Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3521

A -- OXYNITRIDE GLASS PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY SOL CBD113 DUE 112398 POC Paul Grahovac WEB: Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory, http://www.inel.gov/procurement/litco/index.html. E-MAIL: Paul Grahovac, pg2@inel.gov. A -- Oxynitride glass production technology, U. S. Patent Number 5,006,142 (LMITCO IDR E-311). Contact Mr. Paul Grahovac. Potential technology development and licensing opportunity with LMITCO, the prime operating contractor for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). LMITCO is seeking a written indication of interest from industry partners interested in funding a collaborative technology development project and or entering into a license agreement for the purpose of developing and commercializing this technology. License terms will include an up-front licensing fee and a running royalty based on a percentage of sales. A description of the technology follows. LMITCO has patented the following technology (U. S. Patent Number 5,006,142). ABSTRACT: The invention is a process for the preparation of high quality oxynitride glasses without resorting to high pressures. Nitrogen-containing compounds such as Si3N4 are first encapsulated in a low-melting temperature glass. Particles of the encapsulated nitrogen-containing compound are mixed with other oxide glass-formers and melted in an atmosphere of flowing nitrogen and in the presence of buffering gas to form the oxynitride glass. Glasses containing up to 15 at % nitrogen have been prepared by this method. SUMMARY: This invention relates to an improved method for preparing oxynitride glasses. More specifically this invention relates to a new and improved method for preparing oxynitride glasses which do not need the high temperatures and high pressures required by prior art methods of preparing these glasses. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: A process has been developed for producing oxynitride glass which eliminates many of the problems hereinbefore recited. It has been found that by encapsulating or coating a nitrogen-containing compound, such as Si3N4, with a low-melting temperature glass, and heating the glass under a buffer gas to prevent the nitrogen-containing compound from decomposing, it is possible to produce oxynitride glasses containing up to 15 at % nitrogen under conditions of 1 atmosphere of nitrogen. By the method of the invention, particles of low- melting temperature glass (hereinafter referred to as LMT glass), are mixed with particles of a nitrogen-containing compound to form a first batch. The first batch is heated, under an atmosphere of flowing nitrogen, to a temperature sufficient to melt the glass, but below the decomposition temperature of the nitrogen-containing compound. This temperature is maintained for a period of time sufficient for the LMT glass to melt, forming a first melt of molten glass containing particles of nitrogen-containing compound. After cooling, the glass is rough ground to form particles of nitrogen-containing compound encapsulated with LMT glass. The encapsulated particles are then mixed with glass-forming oxides in an amount sufficient to bring the composition of the mixture into a glass-forming region, forming a second batch. The second batch is heated, under an atmosphere of flowing nitrogen and in the presence of a buffer gas, to a temperature sufficient to melt the LMT glass and dissolve the glass-forming oxides and nitrogen-containing compound in the molten glass to form a second melt. This temperature is maintained for a period of time sufficient for the LMT glass to melt and for the nitrogen-containing compound and the glass-forming oxides to dissolve in the molten glass and for the mixture to homogenize, whereupon cooling the molten homogeneous melt, an oxynitride glass is formed. This is not an opportunity to provide goods or services to LMITCO or the Department of Energy. This Request for Interest (RFI) will close to response 30 days after publication. Interested parties should send a description of their company and their ability to commercialize this technology to the following address: Paul Grahovac, Account Executive, Technology Transfer Office, LMITCO, P. O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3805. E-mail is pg2@inel.gov. Posted 10/21/98 (W-SN264043). (0294)

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