jun 29, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C04B2235/9653
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Nanocomposites of multi-phase metal oxide ceramics have been produced from water soluble salts of the resulting metal oxides by a foaming esterification sol-gel method. The evolution of volatile gases at elevated temperature during the esterification reaction causes the formation of a foam product. Nanocomposites of multi-phase metal oxide ceramics have also been produced by a cation polymer precursor method. In this second method, the metal cations are chelated by the polymer and the resulting product is gelled and foamed. Calcination of the resulting foams gives nanocomposite powders with extremely fine, uniform grains and phase domains. These microstructures are remarkably stable both under post-calcination heat treatment and during consolidation by hot-pressing.