David L Masters, 754790 Matthews Rd, Charlotte, MI 48813

5006306, Apr 9, 1991

Sep 6, 1990

7/578154

Cressie E. Holcombe - Farragut TN
Walter G. Northcutt - Oak Ridge TN
David R. Masters - Knoxville TN
Lloyd R. Chapman - Knoxville TN

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

C22C 4500

420 3

Alloys such as U-6Nb are prepared by forming a stacked sandwich array of uraniun sheets and niobium powder disposed in layers between the sheets, heating the array in a vacuum induction melting furnace to a temperature such as to melt the uranium, holding the resulting mixture at a temperature above the melting point of uranium until the niobium dissolves in the uranium, and casting the uranium-niobium solution. Compositional uniformity in the alloy product is enabled by use of the sandwich structure of uranium sheets and niobium powder.

3993738, Nov 23, 1976

Nov 8, 1973

5/414028

Lyle G. Overholser - Oak Ridge TN
David R. Masters - Knoxville TN
John M. Napier - Oak Ridge TN

The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy
Research and Development Administration - Washington DC

C01B 3104

423448

High strength graphite is manufactured from a mixture of a particulate filler prepared by treating a particulate carbon precursor at a temperature in the range of about 400. degree. to 1000. degree. C. , an organic carbonizable binder, and green carbonizable fibers in a concentration of not more than 2 weight per cent of the filler. The use of the relatively small quantity of green fibers provides a substantial increase in the flexural strength of the graphite with only a relatively negligible increase in the modulus of elasticity.

4550412, Oct 29, 1985

Jan 6, 1984

6/568770

Cressie E. Holcombe - Knoxville TN
David R. Masters - Knoxville TN
William A. Pfeiler - Norris TN

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

F27B 1410
H05B 116

373155

An induction furnace for melting and casting highly pure metals and alloys such as uranium and uranium alloys in such a manner as to minimize contamination of the melt by carbon derived from the materials and the environment within the furnace. The subject furnace is constructed of carbon free materials and is housed within a conventional vacuum chamber. The furnace comprises a ceramic oxide crucible for holding the charge of metal or alloy. The heating of the crucible is achieved by a plasma-sprayed tungsten susceptor surrounding the crucible which, in turn, is heated by an RF induction coil separated from the susceptor by a cylinder of inorganic insulation. The furnace of the present invention is capable of being rapidly cycled from ambient temperatures to about 1650. degree. C. for effectively melting uranium and uranium alloys without the attendant carbon contamination problems previously encountered when using carbon-bearing furnace materials.

4406699, Sep 27, 1983

Jun 9, 1981

6/271889

David E. Beck - Knoxville TN
Jack G. Gooch - Seymour TN
Cressie E. Holcombe - Knoxville TN
David R. Masters - Knoxville TN

C22C 3000
C04B 3548

75233

The present invention relates to a metal-oxide ceramic composition useful in induction heating applications for treating uranium and uranium alloys. The ceramic composition is electrically conductive at room temperature and is nonreactive with molten uranium. The composition is prepared from a particulate admixture of 20 to 50 vol. % niobium and zirconium oxide which may be stabilized with an addition of a further oxide such as magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, or yttria. The composition is prepared by blending the powders, pressing or casting the blend into the desired product configuration, and then sintering the casting or compact in an inert atmosphere. In the casting operation, calcium aluminate is preferably added to the admixture in place of a like quantity of zirconia for providing a cement to help maintain the integrity of the sintered product.