CERAMIC INSULATOR AND METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF
One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to an insulator comprising a ceramic composition, wherein the ceramic composition comprises about 25-60% SiO 2 ; 15-35% R 2 O 3 , wherein the R 2 O 3 is 3-15% B 2 O 3 and 5-25% Al 2 O 3 ; 4-25% MgO+0-7% Li 2 O, wherein the total of MgO+Li 2 O is between about 6-25%; 2-20% R 2 O, wherein the R 2 O is 0-15% Na 2 O, 0-15% K 2 O, 0-15% Rb 2 O; 0-15% Rb 2 O; 0-20% Cs 2 O; and 4-20% F; crystalline grains, wherein the crystalline grains are substantially oriented to extend in a first direction to provide improved insulating properties in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first direction is circumferential and the direction perpendicular to the first direction is radial; and a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is in compression and the second zone is in tension.
1 - 14 . (canceled)
15 . A method of modifying one or more properties of a substantially amorphous material comprising:
providing a substantially amorphous material;
selectively inducing a phase change in a first zone of the material without substantially inducing a phase change in a second zone of the material.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of selectively inducing a phase change in a first zone of the material comprises inducing crystallization in the first zone.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the step of inducing crystallization comprises seeding at least a portion of the first zone.
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the step of inducing crystallization comprises providing a nucleating agent to at least a portion of the first zone.
19 . The method of claim 16 wherein following the step of selectively inducing a phase change in a first zone of the material, the first zone of material is under compression and the second zone of the material is under tension.
20 . The method of claim 15 wherein following the step of selectively inducing a phase change in a first zone of the material, the first zone of material has an index of refraction different from the second zone of the material.
21 . The method of claim 15 wherein following the step of selectively inducing a phase change in a first zone of the material, the first zone of material has a chemical or corrosion resistance different from the second zone of the material.
22 . The method of claim 19 wherein the material is a ceramic.
23 . The method of claim 15 wherein following the step of selectively inducing a phase change in a first zone of the material, the first zone of the material has crystalline grains substantially oriented to extend in a first direction to provide improved insulating properties in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
24 . The method of claim 23 wherein the first direction is circumferential and the direction perpendicular to the first direction is radial.
25 . The method of claim 15 wherein the first zone is adjacent an outer surface of the substantially amorphous material.
26 . The method of claim 15 wherein selectively inducing a phase change in a first zone includes providing an actuating agent to at least a portion of the first zone.
27 . The method of claim 26 wherein the actuating agent is one of B 2 O 3 or fluorine.
28 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising heating the first zone to re-solution crystals formed in at least a portion of the first zone as an amorphous structure, and quenching the first zone to retain at least a portion of the amorphous structure.
29 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising heating a surface of the substantially amorphous material to smooth the surface.
30 . A method for forming an electrically insulating material comprising:
forming a crystalline layered material having a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone has a lower packing efficiency than a packing efficiency in the second zone; and
forming an optical path through the electrically insulating material.
31 . The method of claim 30 wherein the step of forming a crystalline layered material includes forming circumferentially aligned crystallized grains in the first zone of the layered material, and wherein the first zone is under compression and the second zone of the layered material is under tension.
32 . The method of claim 30 wherein forming an optical path through the electrically insulating material includes providing one or more optical fibers extending longitudinally through one or more layers of the electrically insulating material.
33 . A method for forming a dielectric material configured for use in a fuel injector, the method comprising:
providing a substantially amorphous material; and
crystallizing at least a portion of the substantially amorphous material to form crystalline grains that are substantially oriented to extend in a circumferential direction to provide improved insulating properties in a radial direction.
34 . The method of claim 33 wherein the step of crystallizing at least a portion of the substantially amorphous material includes retaining one or more amorphous structures in the dielectric material.