Process for preparing self-supporting bodies and products made thereby

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into boron carbide typically resulting in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound and metal. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron carbide to produce a composite by reactive infiltration which composite, comprises a matrix of metal and boron-containing compound embedding the filler. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing varying volume percents of ceramic metal, and/or porosity.