Ceramic composite structures having intrinsically fitted encasement members thereon and methods of making the same

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method is provided of producing a self-supporting ceramic composite structure having one or more encasement members, such as an encasing steel sleeve joined to it by, growth of the ceramic material to engagement surface(s) of the encasement member(s). A parent metal is contacted with a body of filler which is encased by the encasement member(s). The resulting assembly is heated to melt and oxidize the parent metal, e.g. aluminum, to form a polycrystalline material comprising an oxidation reaction product which grows through the body of filler and stops at the engagement surface(s) of the encasement member(s) which thereby determines the surface geometry of the grown ceramic matrix. Upon …