Abstract: A nickel-based braze alloy composition is described, including nickel, about 1 weight % to about 5 weight % boron (B); and about 1 weight % to about 20 weight % germanium (Ge). The composition is free of any silicon. Superalloy articles that contains a crack or other type of void or gap filled with the nickel-based braze alloy composition are also described, along with methods for filling such a gap. Related articles of manufacture and brazing processes to join metal components are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nickel-based braze alloy composition includes nickel, about 1 weight % to about 5 weight % boron (B); and about 1 weight % to about 20 weight % germanium (Ge). The composition is free of any silicon. Superalloy articles having a crack or other type of void or gap may be filled with the nickel-based braze alloy composition. Methods for filling such a gap are described.

Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical device and a method for making such an assembly are presented. The contact assembly comprises a substrate and a contact material disposed on the substrate. The contact material comprises a composite material comprising a refractory material and a matrix material. The matrix material has a higher ductility than the refractory material. The composite material further comprises a core region and an outer region bounding the core region, the core region having a higher concentration of the refractory material than the outer region. The method applies cold spraying a blended feedstock to produce a layer that includes the composite material described above.

Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical device and a method for making such an assembly are presented. The contact assembly comprises a substrate and a contact material disposed on the substrate. The contact material comprises a composite material comprising a refractory material and a matrix material. The matrix material has a higher ductility than the refractory material. The composite material further comprises a core region and an outer region bounding the core region, the core region having a higher concentration of the refractory material than the outer region. The method applies cold spraying a blended feedstock to produce a layer that includes the composite material described above..

Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical device and a method for making such an assembly are presented. The contact assembly comprises a substrate and a contact material disposed on the substrate. The contact material comprises a composite material comprising a refractory material and a matrix material. The matrix material has a higher ductility than the refractory material. The composite material further comprises a core region and an outer region bounding the core region, the core region having a higher concentration of the refractory material than the outer region. The method applies cold spraying a blended feedstock to produce a layer that includes the composite material described above.

Abstract: A method of binder jet printing a part includes depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface and selectively printing a binder solution comprising a binder into the layer of powder in a first pattern to generate a printed layer. The pattern is representative of a structure of a layer of the part. The method also includes selectively printing a channel support agent solution comprising a channel support agent into the layer of powder to generate a green body. The channel support agent is selectively printed in a second pattern representative of an internal channel of the part. The method further includes heating the green body part above a first temperature to remove the binder and generate a brown body part and heating the brown body part above a second temperature to sinter the powder to generate the part having the internal channel generated from removal of the channel support agent.

Abstract: A method of binder jet printing a part includes depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface and selectively printing a binder solution comprising a binder into the layer of powder in a first pattern to generate a printed layer. The pattern is representative of a structure of a layer of the part. The method also includes selectively printing a channel support agent solution comprising a channel support agent into the layer of powder to generate a green body. The channel support agent is selectively printed in a second pattern representative of an internal channel of the part. The method further includes heating the green body part above a first temperature to remove the binder and generate a brown body part and heating the brown body part above a second temperature to sinter the powder to generate the part having the internal channel generated from removal of the channel support agent.

Abstract: A nickel-based braze alloy composition is described, including nickel, about 1 weight % to about 5 weight % boron (B); and about 1 weight % to about 20 weight % germanium (Ge). The composition is free of any silicon. Superalloy articles that contains a crack or other type of void or gap filled with the nickel-based braze alloy composition are also described, along with methods for filling such a gap. Related articles of manufacture and brazing processes to join metal components are also disclosed.

Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical device and a method for making such an assembly are presented. The contact assembly comprises a substrate and a contact material disposed on the substrate. The contact material comprises a composite material comprising a refractory material and a matrix material. The matrix material has a higher ductility than the refractory material. The composite material further comprises a core region and an outer region bounding the core region, the core region having a higher concentration of the refractory material than the outer region. The method applies cold spraying a blended feedstock to produce a layer that includes the composite material described above.

Abstract: A method of binder jet printing a metal part includes depositing a layer of a metal powder on a working surface of a binder jet printer and selectively printing a binder solution having a reversible binder into the layer of metal powder in a pattern to generate a printed layer. The pattern is representative of a structure of a layer of the metal part. The method also includes curing the reversible binder in the printed layer to generate a layer of a green body metal part and heating the green body metal part above a first temperature to remove a substantial portion of the reversible binder and generate a brown body metal part. The reversible binder is thermally decomposed to generate oligomers that remain within and strengthen the brown body metal part. The method further includes heating the brown body metal part above a second temperature to remove the oligomers and sinter the metal powder to generate the metal part. The metal part is substantially free of char residue.

Abstract: A method for joining a filler material to a substrate material includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten. The crucible has an outlet fluidly connected to the melting chamber. The method also includes holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a first pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a second pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material. The second pressure differential has a different value than the first pressure differential.

Abstract: A method for joining a filler material to a substrate material includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten. The crucible has an outlet fluidly connected to the melting chamber. The method also includes holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a first pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a second pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material. The second pressure differential has a different value than the first pressure differential.

Abstract: A brazing process and assembly utilizing microwave radiation and a plasma generator that is heated by microwave radiation and generates a localized plasma capable of selectively heating and melting a braze alloy. The plasma generator contains a microwave-susceptible material that is susceptible to heating by microwave radiation, and a plasma-generating material capable of volatilizing and generating the plasma when the plasma generator is subjected to heating and microwave radiation. The brazing process includes applying a braze material to a surface of a substrate, positioning the plasma generator in proximity to the braze material, and then subjecting the plasma generator to microwave radiation to volatilize the plasma-generating material and generate a plasma that melts the braze alloy within the braze material.

Abstract: A method is provided for joining a filler material to a substrate material. The method includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten. The crucible has an outlet fluidly connected to the melting chamber. The method also includes holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a first pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a second pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material. The second pressure differential has a different value than the first pressure differential.

Abstract: A method of bonding superalloys is provided. The method includes: aligning a first superalloy subcomponent having a gamma-prime solvus g?1 and a second superalloy subcomponent having a gamma-prime solvus g?2, with a filler material that includes at least 1.5 wt % boron disposed between the first and second superalloy subcomponents; performing a first heat treatment at a temperature T1, where T1 is above the solidus of the filler material and below the liquidus of the filler material; and performing a second heat treatment at a temperature T2, where T2 is greater than T1, and where T2 is greater than or equal to the lower of g?1 and g?2.

Abstract: A method of bonding superalloys is provided. The method includes: aligning a first superalloy subcomponent having a gamma-prime solvus g?1 and a second superalloy subcomponent having a gamma-prime solvus g?2, with a filler material that includes at least 1.5 wt % boron disposed between the first and second superalloy subcomponents; performing a first heat treatment at a temperature T1, where T1 is above the solidus of the filler material and below the liquidus of the filler material; and performing a second heat treatment at a temperature T2, where T2 is greater than T1, and where T2 is greater than or equal to the lower of g?1 and g?2.

Abstract: A method for depositing material on a turbine airfoil having a tip wall extending past a tip cap, wherein the tip wall includes a first alloy with a single crystal microstructure. The method includes: depositing a second alloy on at least a portion of the tip wall to form a repair structure, wherein a high temperature oxidation resistance of the second alloy is greater than a high temperature oxidation resistance of the first alloy, and wherein the repair structure has a crystallographic orientation that is substantially the same as a crystallographic orientation of the tip wall.

Abstract: A method is provided for joining a filler material to a substrate material. The method includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten, holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by electromagnetically levitating the filler material within the melting chamber, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material.

Abstract: A method is provided for joining a filler material to a substrate material. The method includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten. The crucible has an outlet fluidly connected to the melting chamber. The method also includes holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a first pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a second pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material. The second pressure differential has a different value than the first pressure differential.

Abstract: Braze materials and processes for using braze materials, such as for use in the manufacturing, coating, repair, and build-up of superalloy components. The braze material contains a plurality of first particles of a metallic material having a melting point, and a plurality of second particles comprising at least one nonmetallic material chosen from the group consisting of oxides, carbides, and nitrides of at least one metal. The nonmetallic material is more susceptible to heating by microwave radiation than the metallic material of the first particles, and the nonmetallic material is present in the braze material in an amount sufficient to enable the first particles to completely melt when the first and second particles are subjected to heating by microwave radiation.