Titanium, Zirconium, Or Hafnium Base Patents (Class 148/421)
-
Patent number: 7736450Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article, such as a gas turbine engine airfoil, with varying thickness by varying a surface fluence of a laser beam over a laser shock peening surface as a function of the thickness beneath a laser shock peened spot formed by the beam on the surface. The fluence may be equal to the thickness multiplied by a volumetric fluence factor, the volumetric fluence factor being held constant over the laser shock peening surface. The volumetric fluence factor may be in a range of about 1200 J/cm3 to 1800 J/cm3 and more particularly about 1500 J/cm3. The method may include varying energy in the laser beam using a computer program controlling firing of the laser beam. A device such as an optical attenuator external to a laser performing firing may be used to vary the energy.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Samuel Bailey, Michael Paul Hausfeld, Donald Eugene Williams, Jr., Todd Jay Rockstroh
-
Patent number: 7738620Abstract: A method for production of a fuel cladding tube for a nuclear reactor, characterized by the preparation of an ingot of an alloy of zirconium with the following composition by weight %: 0.8%?Nb?2.8%, traces?Sn?0.65%, 0.015%?Fe?0.40%, C?100 ppm, 600 ppm?O?2300 ppm, 5 ppm?S?100 ppm, Cr+V?0.25%, Hf?75 ppm and F?1 ppm the remainder being zirconium and impurities arising from production. The ingot is then subjected to forging, a hardening and thermomoechanical treatments comprising cold laminations separated by intermediate annealing, all intermediate annealings being carried out at a temperature below the ???+? transition temperature of the alloy, finishing with a recrystallization annealing and resulting in the production of a tube, whereupon an optional external cleaning of the tube is carried out and a mechanical polishing of the external surface of the tube is carried out to give a roughness Ra less than or equal to 0.5 ?m. The invention further relates to a fuel cladding tube obtained thereby.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2005Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Areva NPInventors: Pierre Barberis, Jean-Paul Mardon, Véronique Rebeyrolle, Jean-Luc Aubin
-
Publication number: 20100128834Abstract: Articles, such as tubing or strips, which have excellent corrosion resistance to water or steam at elevated temperatures, are produced from alloys having 0.2 to 1.5 weight percent niobium, 0.01 to 0.45 weight percent iron, at least one additional alloy element selected from 0.02 to 0.8 weight percent tin, 0.05 to 0.5 weight percent chromium, 0.02 to 0.3 weight percent copper, 0.1 to 0.3 weight percent vanadium, 0.01 to 0.1 weight percent nickel, the balance at least 97 weight percent zirconium, including impurities, wherein the alloy may be fabricated from a process of forging the zirconium alloy into a material, beta quenching the material, forming the material by extruding or hot rolling the material, cold working the material with one or a multiplicity of cold working steps, wherein the cold working step includes cold reducing the material and annealing the material at an intermediate anneal temperature of 960°-1105° F., and final working and annealing of the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2010Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: David Colburn, Robert Comstock, Terrence Cook, Mats Dahlback, John P. Foster, Anand Garde, Pascal Jourdain, Ronald Kesterson, Micheal McClarren, Lynn Nuhfer, Jonna Partezana, Kenneth Yueh, James A. Boshers, Penney File
-
Patent number: 7722805Abstract: The patent provides the titanium alloy with extra-low modulus and superelasticity containing 20˜35 wt. % niobium, 2˜15 wt. % zirconium, balanced titanium and other unavoidable impurity elements. The advantages of the invention alloy are shown as follows: The invention titanium alloy has superior cold processing capacity and low work hardening rate; It can be severely deformed by cold rolling and cold drawing; It has superelasticity, shape memory effect, damping capacity, low modulus, high strength, good corrosion resistance and high biocompatibility; The invention titanium alloy can be made into nano-size materials by cold deformation and extra high strength can be achieved by heat treatment.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2004Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Institute of Metal Research Chinese Academy of SciencesInventors: Yulin Hao, Shujun Li, Rui Yang
-
Publication number: 20100108204Abstract: Disclosed herein is a zirconium alloy composition for nuclear fuel cladding tubes, comprising: 1.6˜2.0 wt % of Nb; 0.05˜0.14 wt % of Sn; 0.02˜0.2 wt % of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr and Cu; 0.09˜0.15 wt % of O; 0.008˜0.012 wt % of Si; and a balance of Zr, a nuclear fuel cladding tube comprising the zirconium alloy composition, and a method of manufacturing the nuclear fuel cladding tube. Since the nuclear fuel cladding tube made of the zirconium alloy composition can maintain excellent corrosion resistance by forming a protective oxide film thereon under the conditions of high-temperature and high-pressure cooling water and water vapor, it can be usefully used as a nuclear fuel cladding tube for light water reactors or heavy water reactors, thus improving the economical efficiency and safety of the use of nuclear fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicants: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., LtdInventors: Jeong-Yong Park, Yong Hwan Jeong, Sang Yoon Park, Myung Ho Lee, Byoung Kwon Choi, Hyun Gil Kim, Yang Il Jung
-
Patent number: 7704339Abstract: A gamma titanium aluminide alloy consisting of 46 at % aluminium, 8 at % tantalum and the balance titanium plus incidental impurities has an alpha transus temperature T? between 1310° C. and 1320° C. The gamma titanium aluminide alloy was heated to a temperature T1=1330° C. and was held at T1=1330° C. for 1 hour or longer. The gamma titanium aluminide alloy was air cooled to ambient temperature to allow the massive transformation to go to completion. The gamma titanium aluminide alloy was heated to a temperature T2=1250° C. to 1290° C. and was held at T2 for 4 hours. The gamma titanium aluminide alloy was air cooled to ambient temperature. The gamma titanium aluminide alloy has a fine duplex microstructure comprising differently orientated alpha plates in a massively transformed gamma matrix. The heat treatment reduces quenching stresses and allows larger castings to be grain refined.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Wayne E Voice, Dawei Hu, Xinhua Wu, Michael Loretto
-
Patent number: 7704334Abstract: The invention relates to zirconium-based alloys and methods for manufacturing thereof and may be used in nuclear power engineering. The invention, as claimed, solves the task of obtaining a zirconium-based alloy used for manufacturing fuel rods for the nuclear reactor core, which possess improved engineering and operational properties. The said zirconium-based alloy contains its components in the following weight percent ratio: niobium—0.9-1.1, oxygen—0.05-0.09, zirconium—the rest, and has the structure consisting of alpha-zirconium with oxygen irregularity zones not exceeding 30 nanometers, zirconium sub-oxide of non-stoichiometric composition, and beta-niobium. The inventive method of manufacturing the said alloy includes making stock of zirconium-containing material and niobium pentoxide as oxygen-containing and niobium-containing materials, stock treatment and manufacturing an ingot having the above composition.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignees: Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo “Chepetskiy Mekhanichesky Zavod”, The Federal State Unitarian Enterprise “A.A. Bochvar All-Russia Research Institute of Inorganic Materials”Inventors: Sergey Yurievich Zavodchikov, Valentina Mikhailovna Arzhakova, Oleg Viktorovich Bocharov, Lev Borisovich Zuev, Vladimir Andreevich Kotrekhov, Vladimir Vladimirovich Rozhdestvenskiy, Olga Stepanovna Tarasèvich, Vladimir Borisovich Philippov, Alexandr Konstantinovich Shikov
-
Patent number: 7682473Abstract: A method for forming a finished implant prosthesis which comprises: (a) providing an unforged alloy consisting essentially of Ti(x %)Al(y %)Nb wherein x is between about 45 to 54% by atoms, y is between about 15 to 25% by atoms and the balance is niobium; (b) forging the alloy at an elevated temperature below a melting point of the alloy in a shape which is an implant preform; and (c) machining the implant preform to provide a machined implant; and (d) finishing the exposed surfaces of the implant so as to provide the exposed surfaces with a finish which provides biocompatibility, to thereby form the implant prosthesis.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State UniversityInventor: Carl J. Boehlert
-
Patent number: 7670445Abstract: A titanium alloy contains vanadium, from 10 to 20% by weight; aluminum, from 0.2 to 10% by weight; and a balance essentially titanium, and the alloy has a microstructure including a martensite phase. Alternatively, the titanium alloy contains vanadium, from 10 to 20% by weight; aluminum, from 0.2 to 10% by weight; and a balance essentially titanium, and the alloy has a microstructure including a ? phase capable of transforming into a martensite phase by cold working or cooling under a room temperature.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Tohoku UniversityInventors: Fumihiko Gejima, Takuro Yamaguchi, Shuji Hanada, Hiroaki Matsumoto, Sadao Watanabe
-
Publication number: 20100018611Abstract: A method of ultra-fast boriding of a metal surface. The method includes the step of providing a metal component, providing a molten electrolyte having boron components therein, providing an electrochemical boriding system including an induction furnace, operating the induction furnace to establish a high temperature for the molten electrolyte, and boriding the metal surface to achieve a boride layer on the metal surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventors: Servet TIMUR, Guldem Kartal, Osman L. Eryilmaz, Ali Erdemir
-
Publication number: 20090308506Abstract: A method of heat treating a thermomechanical part made of a TA6Zr4DE titanium alloy. A solution-annealing is performed at a temperature lying in the range beta transus ?20° C. and beta transus ?15° C. for a duration lying in the range four hours to eight hours. The method is applicable to fabricating high pressure compressor disks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: SNECMAInventors: Blandine Barbier, Philippe Gallois, Claude Marcel Mons, Alain Robert Yves Perroux
-
Patent number: 7630470Abstract: A method of fabricating a zirconium alloy flat product, the method being characterized by: preparing or casting a zirconium alloy ingot containing at least 95% by weight of zirconium, and including the usual impurities and alloying elements; shaping said ingot in order to obtain a flat product; subjecting said flat product to a ? quenching operation under conditions that are determined to obtain within the flat product an acicular structure at the end of said ? quenching; subjecting said flat product, after the ? quenching, to a rolling operation performed in a single rolling sequence without intermediate annealing, said rolling being performed at a temperature lying in the range ambient to 200° C., and having a reduction ratio lying in the range 2% to 20%; and subjecting said rolled flat product to an annealing treatment in the a range or in the ?+? range, performed in the temperature range 500° C. to 800° C. for 2 minutes to 10 hours.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne du Zirconium-CezusInventors: Pierre Barberis, Claude Simonot
-
Publication number: 20090293993Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide methods of boronizing titanium and other metals and metal alloys. The method proceeds, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology, by using a boron source, and placing it in a heated environment, followed by a reduced pressure environment, as is described in the disclosure. In a solid phase embodiment of the disclosure, boronized stainless steel alloys are produced having zero galling at 17,000 psi.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: UNIVERSAL GLOBAL PRODUCTS, LLC.Inventors: Svetoslav Zlatev, Roumiana Petrova
-
Patent number: 7627356Abstract: A multifilament high temperature superconductor with thick, striated stabilizer is disclosed, including a substrate, a buffer layer, a multifilament superconductor layer, and at least one thick stabilizer layer. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes and methods for manufacturing same.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: SuperPower, Inc.Inventors: Xun Zhang, Venkat Selvamanickam
-
Patent number: 7627075Abstract: The invention proposes a zirconium-based alloy also containing, by weight, apart from unavoidable impurities, from 0.02 to 1% of iron, from 0.8% to 2.3% of niobium, less than 2000 ppm of tin, less than 2000 ppm of oxygen, less than 80 ppm of carbon, from 5 to 35 ppm of sulphur and less than 0.25% in total of chromium and/or vanadium, the ratio R of the niobium content less 0.5% to the iron content, optionally supplemented by the chromium and/or vanadium content, being lower than 3.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2004Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Framatome ANPInventors: Daniel Charquet, Jean-Paul Mardon, Jean Senevat
-
Patent number: 7625453Abstract: Methods for producing zirconium strips that demonstrate improved formability are disclosed. The zirconium strips of the present disclosure have a purity and crystalline microstructure suitable for improved formability, for example, in the manufacture of certain articles such as panels for plate heat exchangers and high performance tower packing components. Other embodiments disclosed herein relate to formed substantially pure zirconium strip, articles of manufacture produced from the substantially pure zirconium strip, and methods for making the articles of manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2005Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.Inventor: Craig M. Eucken
-
Publication number: 20090255609Abstract: Article (e.g., turbine engine fan or compressor blade) comprising a titanium alloy has a first portion with alpha+beta microstructure and a second portion with martensitic or a bimodal microstructure. The modified microstructure of the second portion is provided by selectively heating, and immediately quenching, the second portion without substantially heating the first portion. An exemplary method includes providing a near net-shaped article having a first portion (e.g., an airfoil region) and a second portion (e.g., an unfinished dovetail region). Initially, the article comprises an alpha+beta microstructure throughout. Thereafter, the second portion is selectively heated, followed by immediate quenching, without substantially heating the first portion, to modify the microstructure of the second portion to a martensitic or bimodal microstructure without substantially modifying the microstructure of the first portion. Thereafter, the second portion may be processed to a final body dimension.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: October 15, 2009Inventors: Kazim Ozbaysal, William Houchens, William Miller, Jesse Moses
-
Patent number: 7594973Abstract: Titanium material less susceptible to discoloration and method for thereof are provided. Titanium materials less susceptible to discoloration in the atmosphere are obtainable by controlling the fluorine and carbon contents in the oxide film on the surface thereof and the thickness of the oxide film. Such titanium materials are obtainable by dissolving the surface thereof in an aqueous fluonitric acid solution with a nitric acid concentration of not higher than 80 g/l or heat-treating at between 300 and 900° C. in a vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere of argon or helium after dissolving in the aqueous fluonitric acid solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Nippon Steel CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Takahashi, Teruhiko Hayashi, Michio Kaneko, Kiyonori Tokuno, Junichi Tamenari, Kinichi Kimura
-
Patent number: 7588621Abstract: A titanium based carbonitride alloy containing Ti, Nb, W, C, N and Co. The alloy also contains, in addition to Ti, 9-14 at % Co with only impurity levels of Ni and Fe, 1-<3 at % Nb, 3-8 at % W and has a C/(C+N) ratio of 0.50-0.75. The amount of undissolved Ti(C,N) cores should be kept between 26 and 37 vol % of the hard constituents, the balance being one or more complex carbonitrides containing Ti, Nb and W. The alloy is particularly useful for milling of steel.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AktiebolagInventors: Gerold Weinl, Ulf Rolander, Marco Zwinkels
-
Publication number: 20090199932Abstract: Method, and articles therefrom, for providing a hard, abrasion-resistant, attractive, oxide surface layer of selectable thickness and having an outer appearance within the scale from gray to blackness, to a zirconium titanium alloy article by heating the article in an oxygen containing atmosphere.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2008Publication date: August 13, 2009Inventor: Gad Zak
-
Patent number: 7563332Abstract: A nanometer-sized porous metallic glass and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The porous metallic glass includes Ti (titanium) at 50.0 at % to 70.0 at %, Y (yttrium) at 0.5 at % to 10.0 at %, Al (aluminum) at 10.0 at % to 30.0 at %, Co (cobalt) at 10.0 at % to 30.0 at %, and impurities. Ti+Y+Al+Co+the impurities=100.0 at %.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and TechnologyInventors: Eric Fleury, Yu-Chan Kim, Ki-Bae Kim, Jayamani Jayaraj, Do-Hyang Kim, Byung-Joo Park
-
Patent number: 7560000Abstract: A titanium alloy part has a compressive stress of approximately 270 MPa or more within a depth of about 100 ?m from a surface thereof. Since a large compressive stress exists in the area of the surface, the titanium alloy part exhibits a high fatigue strength.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takaharu Suzuki, Shuhei Adachi
-
Publication number: 20090139617Abstract: The present invention relates to a binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy suitable for the production of surgical implants. The alloy includes a zirconium content of less than 25% but more than 5% by weight, and 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive, and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2009Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: STRAUMANN HOLDING AGInventor: Samuel Steinemann
-
Publication number: 20090133783Abstract: The present invention provides colored pure titanium or titanium alloy having low susceptibility to discoloration in an atmospheric environment exhibiting a superior resistance to discoloration even when the titanium is used in an environment of harsh acid rain such as a roof or wall material and free from deterioration of the aesthetic appearance over a long period of time, that is, colored pure titanium obtained by the anodic oxidation method, that is, colored pure titanium or titanium alloy having low susceptibility to discoloration in an atmospheric environment characterized by having an average phosphorus content in a range of 40 nm from a surface of a titanium oxide layer formed on the titanium surface of 5.5 atomic % or less and by having an average carbon concentration in a range of a depth of 100 nm from the titanium surface of 3 to 15 atomic %.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2006Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventors: Michio Kaneko, Kiyonori Tokuno, Takao Wada, Mitsuyuki Hasegawa, Kazuo Yamagishi
-
Publication number: 20090129968Abstract: An oxidation resistant, high strength titanium alloy, particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of automotive exhaust system components and other applications requiring oxidation resistance and strength at elevated temperatures. The alloy comprises, in weight percent, iron less than 0.5, or 0.2 to less than 0.5%, oxygen 0.02 to less than 0.15%, silicon 0.15 to 0.6%, and balance titanium. Optional alloying elements are Al, Nb, V, Mo, Sn, Zr, Ni, Cr and Ta, with a total content of less than 1.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Yoji Kosaka, Stephen P. Fox
-
Patent number: 7506440Abstract: A method for surface treating a titanium gas turbine engine component. The method includes providing a gas turbine engine component having a titanium-containing surface. The component is heated to a temperature sufficient to diffuse carbon into the titanium and below 1000° F. The surface is contacted with a carbon-containing gas to diffuse carbon into the surface to form carbides. Thereafter, the carbide-containing surface is coated with a lubricant comprising a binder and a friction modifier. The binder preferably including titanium oxide and the friction modifier preferably including tungsten disulfide. The coefficient of friction between the surface and another titanium-containing surface is less than about 0.6 in high altitude atmospheres.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Robert William Bruce
-
Publication number: 20090071579Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sheet metal for use in a boiling water nuclear reactor and such a sheet metal. The method includes providing a material of a zirconium alloy that includes zirconium, and whose main alloying materials include niobium. The material is annealed so that essentially all niobium containing secondary phase particles are transformed to ?-niobium particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2005Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Westinghouse electric Sweden ABInventors: Lars Hallstadius, Mats Dahlback, Magnus Limback, John Bates, James Dougherty
-
Publication number: 20090050242Abstract: A method of fabricating a superplastically formable strip or a superplastically formable foil from TiAl6V4 with a thickness of no more than 0.9 mm, preferably less than or equal to 0.5 mm, comprises the steps: a) hot rolling a sheet metal made of TiAl6V4; b) thermal pre-treatment of the hot-rolled sheet metal at a temperature between 650 and 850° C.; and c) cold rolling the hot-rolled and thermally pre-treated sheet metal at a forming rate of at least 30%, wherein the forming rate per single pass amounts to between 1 and 15%, to form a strip or a foil with a thickness of no more than 0.9 mm, wherein the cold-rolled strip or the cold-rolled foil is not annealed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: Joachim KLOSE, Ella REHTANZ, Christiane ROTHE, Ines EULITZ, Werner BECK
-
Patent number: 7479194Abstract: A damage tolerant microstructure for a lamellar alloy, such as a lamellar ?TiAl alloy, is provided in accordance with the present invention. The alloy comprises a matrix and a plurality of grains or lamellar colonies, a portion of which exhibit a nonplanar morphology within said matrix. Each of the lamellar colonies contains a multitude of lamella with irregularly repeating order. The ?TiAl platelets have a triangular (octahedral) unit cell and stack with ? twins. The ?2Ti3Al platelets are irregularly interspersed. The unit cell for ?2Ti3Al is hexagonal. Each of the layers has a curved, nonplanar structure for resisting crack formation and growth.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Daniel P. DeLuca
-
Publication number: 20090000704Abstract: A hafnium alloy target containing either or both of Zr and Ti in a gross amount of 100 wtppm-10 wt % in Hf, wherein the average crystal grain size is 1-100 ?m, the impurities of Fe, Cr and Ni are respectively 1 wtppm or less, and the habit plane ratio of the plane {002} and three planes {103}, {014} and {015} lying within 35° from {002} is 55% or greater, and the variation in the total sum of the intensity ratios of these four planes depending on locations is 20% or less. As a result, obtained is a hafnium alloy target having favorable deposition property and deposition speed, which generates few particles, and which is suitable for forming a high dielectric gate insulation film such as HfO or HfON film, and the manufacturing method thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: NIPPON MINING & METALS CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeo Okabe, Shuichi Irumata, Yasuhiro Yamakoshi, Hirohito Miyashita, Ryo Suzuki
-
Patent number: 7465423Abstract: A braze material and method of brazing titanium metals. The material may consist of Ti, Ni, Cu Zr, PM and M where PM is a precious metal and M may be Fe, V, Cr, Co, Mo, Nb, Mn, Si, Sn, Al, B, Gd, Ge or combinations thereof, with the (Cu+PM)/Ni ratio around 0.9. Optionally, a second brazing may be performed to rebraze any braze joint that did not braze successfully. The second brazing material has a lower braze temperature than the first and may consist of a mixture of Ti, Ni, Cu, Zr PM and M with from 1-20 wt % more Zr, PM, M or combinations thereof than the first braze. The braze material may be placed on a base material, in a vacuum furnace, and heated to form a braze joint between the braze and base material. The heating step may occur from about 800-975° C. and over 3 to 15 minutes.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: Derek Raybould, Paul Chipko, Matthew Pohlman
-
Patent number: 7459036Abstract: Provided is a hafnium alloy target containing either or both of Zr and Ti in a gross amount of 100 wtppm-10 wt % in Hf, wherein the average crystal grain size is 1-100 ?m, the impurities of Fe, Cr and Ni are respectively 1 wtppm or less, and the habit plane ratio of the plane {002} and three planes {103}, {014} and {015} lying within 35° from {002} is 55% or greater, and the variation in the total sum of the intensity ratios of these four planes depending on locations is 20% or less. As a result, obtained is a hafnium alloy target having favorable deposition property and deposition speed, which generates few particles, and which is suitable for forming a high dielectric gate insulation film such as HfO or HfON film, and the manufacturing method thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., LtdInventors: Takeo Okabe, Shuichi Irumata, Yasuhiro Yamakoshi, Hirohito Miyashita, Ryo Suzuki
-
Patent number: 7449075Abstract: A titanium-alloy article is produced by providing a workpiece of an alpha-beta titanium alloy having a beta-transus temperature, and thereafter mechanically working the workpiece at a mechanical-working temperature above the beta-transus temperature. The mechanically worked workpiece is solution heat treated at a solution-heat-treatment temperature of from about 175° F. below the beta-transus temperature to about 25° F. below the beta-transus temperature, quenched, overage heat treated at an overage-heat-treatment temperature of from about 400° F. below the beta-transus temperature to about 275° F. below the beta-transus temperature, and cooled from the overage-heat-treatment temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Woodfield, Wesley Douglas Pridemore, Bernard Harold Lawless, Nancy Ann Sullivan, Peter Wayte, Michael James Weimer, Thomas Froats Broderick
-
Patent number: 7445658Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Donn Reynolds Armstrong, Stanley R. Borys, Richard P. Anderson
-
Patent number: 7442266Abstract: A high-strength titanium alloy of the present invention includes Ti as a major component, 15 to 30 at % Va group element, and 1.5 to 7 at % oxygen (O) when the entirety is taken as 100 atomic % (at %), and its tensile strength is 1,000 MPa or more. Overturning the conventional concept, regardless of being high oxygen contents, it has been possible to achieve the compatibility between the high strength and high ductility on a higher level.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2003Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventors: Tadahiko Furuta, Kazuaki Nishino, Takashi Saito, JungHwan Hwang
-
Patent number: 7435282Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: International Titanium Powder, LLCInventors: Donn Reynolds Armstrong, Stanley S. Borys, Richard P. Anderson
-
Patent number: 7422644Abstract: The present invention provides non-axially symmetrical manufactured parts of thickness less than 10 mm, made of ? or quasi-? titanium alloy, having a core microstructure constituted by whole grains presenting a slenderness ratio greater than 4 and an equivalent diameter lying in the range 10 ?m to 300 ?m. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing the parts by forging.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Snecma MoteursInventors: Blandine Barbier, Philippe Gallois, Claude Mons, Agathe Venard, Pascal Vignolles
-
Publication number: 20080210345Abstract: The invention refers to the non-ferrous metallurgy, i.e. to the creation of the modern titanium alloys, having the high genericity. Titanium-base alloy contains aluminum, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium, iron, zirconium, oxygen and nitrogen. Herewith the components of the alloy have the following ratio by weight %; aluminun—4.0-6.0; vanadium—4.5-6.0; molybdenum—4.5-6.0; chromium—2.0-3.6; iron—0.2-0.5; zirconium—0.1-less than 0.7; oxygen—0.2 max; nitrogen—0.05 max; titanium—balance. Technical result—creation of the titanium alloy with the required strength and plastic properties. The alloy may be used to produce the wide range of the products including the large-size forgings and die-forgings as well as semiproducts of small section, such as bars and plates up to 75 mm thick.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2006Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: Vladislav Valentinovich Tetyukhin, Igor Vasilievich Levin, Igor Jurievich Puzakov
-
Publication number: 20080163958Abstract: A damage tolerant microstructure for a lamellar alloy, such as a lamellar ?TiAl alloy, is provided in accordance with the present invention. The alloy comprises a matrix and a plurality of grains or lamellar colonies, a portion of which exhibit a nonplanar morphology within said matrix. Each of the lamellar colonies contains a multitude of lamella with irregularly repeating order. The ?TiAl platelets have a triangular (octahedral) unit cell and stack with ? twins. The ?2Ti3Al platelets are irregularly interspersed. The unit cell for ?2Ti3Al is hexagonal. Each of the layers has a curved, nonplanar structure for resisting crack formation and growth.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2005Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventor: Daniel P. DeLuca
-
Publication number: 20080142126Abstract: A metallic structure having a graded microstructure is provided. The metallic structure comprises a graded region comprising a plurality of grains having a gradient in grain size varying as a function of position between a first median grain size at an outer region and a second median grain size at an inner region and a plurality of dispersoids dispersed within the microstructure. The first median grain size is different from the second median grain size. A method of forming a metallic structure having a graded microstructure is also provided. The method comprises: providing a metallic structure comprising at least one reactive species; diffusing at least one reactant at a controlled rate from an outer region of the metallic structure towards an inner region of the metallic structure to form a gradient in reactant activity; reacting the reactant with the reactive species to form a plurality of dispersoids; and heat treating the metallic structure to achieve grain growth so as to form a graded microstructure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: MICHAEL FRANCIS XAVIER GIGLIOTTI, PAZHAYANNUR RAMANATHAN SUBRAMANIAN, SUNDAR AMANCHERLA, KRISHNAMURTHY ANAND, DHEEPA SRINIVASAN, CANAN USLU HARDWICKE
-
Patent number: 7368023Abstract: Zirconium-rich bulk metallic glass alloys include quinary alloys containing zirconium, aluminum, titanium, copper and nickel. The bulk metallic glass alloys may be provided as completely amorphous pieces having cross-sectional diameters of at least about 5 mm or even greater.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Wisconisn Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Y. Austin Chang, Hongbo Cao, Dong Ma, Ling Ding, Ker-chang Hsieh
-
Patent number: 7364631Abstract: The alloy contains, by weight, at least 95% zirconium and from 0.01 to 0.1% sulphur and, optionally, at least one element from the group consisting of the elements tin, iron, chromium, hafnium, niobium, nickel, oxygen and vanadium, the balance of the alloy consisting of inevitable impurities. The sulphur is present in the alloy in the dissolved state, thereby improving the creep strength and in the form of uniformly distributed fine precipitates, thereby improving the corrosion and hydriding resistance. The alloy may be heated by a solution annealing treatment in the ? phase followed by a quench or by a soak at a temperature below 950° C. in order to transform it into the ? or ?+? phase.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne du Zirconium CezusInventor: Daniel Charquet
-
Publication number: 20080078477Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article, such as a gas turbine engine airfoil, with varying thickness by varying a surface fluence of a laser beam over a laser shock peening surface as a function of the thickness beneath a laser shock peened spot formed by the beam on the surface. The fluence may be equal to the thickness multiplied by a volumetric fluence factor, the volumetric fluence factor being held constant over the laser shock peening surface. The volumetric fluence factor may be in a range of about 1200 J/cm3 to 1800 J/cm3 and more particularly about 1500 J/cm3. The method may include varying energy in the laser beam using a computer program controlling firing of the laser beam. A device such as an optical attenuator external to a laser performing firing may be used to vary the energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Mark Samuel Bailey, Michael Paul Hausfeld, Donald Eugene Williams, Todd Jay Rockstroh
-
Publication number: 20080069716Abstract: An improved sintered material and product. A nanometer size reinforcement powder is mixed with a micron size titanium or titanium alloy powder. After the reinforcement powder is generally uniformly dispersed, the powder mixture is compacted and sintered, causing the nano reinforcement to react with the titanium or titanium alloy, producing a composite material containing nano and micron size precipitates that are uniformly distributed throughout the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2006Publication date: March 20, 2008Applicants: THE TIMKEN COMPANY, IAP RESEARCH, INC.Inventors: Bhanumathi Chelluri, Edward Arlen Knoth, Edward John Schumaker, Ryan D. Evans, James. L. Maloney
-
Publication number: 20080053577Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nickel-titanium alloy comprising nickel, titanium, and at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy comprises from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % nickel, from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % titanium, and from about 0.1 at. % to about 15 at. % at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy may further include one or more additional alloying elements. In addition to radiopacity, the nickel-titanium alloy preferably exhibits superelastic or shape memory behavior. Medical devices comprising the nickel-titanium alloy and a method of making them are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicants: Cook Incorporated, Cook Ireland LimitedInventors: Tofail Ansar Syed, James M. Carlson, Shane Carr, Paul Devereux, Donncha Haverty, Shay J. Lavelle, Tim McGloughlin
-
Patent number: 7332043Abstract: The inventive titanium alloy comprises, expressed in mass %: aluminium 4.0-6.3; vanadium 4.5-5.9; molybdenum 4.5-5.9; chromium 2.0-3.6; ferrum 0.2-0.5; the rest being titanium. An equivalent molybdenum content is determined as corresponding to Moequiv?13.8. The inventive method for heat treatment consists in heating to t???+??(30-70)° C., conditioning during 2-5 hrs, air or water cooling and age-hardening at a temperature ranging from 540° C. to 600° C. during 8-16 hrs. Said alloy has a high volumetric deformability and is used for manufacturing massive large-sized forged and pressed pieces having a high strength level, satisfactory characteristics of plasticity and fracture toughness.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Public Stock Company “VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation”Inventors: Vladislav Valentinovich Tetyukhin, Jury Ivanovich Zakharov, Igor Vasilievich Levin
-
Patent number: 7332122Abstract: A titanium based carbonitride alloy containing Ti, Nb, W, C, N and Co. The alloy also contains, in addition to Ti, 9-14 at % Co with only impurity levels of Ni and Fe, 1-<3 at % Nb, 3-8 at % W and has a C/(C+N) ratio of 0.50-0.75. The amount of undissolved Ti(C,N) cores should be kept between 26 and 37 vol % of the hard constituents, the balance being one or more complex carbonitrides containing Ti, Nb and W. The alloy is particularly useful for milling of steel.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property ABInventors: Gerold Weinl, Ulf Rolander, Marco Zwinkels
-
Publication number: 20080035250Abstract: A process for casting titanium alloy based parts includes the steps of melting a quantity of titanium alloy to form a molten titanium alloy; adding to the molten titanium alloy a quantity of boron in an amount of about 0.2 weight percent to about 1.3 weight percent of the molten titanium alloy to form a molten boron modified titanium alloy; and casting a boron modified titanium alloy based part.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2006Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Tai-Tsui Aindow, Prabir R. Bhowal
-
Patent number: 7303638Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing the cold-formability of Ti 6-2-4-2 sheet material are described herein. Embodiments of these methods comprise cold-forming a predetermined, pretreated Ti 6-2-4-2 alloy into a cold-formed shape; subjecting the cold-formed shape to a post-forming annealing cycle comprising: heating the cold-formed shape to about 1450±25 ° F.; holding the cold-formed shape at about 1450±25° F. for about 15±2 minutes; and cooling the cold-formed shape to room temperature. Embodiments of these methods further comprise subjecting the predetermined Ti 6-2-4-2 alloy to a pre-forming annealing cycle comprising: heating the predetermined alloy to a pre-forming annealing temperature of about 1550-1750° F.; holding the predetermined alloy at the pre-forming annealing temperature for about 30 minutes; and cooling the predetermined alloy to room temperature. These methods allow components comprising 90° bend angles, having a bend factor as low as about 6.2 T, to be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: James Olaf Hansen, David William Anderson
-
Patent number: 7300529Abstract: High-strength, beryllium-free moulded bodies made from zirconium alloys which may be plastically deformed comprise a material essentially corresponding to the following formula in composition: Zra(E1)b(E2)c(E3)d(E4)e, where E1=one or several of Nb, Ta, Mo, Cr, W, Ti, V, Hf and Y, E2=one or several of Cu, Au, Ag, Pd and Pt, E3=one or several of Ni, Co, Fe, Zn and Mn, E4=one or several of AI, Ga, Si, P, C, B, Sn, Pb and Sb, a=100?(b+c+d+e), b=5 to 15, c=5 to 15, d=0 to 15 and e=5 to 15 (a, b, c, d, e in atom %). The moulded body essentially comprises a homogeneous, microstructural structure which is a glass-like or nano-crystalline matrix with a ductile, dendritic, cubic body-centered phase embedded therein.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2002Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Leibniz-Institut Fuer Festkoerper-und Werkstoffforschung Dresden e.V.Inventors: Uta Kuehn, Juergen Eckert, Ludwig Schultz