Method for reinforcing and/or lining material

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a heterogeneous composite includes the steps of providing a first constituent and a second constituent, wherein the first constituent is porous or capable of developing pores when under hydrostatic pressure, and the second constituent comprises a solid having thermoplastic properties; positioning the second constituent relative to the first constituent and coupling energy into the second constituent to cause at least portions of the second constituent to liquefy and to penetrate into pores or other structures of the first constituent, whereby the first constituent is interpenetrated by the second constituent to yield a composite; and, causing an irreversible transition at least of the second constituent to yield a modified composite.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a heterogeneous composite, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first constituent and a second constituent, wherein the first constituent is porous or capable of developing pores when under hydrostatic pressure, and the second constituent comprises a solid having thermoplastic properties; positioning the second constituent adjacent to the first constituent; coupling energy into the second constituent to cause at least portions of the second constituent to liquefy and to penetrate into pores or other structures of the first constituent, whereby the first constituent is interpenetrated by material of the second constituent to yield a composite comprising the first constituent, the second constituent, and an interpenetration zone between the first and second constituents; and providing an irreversible transition at least of the second constituent to yield a modified composite, wherein the irreversible transition comprises a chemical reaction taking place within the second constituent or between the first and second constituents.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the irreversible transition is provided by energy input on the composite.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the energy input comprises a heat treatment of the composite.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the irreversible transition comprises diffusion of material of the first constituent into the second constituent and/or vice versa.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein by a same process that provides the irreversible transition of the second constituent, an irreversible transition also of the first constituent is provided.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first constituent comprises a green body, and wherein the method comprises a step of firing the green body after interpenetration of the first constituent by material of the second constituent.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the irreversible transition is provided by the step of firing.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of coupling energy into the second constituent comprises coupling mechanical vibration into the second constituent.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein during the step of coupling energy into the second constituent, the second constituent is clamped between a vibrating tool and a counter element, the counter element being different from the first constituent.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the energy coupled into the second constituent causes liquefaction of the solid having thermoplastic properties at an interface between the second constituent and the vibrating tool, and wherein a clamping force causes the liquefied thermoplastic material to be displaced from between the second constituent and the vibrating tool into structures of the first constituent.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of removing the vibrating tool, wherein after the step of removing no portion of the second constituent that was not liquefied remains in the object or connected thereto.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the mechanical vibration is coupled into the second constituent by a tool on which a tensile force acts during the step of coupling.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second constituent comprises a core of a material having non-thermoplastic properties not or of a material liquefiable at temperatures that are higher than a melting temperature of the solid having thermoplastic properties.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solid having thermoplastic properties comprises a matrix of a thermoplastic polymer and a metallic filler.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solid having thermoplastic properties comprises a matrix of a thermoplastic polymer and a ceramic filler.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the ceramic filler is green.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the ceramic filler is fired.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first constituent comprises a ceramic.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first constituent comprises a metallic foam.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first constituent comprises graphite foam.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of coupling energy into the second constituent is carried out until an interpenetration zone having a depth of at least 1 mm results.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, ways to carry out the invention and embodiments are described referring to drawings. The drawings mostly are schematic. In the drawings, same reference numerals refer to same or analogous elements. The drawings show:

(2) FIGS. 1a-1d steps in a process of manufacturing a heterogeneous composite;

(3) FIG. 2 a second constituent;

(4) FIGS. 3-7 alternative configurations for causing interpenetration of a first constituent by material of a second constituent;

(5) FIGS. 8a-9b schemes representing a transition between adjacent constituents according to the prior art and according to approaches in accordance with the invention;

(6) FIG. 10 a solar energy plant; and

(7) FIG. 11 a flowchart.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1a depicts a first constituent 1 of a material having pores or of a material in which pores can be made under hydrostatic pressure. A second constituent 2 is in the depicted example provided as a pin-shaped thermoplastic element. As illustrated in FIG. 1b, for the process, the second constituent is placed relative to the first constituent. In the depicted configuration, the first constituent comprises a bore into which the second constituent is introduced.

(9) Thereafter, by an appropriate tool 3, energy is coupled into the second constituent. The tool 3 may, for example, be a sonotrode. By the impact of the energy, the thermoplastic material is at least locally melted where in contact with the first constituent, so that under the pressure acting from the toolthat is pressed in the direction illustrated by the double arrows in FIG. 1b, the thermoplastic material interpenetrates the first constituent material. FIG. 1c very schematically illustrates the arrangement after the energy impact has stopped and after the thermoplastic material has re-solidified.

(10) The process parameters of the step of causing the interpenetration of the first constituent by material of the second constituent may, for example, be chosen similar to the process described in WO 98/42988 or the process described in WO 00/79137.

(11) The interpenetration of the first constituent by the thermoplastic material leads to a mixing zone 11 that includes a heterogeneous mixture of first constituent material and the thermoplastic material. The depth of the mixing zone 11 depends on the properties of the first constituent and on the pressure applied during the interpenetration process. Typically, the depth d of the mixing zone will be of the order of 1 mm-10 mmfor open porous first constituent materials with large pores it can also be larger.

(12) After re-solidification of the thermoplastic material, the composite as shown in FIG. 1c is subject to a treatment that causes the irreversible transition. For example, the process may include heating to a high temperaturesuch as a firing process. By this, the thermoplastic material may be caused to undergo a transition, for example by being charred/pyrolized or completely burnt. This may cause a shrinkage of the second constituent. At the same time, optionally also the first constituent may undergo an irreversible transition. In an example, the first constituent is initially a green body that is fired in the process. In another example, the first constituent may include a foam of a meltable material, such as a metallic foam. Also the first constituent may undergo a shrinkage process. If the material parameters of the first and second constituents are chosen so that the shrinkage of the second constituent is over-compensated by the shrinkage of the first constituent, this may cause a compressive stress on the composite, thus stabilizing the composite mechanically. More in general, materials and geometries may be chosen so that same or different shrinkages may cause a desired stress distribution and final dimension.

(13) In FIG. 1d, the resulting composite is illustrated after the irreversible transition. It is assumed, that the first constituent 1 has undergone a transitionfor example sinteringthat has caused it to shrink. The arrows indicate the compressive stress on the composite.

(14) The second constituent 2 is illustrated to have metallic properties after the transition. This may, for example, be brought about by the second constituent being of a metallic filler embedded in a polymer matrix, wherein the polymer matrix is burnt/carbonized in the irreversible transition process.

(15) Thus, the illustrated embodiment results in a connection between a for example ceramic first constituent 1 with an ultimately metallic second constituent, which connection involves interpenetration of the first constituent by the second constituent with an interpenetration zone 11 having depth of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm; so far this was not readily possible.

(16) As schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, it is not necessary that the second constituent 2 consists of the material having, at least prior to the irreversible transition, thermoplastic properties. Rather, the second constituent may be a hybrid. In FIG. 2, the second constituent is illustrated to include a core 2 for example of a metallic or ceramic or plastic (but not thermoplastic or thermoplastic with a much higher melting temperature) core 21 and a coating 22 and a coating of the material with the thermoplastic properties. In order to be suitable for the process, the second constituent needs thermoplastic material that is in contact or can be brought in contact with the first constituent when it is liquefied.

(17) FIGS. 3 and 4 yet show variants of the interpenetration step, both with mechanical vibration energy. In both variants, in contrast to the above-taught embodiment the second constituent is not directly pressed against the first constituent in the process, but pressure is applied onto the second constituent between the tool 3 (the sonotrode) and a counter element 4. By this, the process is applicable also in situations where the first constituent is not suitable to take up a high mechanical load.

(18) The tool 3 in FIG. 3 is depicted to have a shaft portion 3.1 and a foot portion 3.2. The shaft portion reaches through the second constituent, and the foot portion (a distally facing outcoupling face thereof) is in contact with a distal end of the second constituent 2, so that the vibrations can be coupled into the second constituent from a rearward end thereof.

(19) In the variant of FIG. 3, the second constituent 2 due to its constructionit has a plurality of elements that are spreadable and can shift along surfaces that are conical/oblique to an axis 31a compression of the second constituent between the tool 3 and the counter element 4 causes the second constituent to laterally expand and to be pressed against lateral walls of an opening 1.1 in the first constituent. By this, when vibrations are coupled into the arrangement, friction between the first and second constituents may cause or at least assist liquefaction of the thermoplastic material.

(20) In the variant of FIG. 4, in contrast, the first constituent 1 need not be loaded at all by directed pressure. Rather, liquefaction will take place at an interface/at interfaces between one or both of the end faces 2.1, 2.2 and the tool 3 and the counter element 4, respectively. Note that in the configuration of FIG. 4, the roles of the tool 3 and the counter element 4 can be reversed, i.e. in a sub-variant, the element reaching through the second constituent 2 and having a distal foot can serve as counter element, whereas the tube-shaped element in contact with the proximal end face of the second constituent can be coupled to a vibration source and serve as a sonotrode.

(21) FIG. 5 yet shows a configuration comparable to the one of FIG. 4. The tool has a shaft portion 3.1 and a distal foot portion 3.2 with an outcoupling surface 3.3, liquefaction taking place at a first interface between the outcoupling surface and an incoupling surface 2.1 of the second constituent. The proximal end face 2.2 of the second constituent 2 is, during the process, pressed against a second interface with the distal end face 4.1 of the counter element 4. During the process, this second interface may be held still or may be moved distally or proximally.

(22) At the liquefaction interface (the first interface) a full cross section of second constituent is liquefied. For example, an outer diameter of the tool (at least in the region of the liquefaction interface, thus in rearward configurations the outer diameter of the foot portion 3.2) may be chosen to approximately correspond to the inner diameter of the initial opening 1.1 (for example, to be equal or smaller by at most 10% or at most 5% or at most 3%) and/or to be (approximately) equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the second constituent (for example, to correspond to it, or to be larger, or to be smaller by at most 7%, at most 4%, or at most 2%). Especially, the liquefaction may be carried out so that no portion of the second constituent that was not liquefied at the liquefaction interface(s) remains in the object or connected thereto after removal of the tool 3.

(23) Thus, the configuration of FIG. 5 is an example of a configuration where the interpenetration leads to a reinforcement and/or lining of the first constituent by material of the second constituent. Especially, the reinforcement and/or lining may concern the walls of an opening of the first constituent.

(24) A large variety of approaches for reinforcement and/or lining of a constituent by thermoplastic material is described in PCT/CH2013/000102 by the same applicant as the present application, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

(25) All of the examples depicted in FIGS. 3-5 are examples suitable for configurations where the force that ultimately causes the hydrostatic pressure is coupled into the tool 3 that transmits the energy as a tensile force (pulling force).

(26) FIG. 6 yet shows a variant, where the energy used for the interpenetration is not mechanical energy but radiation energy. To this end, the tool 3 is provided as a light guide. The radiation energy may for example be absorbed at the proximal end face 2.1 of the second constituent, within the second constituent 2, or, if the second constituent is sufficiently transparent, at the interface to the foot portion 4.2 of the counter element 4.

(27) In the variant of FIG. 7, the second constituent 2 includes a sheath element 24 of a non-thermoplastic material (or thermoplastic material liquefiable at a much higher temperature) with a plurality of openings 25 and a thermoplastic element 23 inserted or insertable into the sheath element. During the process, the energy is coupled into the thermoplastic element until material of the thermoplastic element is liquefied and pressed out of the openings 25. In FIG. 7, also an optional reinforcement layer 51 that takes up mechanical load arising during the pressing is illustrated.

(28) Like for the embodiment of FIG. 1a-1d, for all of the configurations of FIGS. 2-7, the irreversible transition will take place after the interpenetration by the thermoplastic material and the re-solidification or possibly simultaneously therewith.

(29) FIG. 8a illustrates a first constituent 1 of connected to a second constituent 2 in accordance with a prior art approach. The first and second constituents are assumed to have different densities and different physical properties. For example, the second constituent may have been brought into contact with a surface of the first constituent in a liquid state and then cooled (cast). Because of the relatively abrupt transition at the common interface, a physical quantity Q will change as a function of the position in a step-like manner as illustrated in FIG. 8b. The derivative of this function with respect to the position will thus comprise a very high peak at the interface. Therefore, quantities like temperature-change-induces stress (or example if the quantity Q is the coefficient of thermal expansion) may tend to be very large at the interface and thus have unfavorable influences. Similar considerations apply to other sensitive quantities.

(30) If the approach according to the invention is chosen instead, as illustrated in FIG. 9a there will be a considerable interpenetration zone 11. Therefore, the average value of the quantity Q can change more continuously (FIG. 9b), and thus phenomena like stress at the interface are substantially reduced.

(31) FIG. 10 shows a solar or energy collecting installation. A central body 101 includes porous graphite and is thus an excellent heat absorber. A plurality of mounting and heat conducting elements 102 are fastened to the central body. The elements each include a heat conducting core (the core may have a passive heat conductor or means for conducting a fluid) and a carbonized, originally thermoplastic material interpenetrating the central body 101. The installation further includes a plurality of sunlight re-directors 104 (actively tilting mirrors) that direct incident sunlight 105 onto the central body. Reference number 103 denotes a device by which the collected heat is directed to an exploiting stage, for example including a turbine for producing, together with a generator, electricity.

(32) The flowchart shown in FIG. 11 illustrates the manufacturing of a ceramic foam with an opening that is lined and/or reinforced by a process as described herein. For example, the ceramic foam may be the body of a fuel cell from which or to which electrical charges have to be transported and which thus needs to be electrically contacted, or a ceramic foam for any other application, for example an application discussed hereinbefore.

(33) The process includes lining/reinforcing the initial opening by causing the interpenetration of thermoplastic material, for example as shown in FIG. 6, while first constituent that is made of the ceramic foam is still a green body prior to firing/sintering the green body. For example, the green body may directly be shaped (molded or similar) with the initial opening, whereafter the opening is lined and/or reinforced. Because in embodiments of the invention, during the liquefaction no pressure is exerted on the object except the small pressure of the liquid that penetrates into the pores, the small dimensional stability of the green body is sufficient for this.

(34) After the step of interpenetrating, the green body is fired and/or sintered. Because of this, the interpenetrating material of the second constituent has to be chosen to sustain the temperature during this process. In the depicted embodiment, the second constituent material is chosen to be itself a ceramic material that is thermoplastic before hardening. Then, in the firing/sintering process second constituent material is simultaneously sintered to ceramic material also.

(35) After the firing/sintering process, the reinforcement/lining may be used for connecting a further element (joining element/electrical contact, heat conductor etc.) to the ceramic body.