Appeal No. 1999-1136
Application No. 08/771,373
nitride. The process disclosed by Basche involves depositing2
a coating of PBN on a surface by the thermal decomposition and
reaction of ammonia with a boron halide (e.g., BCl ). At col.
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3, lines 40 to 60, Basche discloses that the reactor should be
maintained at a temperature of 1450 to 2300° C., and that
(col. 3, lines 54 to 60):
The process, however, is very efficient if the
temperature of the reactor is maintained between a
preferential temperature range of 1850° C. and 2200°
C. and especially at about 2000° C. Boron nitride
produced within the latter range has a density
between about 1.99 and 2.20 grams/cm and is quite 3
stable in water.
In view of this disclosure of Basche, the only
difference, if any, between the subject matter recited in
claims 1 and 2 and the combination of Morris and Basche is in
the particular values of the coating density and the
deposition (reactor) temperature.
Appellants argue that the combination of Morris and
Basche does not establish a prima facie case of obviousness.
We disagree. Since the claimed ranges of temperature and
2 Appellants and the examiner agree that the patent number
"3,152,226" at col. 3, line 12 of Morris should be "3,152,006"
(the Basche patent).
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