US 11,919,088 B1
Pressure assisted melt infiltration
Jeffrey Crutchfield, Indianapolis, IN (US); and Andrew Ritchey, Cypress, CA (US)
Assigned to ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC., Cypress, CA (US); and ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis, IN (US); and Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc., Cypress, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/576,303.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/293,292, filed on Dec. 23, 2021.
Int. Cl. B22F 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC B22F 7/08 (2013.01) [B22F 2201/016 (2013.01); B22F 2201/02 (2013.01); B22F 2201/20 (2013.01); B22F 2302/105 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of melt infiltrating a fiber preform comprising:
providing the fiber preform inside of a pressure vessel,
heating a metal powder contained in a crucible to form a molten material, the pressure vessel and crucible being located in a furnace;
simultaneously or prior to the heating, applying a negative pressure to a first port of the furnace and to a second port of the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel projecting into the molten material contained in the crucible, the pressure vessel having an opening located below a surface of the molten material through which the molten material enters the pressure vessel, wherein an end of the fiber preform contacts the molten material within the pressure vessel;
pulling the molten material within the pressure vessel by increasing a first pressure at the first port of the furnace so the first pressure is higher than a second pressure at the second port of the pressure vessel, the second port located above the molten material located within the pressure vessel; and
infiltrating the fiber preform with the molten material.