Abstract: An amorphous alloy having a composition consisting essentially of about 45 to about 65 atomic % Zr and/or Hf, about 4 to about 7.5 atomic % Ti and/or Nb, about 5 to about 15 atomic % Al and/or Zn, and the balance comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Co, Ni, up to about 10 atomic % Fe, and Y intentionally present in the alloy composition in an amount not exceeding about 0.5 atomic %, such as about 0.2 to about 0.4 atomic % Y, with an alloy bulk oxygen concentration of at least about 1000 ppm on atomic basis.

Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.

Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.

Abstract: CVD aluminide coatings including a small concentration of a reactive, gettering element for surface active impurities dispersed therein are formed for improved oxidation resistance. The aluminide coatings are formed by CVD codeposition of Al and the gettering element on the substrate using coating gases for the gettering element generated either outside or inside the coating retort depending on the chlorination temperature needed for the particular gettering element.

Abstract: A method of making a ceramic shell mold comprises repeatedly coating a fugitive pattern of an article to be cast with a ceramic slurry layer and applying on the ceramic slurry layer a refractory stucco to form a plurality of ceramic slurry layers and stucco layers on the pattern wherein at least one of the stucco layers is formed by applying discontinuous stucco fiber bundles held together in the bundles by a fugitive binder, which is removed during subsequent firing of the shell mold at elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method for treating an unfired, molded ceramic core comprises placing an unfired (green) ceramic core having a thermosetting and/or thermoplastic binder on at least one setter, placing the setter and the green ceramic core thereon on a conveyor, conveying the setter and the green core through the heating oven to heat the setter and the green ceramic core to an elevated superambient temperature at or above a softening temperature of the binder present in the green core. Heating of the green ceramic core in this manner conforms the core to a surface of the setter to reduce distortion of the core and improve yields of cores that are within preselected dimensional tolerances.

Abstract: An amorphous alloy having a composition consisting essentially of about 45 to about 65 atomic % Zr and/or Hf, about 4 to about 7.5 atomic % Ti and/or Nb, about 5 to about 15 atomic % Al and/or Zn, and the balance comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Co, Ni, up to about 10 atomic % Fe, and Y intentionally present in the alloy composition in an amount not exceeding about 0.5 atomic %, such as about 0.2 to about 0.4 atomic % Y, with an alloy bulk oxygen concentration of at least about 1000 ppm on atomic basis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a cast product shape using a die casting method wherein a molten metallic material is introduced into a shot sleeve having an end that is closed by a movable closure member. The molten metallic material is forced by movement of a plunger in the shot sleeve to the closed end of the shot sleeve where the plunger maintains pressure on the metallic material until it is at least partially solidified in the shot sleeve in the form of a cast product having a outer peripheral shape corresponding to the inner peripheral shape of the shot sleeve. The end of the shot sleeve then is opened by relative movement of the closure member and the shot sleeve, and the plunger is moved further to eject the product shape from the open end of the shot sleeve.

Abstract: Chemical vapor deposition apparatus and method are provided with external metal halide gas generators that reduce leakage of air into the generators so as to improve efficiency of use of the metal charge residing in each generator.

Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.

Abstract: A method of forming a ceramic investment shell mold about a fugitive wax pattern of an article comprises coating the pattern with ceramic slurry, applying a ceramic particulate material heated above ambient temperature to the slurry layer, drying the ceramic slurry layer with ceramic particulates thereon, and repeating said coating, applying and drying steps to build up a shell mold on the pattern. The ceramic slurry with ceramic particulates thereon is dried initially dried for a time using relatively low humidity flowing air at an air temperature above about 80 degrees F. and then subsequently for a time using relatively low humidity flowing air at an air temperature not exceeding about 80 degrees F. Ceramic investment shell molds can be built-up in times typically less than 10 hours by practice of the invention with substantially reduced incidence of shell mold cracking during the shell mold building process and subsequent pattern removal operation.

Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.

Abstract: In a cylinder head gasket with a gasket plate comprising at least three metallic plate layers superimposed one upon the other and at least one combustion chamber hole, with a beaded plate layer arranged on either side of an inner plate layer, each of the beaded plate layers having a bead enclosing the combustion chamber hole, protruding in the direction towards the inner plate layer and forming a combustion chamber sealing element, and with a metallic stopper ring immediately adjacent to the combustion chamber hole and enclosing this combustion chamber hole, the stopper ring being arranged radially inside the beads, bordering on an inner edge of the inner plate layer which encloses the combustion chamber hole, and projecting over the two main surfaces of the inner plate layer so as to delimit the deformability of the beads in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the gasket plate, in order to obtain a tension-free stopper ring and minimize the material waste, such a cylinder head gasket is constructed s

Abstract: A method of improving oxidation resistance of a platinum modified aluminide diffusion coating on a substrate involves electroplating the substrate with a platinum layer from an aqueous hydroxide based electroplating solution and aluminizing the substrate to grow the platinum modified aluminide diffusion coating on said layer. The electroplating solution preferably includes an alkali element and/or alkaline earth element that is incorporated in the platinum layer and in the aluminide diffusion coating formed thereon to significantly improve oxidation resistance of the coating.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine component having a thermal barrier coating is immersed in an inorganic hydroxide bath having a high concentration of alkali or alkaline earth hydroxide with the bath at ambient (atmospheric) pressure and elevated temperature for a time sufficient to effect rapid detachment of the thermal barrier coating for removal from the substrate. The component then optionally can be immersed in a water bath to remove any remaining thermal barrier coating. The thermal barrier coating is removed without detectable damage to the substrate or any bondcoat present thereon.

Abstract: High temperature oxidation resistance of an aluminide diffusion overcoated MCrAlY coating system is substantially improved by CVD over-aluminizing the MCrAlY type overlay coating under CVD conditions that result in reduced concentrations of such tramp impurities as S and P in the aluminized MCrAlY overlay coating region of the coating system. The CVD aluminizing conditions yield an outwardly grown aluminide over-coat on the underlying MCrAlY type coating.

Abstract: A preweld heat treatment for precipitation hardenable IN939 nickel base superalloy having a gamma matrix and gamma prime strengthening phase dispersed in the matrix comprises heating the nickel base superalloy at about 2120 degrees F. for a time to solution gamma prime phase followed by slow cooling to below about 1450 degrees F. at a rate of about 1 degree F./minute or less, and cooling to room temperature. The preweld heat treatment eliminates strain age cracking at base metal weld heat-affected zone upon subsequent heat treatment to develop alloy mechanical properties.

Abstract: A fluid control device for an electronic transmission is provided and includes a transmission spool valve and a proportional variable force solenoid valve disposed in a common housing for controlling the pressure of a fluid supplied to a first end of the transmission spool valve in a direction opposite to the biasing force of a coil spring. The variable force solenoid valve varies fluid pressure on the first end of the spool valve in proportion to the current level of the electric signal so as to control movement of the spool valve in a manner to regulate control pressure to smooth shifting of transmission gears at a particular shifting point represented by an electrical signal supplied to the solenoid.

Abstract: A non-destructive measurement method for determining residual stress proximate an intermediate layer in a multilayer thermal barrier coating system by directing a laser beam through an outer ceramic thermal insulating layer with the laser beam illuminating a ceramic-bearing intermediate layer in a manner to cause species present in the intermediate layer to fluoresce, measuring the frequency of the light or photons emitted by the fluroescing species, and comparing the measured frequency shift of the intermediate ceramic layer to the frequency shift determined on like ceramic material under controlled stress states to determine a representation of relative residual stress in the measured coating. The invention can be used to assess integrity or quality control of as-manufactured TBC coatings or to assess remaining coating service life of engine-run TBC coated components during an inspection or repair procedure.

Abstract: A gas permeable ceramic investment mold is disposed in a casting chamber and filled with melt to be solidified via a mold melt inlet, such as for example a mold pour cup adapted to receive the melt from a melting crucible in the casting chamber. After the melt is cast into the hot investment mold in the vacuum casting chamber, a pressure cap is positioned in sealing engagement with the mold melt inlet, and gas pressure is introduced through the pressure cap to provide selective or local gas pressure on the melt in the mold without pressure cracking or other damage to the relatively fragile investment mold, while the casting chamber is maintained under relative vacuum or a different pressure from that in the mold.