Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and gas atmosphere for a metal component in a continuous furnace. In one embodiment, the method and gas atmosphere comprises the use of an effective amount, or about 1 to about 10 percent volume of endo-gas, into an atmosphere comprising nitrogen and hydrogen. In another embodiment, there is provided a method sintering metal components in a furnace at a one or more operating temperatures comprising: providing a furnace comprising a belt comprising a wire mesh material wherein the metal components are supported thereupon; and sintering the components in the furnace in an atmosphere comprising nitrogen, hydrogen, and effective amount of endothermic gas at the one or more operating temperatures ranging from about 1800° F. to about 2200° F. wherein the amount of endothermic gas in the atmosphere is such that it is oxidizing to the wire mesh material and reducing to the metal components.

Abstract: A method of quenching a ring shaped article includes heating the article to a quenching temperature; primarily cooling the article down to a deformation correction initiating temperature, which is higher than a martensitic transformation point; and secondarily cooling the article down to a temperature lower than the martensitic transformation point by, while a pair of receiving rolls are held in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the article for rolling motion about an axis of rotation parallel to a center of the article, pressing a press roll, rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the center of the article, against the outer peripheral surface of the article from one side of the article opposite to a point intermediate between the receiving rolls.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for vacuum heat treating refractory metal articles (e.g., implantable medical devices), and heat treating apparatuses for use in such methods are disclosed. Heat treating refractory metal articles under high vacuum (e.g., 10?6 Torr) may improve strength and ductility and remove material contaminants (e.g., oxygen or hydrogen) that may be absorbed during manufacturing processes. Heat treating methods include disposing a refractory metal article in a heat treating apparatus, drawing a vacuum therein, and moving the article to a heated zone in the furnace using a drive system that permits movement of the article while the vacuum is maintained in the apparatus. A heat treating apparatus may include an elongate furnace tube that may be sealed and placed under vacuum, a heating element disposed around at least a portion of the tube, and a drive system configured for moving articles disposed inside the furnace tube while under vacuum.

Abstract: A method of making sputter targets from a BCC metal or BCC metal alloy is provided. The ingot is e-beamed melted and subjected to vacuum arc reduction. The ingot is then tri-axially forged, keeping the centerline of the ingot in the center of the ingot during the tri-axial forging step. The ingot is then vacuum annealed and clock rolled. During the clock rolling, the center line of the ingot is maintained in the center of the ingot and perpendicular to the compressive forces used during the clock rolling. The clock rolled ingot is then vacuum annealed and provided in a near net shape for usage as a sputter target. Tantalum target materials are disclosed having a purity of at least 99.5% and an interstitial content (CONH) of less than about 25 ppm. Tantalum targets, in accordance with the invention, have a grain size of about 50 to 100 microns and a mixed {100}/{111} texture with a higher % {111} gradient towards the center.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the heat treatment of workpieces in a heat treatment furnace, wherein the treatment atmosphere in the heat treatment furnace is circulated. According to the invention, a propellant is injected into the heat treatment furnace in such a manner that the treatment atmosphere is essentially circulated by the injected propellant.

Abstract: A method is described for batchwise heat treatment of goods to be annealed which are heated in a heating chamber after scavenging air with a scavenging gas under protective gas to a predetermined treatment temperature, with the protective gas being conveyed through the heating chamber depending on the occurrence of impurities in different quantities. In order to enable the economic use of protective gas, it is proposed that the protective gas which is withdrawn from the heating chamber after the main occurrence of impurities and which is loaded with a residual quantity of impurities is conveyed, optionally after intermediate storage, into the heating chamber during the main occurrence of impurities of a subsequent batch before non-loaded protective gas is introduced into the heating chamber.

Abstract: A method of quenching a ring shaped article includes a heating step (S1) of heating the article (W) to a quenching temperature; a primary cooling step (S2) of cooling the article (W) down to a deformation correction initiating temperature, which is higher than a martensitic transformation point; and a secondary cooling step (S3) of cooling the article (W) down to a temperature lower than the martensitic transformation point by, while a pair of receiving rolls (3) are held in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the article (W) for rolling motion about an axis of rotation parallel to a center of the article (W), pressing a press roll (4), rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the center of the article (W), against the outer peripheral surface of the article (W) from one side of the article (W) opposite to a point intermediate between the receiving rolls (3).

Abstract: The hot stretch forming of sheet metal alloys, such as highly deformable aluminum alloy materials, is improved by using a lubricant comprising bismuth between the forming tool and the engaged surface of the sheet metal. A precursor of bismuth, such as bismuth subsalicylate, may be dispersed in a liquid and applied to the sheet metal before the sheet is heated to its forming temperature. Other lubricants such as boron nitride may be combined with the bismuth precursor. The precursor compound is decomposed to bismuth (or bismuth and carbon in the case of bismuth subsalicylate) which lubricates contact between the surface(s) of the sheet and the forming tool during forming and removal of the formed part from the tool.

Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine exhaust case strut heat shield vane includes removing a damaged portion of the vane, solution heat treating the vane, attaching a replacement section to the vane, and relieving local stresses in an attachment area between the replacement section and the vane.

Abstract: Novel carbon-plus-nitrogen corrosion-resistant ferrous and austenitic alloys, apparatus incorporating an inventive alloy, and methods of making and using the apparatus are described. The corrosion-resistant ferrous and austenitic alloys comprise no greater than about 4 wt. % nickel, are characterized by a strength greater than about 700 MPa (100 ksi), and, when being essentially free of molybdenum (<0.3 wt. %), have minimum Pitting Resistance Equivalence (PRE) numbers of 20 and minimum Measure of Alloying for Corrosion Resistance numbers (MARC) of 30 because of the use of both carbon and nitrogen. The ferrous and austenitic alloys are particularly formulated for use in oilfield operations, especially sour oil and gas wells and reservoirs. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The hot stretch forming of sheet metal alloys, such as highly deformable aluminum alloy materials, is improved by using a lubricant comprising bismuth between the forming tool and the engaged surface of the sheet metal. A precursor of bismuth, such as bismuth subsalicylate, may be dispersed in a liquid and applied to the sheet metal before the sheet is heated to its forming temperature. Other lubricants such as boron nitride may be combined with the bismuth precursor. The precursor compound is decomposed to bismuth (or bismuth and carbon in the case of bismuth subsalicylate) which lubricates contact between the surface(s) of the sheet and the forming tool during forming and removal of the formed part from the tool.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical discharge electrode is disclosed as comprising an electrode outline body forming step of conducting a given mechanical machining on an electrode material to form an electrode outline body, an electrode outline body annealing step of annealing the electrode outline body at least one time for removing residual stress therefrom, and an electrode segment forming step of removing a surrounding wall portion from an electrical discharge portion of the electrode outline body by wire electrical discharging to form an electrode segment portion with a given wall thickness and shape.

Abstract: A method of cold fabricating an intermetallic alloy composition, comprising steps of coating an article of an intermetallic alloy composition with a viscous medium which provides a moisture resistant barrier on the surface of the article, fabricating the coated article into a desired shape, and optionally removing the coating from the shaped article. The coating step can be carried out by applying oil to the surface of the article or immersing the article in oil. The intermetallic article can be an iron aluminide and the fabrication step can include stamping, bending, drawing, forming, cutting, shearing or punching. During the fabrication step a surface oxide film is cracked and metal surfaces exposed by the cracked oxide film are protected from exposure to moisture in the air by the viscous medium.

Abstract: A method for quenching metallic workpieces in a furnace space, includes subjecting a metallic workpiece to a heat treatment process in an evacuated furnace space. Before a quenching gas or mixture is passed into the furnace space, hydrogen is supplied to the still evacuated furnace space. The amount of hydrogen supplied to the furnace space is limited so that, depending on (1) the quenching pressure, (2) the gas temperature at the end of the quenching process, and (3) the composition of the quenching gas or mixture, a hydrogen concentration below the explosive limit is reached in the quenching gas or mixture. The quenching gas or mixture contains an inert gas or a mixture of inert gases, such as nitrogen, argon and/or helium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating artificial atmospheres in a furnace for the heat treating of materials. The furnace includes a substantially isolated chamber having a discharge receiving orifice for accepting a bi-phasic cryogen into a hot/work zone of the chamber. A low pressure cryogen source feeds a bi-phasic inert gas into the chamber in order to allow the volumetric expansion of the evaporating liquid constituent of the bi-phasic cryogen to purge a substantial portion of the ambient oxygen from the chamber and to allow a substantial residual concentration of the inert gas to blanket the process area without significant dissipation during the heat treating process. Oxidizable materials heat treated in artificial atmospheres generated by use of bi-phasic cryogens show no signs of scaling or staining through the process and thus do not need to undergo acid bathing prior to subsequent processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of heat-treating an oxygen-sensitive workpiece to minimize any oxidation of the workpiece, as well as an improved door seal specially suited for use with oxygen-sensitive products. In the method, an oven has an oven chamber and an outer housing, with an enclosure being defined therebetween. The workpiece is placed in the oven chamber and the chamber is sealed. Heated inert gas is circulated within the enclosure to heat the oven chamber and to hold it at a desired treatment temperature. The oven chamber is then cooled to a threshold temperature of the workpiece using inert gas. The chamber is then cooled further by circulating aerobic gas, preferably ambient air, within the enclosure. Another embodiment of the invention provides an oven with a housing forming an oven chamber, the oven chamber having a door opening in one of said walls.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming a heat treating atmosphere in which a nitrogen rich gas containing small amounts of oxygen is preheated. An oxygen-reactive gas, such as a hydrocarbon gas, is combined with the nitrogen rich gas and the mixture is reacted outside of the furnace at temperatures above which substantial sooting does not occur. The resulting heat treating atmosphere is then forwarded to the furnace for conducting the heat treating process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalytic fuel composition capable of reducing pollutants in the combustion gasses generated upon combustion of the same. A catalytic material is combined with a liquid, petroleum-based fuel, mixed and solid particles are separated out to give the catalytic fuel product. The catalytic material predominantly comprises a plagioclase feldspar belonging mainly to the albiteanorthite series, and contains small amount of mica, kaolinite and serpentine, and optionally contains magnetite. An alloy material is also disclosed, comprising a mixture of the above-described catalytic material and a metal. The alloy material exhibits unique properties relative to the metal component alone, such as increased tensile strength, improved heat resistance, improved acid resistance, improved corrosion resistance, as well as exhibiting unusual conductive properties.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel nitrogen-hydrogen based atmospheres for sintering steel components in continuous furnaces with consistent quality and properties while prolonging the life of the wire mesh belts, reducing maintenance costs, and improving furnace productivity. Specifically, it discloses the use of a controlled amount of an oxidizing agent such as moisture, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, or mixtures thereof along with nitrogen-hydrogen atmospheres. The amount of an oxidizing agent added to the nitrogen-hydrogen atmospheres to pre-condition belt material prior to its use for sintering and to sinter steel components is controlled in such a way that atmospheres become oxidizing to the belt material but reducing to steel components being sintered, specifically in the high heating and cooling zones of continuous furnaces.

Abstract: A method for quenching hot metals especially iron steel or copper with a quenching fluid comprising a major proportion of an organic phosphate ester. The preferred esters are trialkyl phosphates and tri(alkyl phenyl) phosphates. The quenched article may exhibit improved anti-wear properties.

Abstract: Superalloy articles are made more oxidation resistant by a process which includes heat treating the article in the presence of foreign chemical species, at a temperature at which the foreign chemical species reacts with and modifies any oxide film present on the article surface. The heat treatment is best carried out at a temperature above the gamma prime solvus temperature of the article and below the incipient melting temperature of the article. Alternatively, the heat treatment may be carried out within the range defined by the incipient melting temperature of the article and about 150.degree. C. below the incipient melting temperature of the article. At such temperatures the foreign chemical species reacts with and modifies the oxide film on the article surface. Sulfur is then able to diffuse through such modified film, and a more oxidation resistant component is produced.