Sintering Support

Abstract

An object to be sintered is supported on a bed comprising of rolling or flowable particles made from a material that does nor reacts with, and does not adhere to, the object or the surface it is sliding on or the tray holding the particles. For a metallic object ceramic balls are used, rolling on a second metallic surface made of a refractory metal.

1 . A method of supporting a metallic object being sintered, the method comprising of:
 supporting the object on a bed of flowable ceramic granules, and   supporting said granules on a tray made of a refractory metal.   
     
     
         2 . A method of supporting an object during sintering, the method comprising of placing the object on a horizontal bed of flowable granules made of a material that is different than the material being sintered. 
     
     
         3 . A method of supporting a ceramic object being sintered, the method comprising of:
 supporting the object on a bed of metallic granules, and   supporting said granules on a metallic tray.   
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the bed comprises of a single layer of spherical granules. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the bed comprises of multiple layers of spherical granules. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the tray is made of Kanthal APMT. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the granules are zirconia spheres. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the granules are alumina spheres. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the granules are Hexagonal Boron Nitride powder. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein the granules are Hexagonal Boron Nitride powder. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein the granules are supported by a ceramic tray. 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein the granules are supported by a tray made of Hexagonal Boron Nitride. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 3  wherein the granules are Tungsten spheres. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the tray material does not form a bond with the metal the object is made off.