Patents by Inventor Don M. NICHOLSON

Don M. NICHOLSON has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Magnetic field annealing for improved creep resistance
    Patent number: 9217187
    Abstract: The method provides heat-resistant chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloys having improved creep resistance. A precursor is provided containing preselected constituents of a chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloy, at least one of the constituents for forming a nanoscale precipitate MaXb where M is Cr, Nb, Ti, V, Zr, or Hf, individually and in combination, and X is C, N, O, B, individually and in combination, a=1 to 23 and b=1 to 6. The precursor is annealed at a temperature of 1000-1500° C. for 1-48 h in the presence of a magnetic field of at least 5 Tesla to enhance supersaturation of the MaXb constituents in the annealed precursor. This forms nanoscale MaXb precipitates for improved creep resistance when the alloy is used at service temperatures of 500-1000° C. Alloys having improved creep resistance are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Brady, Gail M. Ludtka, Gerard M. Ludtka, Govindarajan Muralidharan, Don M. Nicholson, Orlando Rios, Yukinori Yamamoto
  • MAGNETIC FIELD ANNEALING FOR IMPROVED CREEP RESISTANCE
    Publication number: 20140020797
    Abstract: The method provides heat-resistant chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloys having improved creep resistance. A precursor is provided containing preselected constituents of a chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloy, at least one of the constituents for forming a nanoscale precipitate MaXb where M is Cr, Nb, Ti, V, Zr, or Hf, individually and in combination, and X is C, N, O, B, individually and in combination, a=1 to 23 and b=1 to 6. The precursor is annealed at a temperature of 1000-1500° C. for 1-48 h in the presence of a magnetic field of at least 5 Tesla to enhance supersaturation of the MaXb constituents in the annealed precursor. This forms nanoscale MaXb precipitates for improved creep resistance when the alloy is used at service temperatures of 500-1000° C. Alloys having improved creep resistance are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. BRADY, Gail M. LUDTKA, Gerard M. LUDTKA, Govindarajan MURALIDHARAN, Don M. NICHOLSON, Orlando RIOS, Yukinori YAMAMOTO