Nickel(ni) Or Nickel Base Alloy Patents (Class 148/675)
  • Patent number: 11725267
    Abstract: A method for heat treating a powder metallurgy nickel-base alloy article comprises placing the article in a furnace at a start temperature in the furnace that is 80° C. to 200° C. below a gamma prime solvus temperature, and increasing the temperature in the furnace to a solution temperature at a ramp rate in the range of 30° C. per hour to 70° C. per hour. The article is solution treated for a predetermined time, and cooled to ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ATI PROPERTIES LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Bockenstedt, Ramesh S. Minisandram
  • Patent number: 11712738
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing is provided. The method may include successively depositing and fusing together layers of a superalloy powder mixture comprised of a base material powder and a eutectic powder, to build up an additive portion, which eutectic powder has a solidus temperature lower than the solidus temperature of the base material powder. The method may also include heat treating the additive portion at a temperature greater than 1200° C. to heal cracks and/or fill pores and to homogenize the alloy of which the additive portion is comprised. The additive portion alloy has a chemistry defined by the superalloy powder mixture. The base material powder may be formed of a nickel-base superalloy with an aluminum content by weight of at least 1.5%. The eutectic powder may be a nickel-base alloy including by weight about 6% to about 11% chromium, about 5% to about 9% titanium, and about 9% to about 13% zirconium, with balance nickel as its primary components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kazim Ozbaysal, Ahmed Kamel, Shankar P. Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11624103
    Abstract: Disclose is a copper alloy for a laser cladding valve seat. the copper alloy may include an amount of about 15.0 to 25.0 wt % of Ni, an amount of about 1.0 to 4.0 wt % of Si, an amount of about 0.5 to 1.0 wt % of B, an amount of about 1.0 to 2.0 wt % of Cr, an amount of about 5.0 to 15.0 wt % of Co, an amount of about 2.0 to 20.0 wt % of Mo, an amount of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt % of Ti and the balance Cu, all the wt % based on the total weight of the copper alloy. Particularly, the copper alloy may not include Fe, and may include Ti silicacide. Further disclosed is a laser cladding valve seat including the copper alloy, which does not generate cracks and is excellent in wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Nam Kim, Go-Woon Jung, Gi-Bum Kim, Han-Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 11466353
    Abstract: Heat treatment of an Alloy 282 which has been subjected to an initial solution annealing followed by cooling can be heat treated by heating the Alloy 282 to a temperature between 954° C. and 1010° C. until the gamma prime (??) phase is sufficiently dissolved, and cooling the Alloy 282 to a temperature a sufficiently low temperature, and at a sufficiently high cooling rate, to suppress gamma prime precipitation. A component such as a turbine exhaust case and a gas turbine engine made of said alloy can be heat treated in the above manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Sweden AB
    Inventors: Bengt Pettersson, Johan Ockborn
  • Patent number: 10760147
    Abstract: The disclose relates to ordered Alloy 690 comprising: a matrix that includes a short range order (SRO) in a state in which nickel (Ni) is enriched, and chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) are depleted, and the ordered Alloy 690 is characterized by having excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking and improved thermal conductivity due to agglomeration of nickel (Ni) atoms, as compared with the unordered Alloy 690.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSITUTE
    Inventors: Young-Suk Kim, Sung-Soo Kim, Dae-Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 10697051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing Alloy 690 ordered alloy to be used in a steam generator tube serving as a heat exchanger in a nuclear power plant (hereinafter, referred to as NPP), and Alloy 690 ordered alloy manufactured thereby, and provides a method for manufacturing Alloy 690 ordered alloy with improved thermal conductivity, and Alloy 690 ordered alloy manufactured thereby, the method comprising the steps of: solution-annealing Alloy 690; cooling the solution-annealed Alloy 690 to a first temperature of 200° C./min or less; and ordering the cooled Alloy 690 in the temperature range of 410-520° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Young-Suk Kim, Sung-Soo Kim, Dae-Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 10689741
    Abstract: A method for recycling a Ni-based single crystal superalloy part or unidirectionally solidified superalloy part provided with a thermal barrier coating containing at least a ceramic on a surface of a Ni-based single crystal superalloy substrate or Ni-based unidirectionally solidified superalloy substrate, in which the method including the steps of: melting and desulfurizing a Ni-based single crystal superalloy part or Ni-based unidirectionally solidified superalloy part at a temperature of the melting point or more of the Ni-based single crystal superalloy or Ni-based unidirectionally solidified superalloy and less than the melting point of the ceramic; heating a casting mold for a recycled Ni-based single crystal superalloy part or casting mold for a recycled Ni-based unidirectionally solidified superalloy part to a temperature of the melting point or more of the Ni-based single crystal superalloy or Ni-based unidirectionally solidified superalloy; pouring the desulfurized melted Ni-based single crystal supe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Hiroshi Harada, Kyoko Kawagishi, Toshiharu Kobayashi, Tadaharu Yokokawa, Makoto Osawa, Michinari Yuyama, Shinsuke Suzuki, Yuichiro Joh, Satoshi Utada
  • Patent number: 10385433
    Abstract: Methods for processing bonded dual alloy rotors are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a bonded dual alloy rotor including rotor blades bonded to a hub disk. The rotor blades and hub disk are composed of different alloys. A minimum processing temperature (TDISK_PROCESS_MIN) for the hub disk and a maximum critical temperature for the rotor blades (TBLADE_MAX) is established such that TBLADE_MAX is less than TDISK_PROCESS_MIN. A differential heat treatment process is then performed during which the hub disk is heated to processing temperatures equal to or greater than TDISK_PROCESS_MIN, while at least a volumetric majority of each of the rotor blades is maintained at temperatures below TBLADE_MAX. Such a targeted differential heat treatment process enables desired metallurgical properties (e.g., precipitate hardening) to be created within the hub disk, while preserving the high temperature properties of the rotor blades and any blade coating present thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Christopher David Gatto, Jude Miller, Benjamin Dosland Kamrath, Don Mittendorf, Jason Smoke, Mark C. Morris
  • Patent number: 10287664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ordered Alloy 690 with improved thermal conductivity. By maintaining Alloy 690 in a temperature range of 350-570° C. for a proper amount of time, the atomic arrangement is controlled to properly form the ordered phases. The ordered phases formed in the ordered Alloy 690 increases its thermal conductivity due to a low thermal scattering effect of the ordered phase as observed in pure metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Young-Suk Kim, Sung-Soo Kim, Dae-Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 10184156
    Abstract: A heat treatment technique may include heating an alloy component to a temperature above a transition temperature of the alloy or heating an alloy component to a temperature below the transition temperature of the alloy. The heat treatment technique further may include cooling a first portion of the alloy component at a first cooling rate, and cooling a second portion of the alloy component at a second cooling rate different than the first rate. The first cooling rate may result in formation of a plurality of first precipitate phase domains comprising a first average size in the first portion, and the second cooling rate may result in formation of a plurality of second precipitate phase domains comprising a second average size in the second portion. The average size of the first precipitate phase domains may be different than the average size of the second precipitate phase domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David Ulrich Furrer, Randolph C. Helmink
  • Patent number: 9528175
    Abstract: A pre-weld heat treatment of the nickel based superalloy including heating a nickel based superalloy (e.g., IN939) casting to 2120° F. at a rate of 2° F. per minute, and then soaking the casing for one hour at 2120° F. The casting is then cooled in stages including slowly cooling the casting at a rate of 1° F. per minute to about 1900° F. and holding at that temperature for about 10 minutes. Then the casting is further slowly cooled at a rate of 1° F. per minute to about 1800° F. and holding at that temperature for about 10 minutes, and further slowly cooled to a temperature range of 1650° F. to 1450° F., and then fast cooled to room temperature. The pre-weld heat treatment may optionally include a step of heating the casting to about 1850° F. at a rate of 50° F. per minute before slowly heating to 2120° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ravishankar P. Angal, Allister William James
  • Patent number: 9377245
    Abstract: A method of in-situ reconditioning a heat exchanger includes the steps of: providing an in-service heat exchanger comprising a precipitate-strengthened alloy wherein at least one mechanical property of the heat exchanger is degraded by coarsening of the precipitate, the in-service heat exchanger containing a molten salt working heat exchange fluid; deactivating the heat exchanger from service in-situ; in a solution-annealing step, in-situ heating the heat exchanger and molten salt working heat exchange fluid contained therein to a temperature and for a time period sufficient to dissolve the coarsened precipitate; in a quenching step, flowing the molten salt working heat-exchange fluid through the heat exchanger in-situ to cool the alloy and retain a supersaturated solid solution while preventing formation of large precipitates; and in an aging step, further varying the temperature of the flowing molten salt working heat-exchange fluid to re-precipitate the dissolved precipitate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Holcomb, Govindarajan Muralidharan
  • Patent number: 9216453
    Abstract: Methods of forming dual microstructure components include consolidating a powder material comprising an alloy to form a billet, the billet having a first grain structure, inductively heating the billet at an inductive heat treat temperature above a gamma prime solvus temperature of the alloy and subjecting the billet to a subsolvus heat treat temperature that is below the gamma prime solvus temperature of the alloy, waiting a period of time for the first grain structure in an outer portion of the billet to transform into a second grain structure that is coarser than the first grain structure, after the steps of inductively heating and subjecting the billet to the subsolvus heat treat temperature. The methods also include dividing the billet into at least two sections, and machining a final shape into one or more of the at least two sections to form the dual microstructure component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brian Hann, Derek Anthony Rice, Daniel Greving
  • Patent number: 9150944
    Abstract: A single crystal casting having substantially improved high-temperature oxidation resistance, hot corrosion (sulfidation) resistance, and resistance to creep under high temperature and high stress is characterized by an as-cast composition comprising a maximum sulfur content of 0.5 ppm by weight, a maximum phosphorus content of 20 ppm by weight, a maximum nitrogen content of 3 ppm by weight, a maximum oxygen content of 3 ppm by weight, and a combined yttrium and lanthanum content of 5-80 pm by weight. It has been discovered that careful control of the deleterious impurities, particularly sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen and oxygen, in combination with a carefully controlled addition of yttrium and/or lanthanum provides unexpected improvements in corrosion and oxidation resistance, while also enhancing high-temperature, high-stress resistance to creep, without any detrimental effects on other mechanical properties, processing or producability, particularly castability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Cannon Muskegon Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Harris
  • Patent number: 9138963
    Abstract: A coated article having an improved coating oxidation life includes a superalloy substrate material having a composition which includes sulfur, herein the sulfur is present in an amount less than 1 ppm; and an overlay coating formed over a surface of the substrate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan D. Cetel, Dilip M. Shah
  • Patent number: 9074274
    Abstract: A nickel-titanium-rare earth (Ni—Ti-RE) alloy comprises nickel at a concentration of from about 35 at. % to about 65 at. %, a rare earth element at a concentration of from about 1.5 at. % to about 15 at. %, boron at a concentration of up to about 0.1 at. %, with the balance of the alloy being titanium. In addition to enhanced radiopacity compared to binary Ni—Ti alloys and improved workability, the Ni—Ti-RE alloy preferably exhibits superelastic behavior. A method of processing a Ni—Ti-RE alloy includes providing a nickel-titanium-rare earth alloy comprising nickel at a concentration of from about 35 at. % to about 65 at. %, a rare earth element at a concentration of from about 1.5 at. % to about 15 at. %, the balance being titanium; heating the alloy in a homogenization temperature range below a critical temperature; and forming spheroids of a rare earth-rich second phase in the alloy while in the homogenization temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC, University of Limerick
    Inventors: Syed A. M. Tofail, James M. Carlson, Abbasi A. Gandhi, James Butler, Peter Tiernan, Lisa O'Donoghue
  • Patent number: 9056372
    Abstract: A method of extending the useable life of a gas turbine component fabricated from a cobalt-based alloy is disclosed. The method includes applying a rejuvenation process to the alloy where the alloy is placed in a protected atmosphere and heated to three different elevated temperatures and held at the elevated temperatures for approximately four hours each. Application of the rejuvenation process allows gas turbine components to be returned to service for at least one more service interval of approximately 24,000 operating hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Warren Miglietti, John Roderick
  • Patent number: 8974614
    Abstract: A powder metallurgical article and process are disclosed. The article is a repaired or enlarged powder metallurgical article. The repaired or enlarged powder metallurgical article includes a formed article including a first alloy and a material including a second alloy. The material is welded to the formed article to form the repaired or enlarged powder metallurgical article. The repaired or enlarged powder metallurgical article includes a substantially uniform grain structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Anthony Nowak, Raymond Joseph Stonitsch, Attila Szabo
  • Patent number: 8918996
    Abstract: Processes for fabricating components to have two or more regions with different grain structures, and components produced by such processes. First and second preforms are fabricated to comprise interface surfaces at which the preforms can be joined together. The first and second preforms are formed of first and second precipitation-strengthened alloys, respectively, and the first alloy differs from the second alloy by having a higher solvus temperature or a higher grain refiner content. The preforms are joined together to form an article comprising first and second portions formed by the first and second preforms, respectively, and corresponding to first and second regions of the component, respectively, and the interface surfaces of the preforms form a joint between the first and second portions of the article. A supersolvus heat treatment is performed on the article so that greater grain growth occurs in the second portion than in the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Ezekiel Wessman, David Paul Mourer
  • Patent number: 8916005
    Abstract: A slurry and slurry coating process for forming a diffusion aluminide coating on a substrate, including internal surfaces within the substrate. The process involves preparing a slurry of a powder containing a metallic aluminum alloy having a melting temperature higher than aluminum, an activator capable of forming a reactive halide vapor with the metallic aluminum, and a binder containing an organic polymer. The slurry is applied to surfaces of the substrate, which is then heated to burn off the binder, vaporize and react the activator with the metallic aluminum to form the halide vapor, react the halide vapor at the substrate surfaces to deposit aluminum on the surfaces, and diffuse the deposited aluminum into the surfaces to form a diffusion aluminide coating. The process can be tailored to selectively produce an inward or outward-type coating. The binder burns off to form an ash residue that can be readily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis William Cavanaugh, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, Matthew James OConnell, Todd Steven Moran
  • Patent number: 8916009
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nonlinear superelastic file comprising the steps of: providing a superelastic file having a shaft and a file axis; providing a fixture including a file groove being defined by one or more displacement members, the file groove configured for receiving the shaft; inserting at least a portion of the shaft into the fixture along the file groove, the portion of the shaft including a first portion of the shaft; contacting the first portion of the shaft with a first displacement member of the one or more displacement members such that the first portion of the shaft is displaced from the file axis thereby forming a first offset portion of the shaft; heating the portion of the shaft while inserted in the fixture to a temperature of at least about 300° C. for a time period of at least about 1 minute to shape-set the portion of the shaft thereby forming a shape-set nonlinear file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: DENTSPLY International Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Ammon, Vincent Shotton, Yong Gao, Randall Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8906174
    Abstract: Disclosed are a high-strength Ni-base alloy, a method of producing the Ni-base alloy, and a method of recovering a member made of a degraded Ni-base alloy. It contains not more than 0.1 wt % C, not more than 50 wt % Fe, not more than 30 wt % Cr, Ti, and at least one of Nb and Al. It has been strengthened by precipitates of a ?? phase (Ni3Al) and/or a ?? phase (Ni3Nb). It contains also a ? phase (Ni3Ti) which is thermodynamically stable in a temperature range of 800° C. to 900° C. When observed a cross-section of the Ni-base alloy, a plurality of nodes exist along each segment connecting two meeting points each of which point is defined by adjacent three crystal grains, and precipitates of the ?? phase and/or the ?? phase in each of crystal grains of the Ni-base alloy have an average particle size of not more than 100 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Imano, Jun Sato
  • Publication number: 20140352853
    Abstract: This document describes a process/strategy for age hardening nickel based alloys to create desirable properties with reduced energy expenditure. The inventive process introduces isolated atom nucleation sites to accelerate the nucleation rate by approximately 36 times, thereby permitting age hardening to occur in significantly less time and with significantly less energy expenditure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Ke Han, Pingli Mao, Yan Xin
  • Patent number: 8821654
    Abstract: An alloy comprising 5 at %?Al<16 at %, about 0.05 at % to 1 at % of a reactive element selected from the group consisting of Hf, Y, La, Ce, Zr, and combinations thereof, and Ni, wherein the alloy composition has a predominately ?-Ni+??-Ni3Al phase constitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Gleeson, Daniel J. Sordelet
  • Publication number: 20140238559
    Abstract: A pre-weld heat treatment of the nickel based superalloy including heating a nickel based superalloy (e.g., IN939) casting to 2120° F. at a rate of 2° F. per minute, and then soaking the casing for one hour at 2120° F. The casting is then cooled in stages including slowly cooling the casting at a rate of 1° F. per minute to about 1900° F. and holding at that temperature for about 10 minutes. Then the casting is further slowly cooled at a rate of 1° F. per minute to about 1800° F. and holding at that temperature for about 10 minutes, and further slowly cooled to a temperature range of 1650° F. to 1450° F., and then fast cooled to room temperature. The pre-weld heat treatment may optionally include a step of heating the casting to about 1850° F. at a rate of 50° F. per minute before slowly heating to 2120° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Ravishankar P. Angal, Allister William James
  • Publication number: 20140154093
    Abstract: A method of heat treating a superalloy article is disclosed. The method includes hot-working an article comprising an superalloy to produce a hot-worked microstructure throughout the article; solution treating the article at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a partially recrystallized warm-worked microstructure throughout the article; and cooling the article. The method also includes precipitation aging the article at a first precipitation aging temperature of about 1300° F. to about 1400° F. for a first duration of about 4 hours to about 12 hours; cooling the article to a second precipitation aging temperature; precipitation aging the article at a second precipitation aging temperature of about 1150° F. to about 1200° F. for a second duration of about 4 hours to about 12 hours; and cooling the article from the second precipitation aging temperature to an ambient temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: JEFFREY ALLEN HAWK, ROBIN CARL SCHWANT
  • Patent number: 8734562
    Abstract: A nickel powder with an average particle size of 0.05 to 1.0 ?m, which is composed of nickel particles having an oxidized surface layer and containing sulfur, wherein the sulfur content with respect to the total weight of the powder is 100 to 2000 ppm, and the intensity of a peak identified to sulfur bonded to nickel in surface analysis by ESCA of the nickel particles varies in a direction toward the center from the surface of the particles, and this intensity has its maximum at a location deeper than 3 nm from the particle outermost surface. This nickel powder is manufactured by bringing a nickel powder containing sulfur and dispersed in a non-oxidizing gas atmosphere into contact with an oxidizing gas at a high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Shoei Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Akimoto, Kazuro Nagashima, Hidenori Ieda, Hitomi Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8721812
    Abstract: A heat treatment technique may include heating an alloy component to a temperature above a transition temperature of the alloy or heating an alloy component to a temperature below the transition temperature of the alloy. The heat treatment technique further may include cooling a first portion of the alloy component at a first cooling rate, and cooling a second portion of the alloy component at a second cooling rate different than the first rate. The first cooling rate may result in formation of a plurality of first precipitate phase domains comprising a first average size in the first portion, and the second cooling rate may result in formation of a plurality of second precipitate phase domains comprising a second average size in the second portion. The average size of the first precipitate phase domains may be different than the average size of the second precipitate phase domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David U. Furrer, Randolph C. Helmink
  • Patent number: 8696833
    Abstract: An intermetallic compound having excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures is provided. An intermetallic compound of the present invention contains greater than 5 at % and not greater than 13 at % of Al, not less than 9.5 at % and less than 17.5 at % of V, not less than 0 at % and not greater than 3.5 at % of Ti, not less than 0 weight ppm and not greater than 1000 weight ppm of B, and the remaining portion consisting of Ni and inevitable impurities, and having a dual multi-phase microstructure comprising a primary L12 phase and an (L12+D022) eutectoid microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Osaka Prefecture University Public Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Takasugi, Yasuyuki Kaneno
  • Patent number: 8685257
    Abstract: A method for controlling microbial growth in potable water stored in a vessel having a metallic surface includes heating the metallic surface to a temperature between about 480° C. (900° F.) and about 870° C. (1600° F.), exposing the metallic surface to oxygen during heating to oxidize potential reduction sites on the metallic surface and charging potable water containing silver ions to the vessel. A vessel having a metallic surface is prepared for long-term storage of potable water containing silver ions by heating the metallic surface to a temperature between about 480° C. (900° F.) and about 870° C. (1600° F.) and exposing the metallic surface to oxygen during heating to oxidize electropositive metals on the metallic surface or by treating the metallic surface with an aqueous solution containing on oxidizing agent to oxidize potential reduction sites on the metallic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Durwood Mace Beringer, John W. Steele, Timothy A. Nalette
  • Patent number: 8671567
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a probed for an electrical test includes producing by a deposition technique a deposit including a probe main body portion made of a nickel-boron alloy and a probe tip portion projecting downward from the probe main body portion and made of a different conductive material from the probe main body portion. The method further includes annealing the deposit. The average grain diameter of the nickel-boron alloy is between 97 ? and 170 ?. The contained amount of boron is from 0.02 wt % to 0.20 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Hideki Hirakawa, Satoshi Kaizuka
  • Patent number: 8668790
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating a component comprising solution treating the component for a period of about 4 to about 10 hours at a temperature of about 1750 to about 1850° F.; cooling the component to a temperature of about 1490 to about 1520° F. at an average rate of 1° F./min to about 25° F./min; stabilizing the component at about 1450 to about 1520° F. for a period of from about 1 to about 10 hours; cooling the component to room temperature; precipitation aging the component by heating the component to a first precipitation aging temperature of about 1275 to about 1375° F. for about 3 to about 15 hours; cooling the component at an average rate of 50 to about 150° F./hour to a second precipitation aging temperature of about 1100 to about 1200° F. for a time period of about 2 to about 15 hours; and cooling the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ling Yang, Jeffrey Allen Hawk, Robin Carl Schwant
  • Patent number: 8663404
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating a component comprising solution treating the component for a period of about 4 to about 10 hours at a temperature of about 1750 to about 1850°F.; cooling the component to a temperature of about 1580 to about 1650°F. at an average rate of 1°F./min to about 25°F./min; stabilizing the component at about 1580 to about 1650°F. for a period of about 1 to about 10 hours; cooling the component to room temperature; precipitation aging the component at a first precipitation aging temperature of about 1275 to about 1375°F. for about 3 to about 15 hours; cooling the component at an average rate of 50 to about 150°F./hour to a second precipitation aging temperature of about 1100 to about 1200°F. for a time period of about 2 to about 15 hours; and cooling the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ling Yang, Robin Carl Schwant
  • Publication number: 20140027498
    Abstract: A friction stir processing tool is formed from a Ni-based dual multi-phase intermetallic compound alloy containing rhenium(Re). The Ni-based dual multi-phase intermetallic compound alloy is preferably formed by casting, while gradually cooling, a melt containing all the components of the composition and is preferably heat treated after casting. Moreover, in a method for friction stir processing, a work is softened by friction heat generated when the friction stir processing tool, while rotating, is pressed against the work to be processed. The friction stir processing tool includes the Ni-based dual multi-phase intermetallic compound alloy, and therefore further high hardness is exhibited to improve abrasion resistance, so that even a long period of friction stir processing can be endured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicants: OSAKA PREFECTURE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CORPORATION, ISEL CO., LTD., C/O KINKI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Takayuki Takasugi, Yasuyuki Kaneno, Sachio Oki, Tomotake Hirata, Noboru Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8597440
    Abstract: A process and alloy for producing a turbine blade whose properties enable the blade to operate within a steam turbine at maximum operating temperatures of greater than 1300° F. (about 705° C.). The process includes casting the blade from a gamma prime-strengthened nickel-base superalloy having a composition of, by weight, 14.25-15.75% cobalt, 14.0-15.25% chromium, 4.0-4.6% aluminum, 3.0-3.7% titanium, 3.9-4.5% molybdenum, 0.05-0.09% carbon, 0.012-0.020% boron, maximum 0.5% iron, maximum 0.2% silicon, maximum 0.15% manganese, maximum 0.04% zirconium, maximum 0.015% sulfur, maximum 0.1% copper, balance nickel and incidental impurities, and an electron vacancy number of 2.32 maximum. The casting then undergoes a high temperature solution heat treatment to promote resistance to hold-time cracking. The blade exhibits a combination of yield strength, stress rupture properties, environmental resistance, and cost in steam turbine applications to 1400° F. (about 760° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Afina Lupulescu, Robert Edward Deallenbach, Robin Carl Schwant
  • Publication number: 20130308884
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-resistant bearing characterized in that it is formed of an Ni3(Si,Ti)-based intermetallic compound alloy, the Ni3(Si,Ti)-based intermetallic compound alloy containing 25 to 500 ppm by weight of B with respect to a weight of an intermetallic compound having a composition of 100% by atom in total consisting of 10.0 to 12.0% by atom of Si, 1.5% by atom or more but less than 7.5% by atom of Ti, more than 2.0% by atom but 8.0% by atom or less of Ta and a balance made up of Ni excepting impurities, the Ni3(Si,Ti)-based intermetallic compound alloy having a microstructure composed of an L12 phase and of one or both of an Ni solid solution phase and a second phase dispersion containing Ni and Ta, or a microstructure composed of an L12 phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: OSAKA PREFECTURE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Takasugi, Yasuyuki Kaneno, Hidekazu Fujii
  • Publication number: 20130284326
    Abstract: A nickel-titanium-rare earth (Ni—Ti-RE) alloy comprises nickel at a concentration of from about 35 at. % to about 65 at. %, a rare earth element at a concentration of from about 1.5 at. % to about 15 at. %, boron at a concentration of up to about 0.1 at. %, with the balance of the alloy being titanium. In addition to enhanced radiopacity compared to binary Ni—Ti alloys and improved workability, the Ni—Ti-RE alloy preferably exhibits superelastic behavior. A method of processing a Ni—Ti-RE alloy includes providing a nickel-titanium-rare earth alloy comprising nickel at a concentration of from about 35 at. % to about 65 at. %, a rare earth element at a concentration of from about 1.5 at. % to about 15 at. %, the balance being titanium; heating the alloy in a homogenization temperature range below a critical temperature; and forming spheroids of a rare earth-rich second phase in the alloy while in the homogenization temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: University of Limerick, Cook Medical Technologies LLC
  • Patent number: 8551266
    Abstract: A method for heat treating a nickel base alloy includes the steps of: a. heating a nickel base alloy to at least its delta (?) phase solvus temperature, and lower than its incipient melting temperature for a predetermined time sufficient to dissolve substantially all of the nickel base alloy's delta (?) phase, and b. cooling the nickel base alloy to a temperature below the gamma prime (?) precipitation temperature at a rate sufficient to precipitate the alloy's chromium carbide and gamma prime (?) in a serrated grain boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Dzevad Imamovic, Göran Sjöberg
  • Publication number: 20130167979
    Abstract: A process for heat treating a component formed of an alloy. The process includes manipulating uniaxial strain test data of the alloy using a triaxiality factor to determine an equivalent multiaxial stress state. Conditions are then applied to the multiaxial stress state to identify a cooling path for the component. The cooling path includes boundaries for heat treatment temperatures and cooling rates that do not exceed predetermined stresses or strains and/or avoid predetermined residual stress patterns in the alloy. The component is then heated to a heat treatment temperature and quenched according to the cooling path identified in the applying step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8470106
    Abstract: A heat treatment method for desensitizing a nickel-based alloy with respect to environmentally-assisted cracking, the alloy having the following composition in percentages by weight: C?0.10%; Mn?0.5%; Si?0.5%; P?0.015%; S?0.015%; Ni?40%; Cr=12%-40%; Co?10%; Al?5%; Mo=0.1%-15%; Ti?5%; B?0.01%; Cu?5%; W=0.1%-15%; Nb=0-10%; Ta?10%; the balance being Fe, and inevitable impurities that result from processing, characterized in that the alloy is held at 950° C.-1160° C. in an atmosphere of pure hydrogen or containing at least 100 ppm of hydrogen mixed with an inert gas. A part made of a nickel-based alloy having the composition and that has been subjected to the heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Areva NP
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Cloue, Veronique Garat, Eric Andrieu, Julien Deleume
  • Publication number: 20130133793
    Abstract: A method for heat treating a 718-type nickel-base comprises heating a 718-type nickel-base alloy to a heat treating temperature, and holding the alloy at the heat treating temperature for a heat treating time sufficient to form an equilibrium or near-equilibrium concentration of ?-phase grain boundary precipitates within the nickel-base alloy and up to 25 percent by weight of total ??-phase and ??-phase. The 718-type nickel-base alloy is air cooled. The present disclosure also includes a 718-type nickel-base alloy comprising a near-equilibrium concentration of ?-phase grain boundary precipitates and up to 25 percent by weight of total ??-phase and ??-phase precipitates. Alloys according to the disclosure may be included in articles of manufacture such as, for example, face sheet, honeycomb core elements, and honeycomb panels for thermal protection systems for hypersonic flight vehicles and space vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Erin T. McDevitt
  • Patent number: 8444775
    Abstract: Shape Memory Alloy tube is protected from damage during drawing, caused by galling-type interaction between the tube and high-carbon dies, by forming an oxide surface layer. This invention protects the tube internal diameter from oxidation while allowing the tube outside diameter to be oxidized, by using an oxygen getter located within the tube during the oxidation step. The method yields a higher quality internal diameter and improves productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Edwin Alfred Crombie, III, William Andrew Hochella
  • Patent number: 8435362
    Abstract: In a process for producing a large single-crystal component or directionally solidified component made of a nickel-based superalloy, the component is first cast into shape in a known manner to form a microstructure comprising dendrites, and then solution annealing for homogenizing the cast microstructure of the component and two-stage precipitation heat treatment are carried out. In order to avoid chemical inhomogeneities and internal stresses caused thereby, a HIP process with a pressure of higher than 160 MPa is carried out following the solution annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mohamad Nazmy, Claus Gerdes, Andreas Künzler
  • Publication number: 20130014862
    Abstract: The present invention provides an Ni-base dual multi-phase intermetallic compound alloy which has a dual multi-phase microstructure including: a primary precipitate L12 phase and an (L12+D022) eutectoid microstructure, and which comprises more than 5 atomic % and up to 13 atomic % of Al; at least 9.5 atomic % and less than 17.5 atomic % of V; between 0 atomic % and 5.0 atomic % inclusive of Nb; more than 0 atomic % and up to 12.5 atomic % of Ti; more than 0 atomic % and up to 12.5 atomic % of C; and a remainder comprising Ni.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: OSAKA PREFECTURE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Takasugi, Yasuyuki Kaneno
  • Patent number: 8349248
    Abstract: A metallic material is made from at least one refractory metal or an alloy based on at least one refractory metal. The metallic material has an oxygen content of about 1,000 to about 30,000 ?g/g and the oxygen is interstitial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Trotzschel, Bernd Spaniol
  • Patent number: 8313593
    Abstract: A method of heat treating an Ni-base superalloy article is disclosed. The method includes hot-working an article comprising an NiCrMoNbTi superalloy comprising, in weight percent, at least about 55 Ni to produce a hot-worked microstructure; solution treating the article at a temperature of about 1600° F. to about 1750° F. for about 1 to about 12 hours to form a partially recrystallized warm-worked microstructure; and cooling the article. The method also includes precipitation aging the article at a first precipitation aging temperature of about 1300° F. to about 1400° F. for a first duration of about 4 hours to about 12 hours; cooling the article to a second precipitation aging temperature; precipitation aging the article at a second precipitation aging temperature of about 1150° F. to about 1200° F. for a second duration of about 4 hours to about 12 hours; and cooling the article from the second precipitation aging temperature to an ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Hawk, Robin Carl Schwant
  • Publication number: 20120255657
    Abstract: A method of improving the properties of a component of a medical device entails constraining the component, which comprises about 45-55 at. % Ni, about 45-55 at. % Ti, and about 0.3 at. % Cr, into a predetermined configuration. The component also includes at least about 35% cold work. The component is heated during the constraining at a temperature of between about 425° C. and about 500° C. for a time duration of between about 5 minutes and about 30 minutes, thereby improving the superelastic and mechanical properties of the component. A medical device includes a superelastic component for use in a body vessel that comprises about 45-55 at. % Ni, about 45-55 at. % Ti, and about 0.3 at. % Cr, where the component has an upper plateau strength of at least about 75 ksi, a residual elongation of about 0.1% or less, and an austenite finish temperature (Af) of about 30° C. or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: James M. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8262817
    Abstract: A first-stage turbine that is adapted for receiving high energy air directly from a combustion chamber in a gas turbine engine auxiliary power unit includes a disk formed from a first alloy and having an outer surface, and a unitary blade wheel formed from a second alloy that is different than the first alloy. The unitary blade wheel includes an annular member having an inner surface that is joined to the disk, and blades that are integrally formed with the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Marshall, Victor M. Reyes, Timothy R. O'Brien, Huy Tran, Andrew F. Szuromi
  • Patent number: 8225478
    Abstract: The disclosure provides bearing sleeves or bushings made of memory shape material, and processes for installing such bearing sleeves or bushings. In one process, inner and outer surfaces of a bearing sleeve, made of a memory shape material, may be compressed at least one first temperature. A bearing may be inserted in a cavity of the bearing sleeve, and the bearing sleeve may be disposed adjacent to a surface of a structure, while the bearing sleeve is at the at least one first temperature. The inner and outer surfaces of the bearing sleeve may be expanded, at least one second temperature, to abut against the bearing and the surface of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Daniel J. Kane
  • Patent number: 8197618
    Abstract: An Ni3Al-based intermetallic compound of the present invention comprises greater than 5 at % and not greater than 13 at % of Al, not less than 9.5 at % and less than 17.5 at % of V, not less than 0 at % and not greater than 5 at % of Nb, not less than 50 weight ppm and not greater than 1000 weight ppm of B, and the remaining portion consisting of Ni and inevitable impurities, and has a dual multi-phase microstructure comprising a primary L12 phase and an (L12+D022) eutectoid microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Osaka Prefecture University Public Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Takasugi, Yasuyuki Kaneno