Abstract: A forging head for additive manufacturing, comprising a base portion and a forging portion. The forging portion extends from the base portion for forging a cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer by additive manufacturing. The forging head further comprising a through hole which is formed through the base portion and the forging portion, for at least one of an energy bean and an additive material to pass through during formation of the cladding layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an additive manufacturing system and its methods. The system includes a material conveyor, an energy source, and a micro-forging device. The material conveyor is configured to convey material. The energy source is configured to direct an energy beam toward the material, the energy beam fuses at least a portion of the material to form a solidified portion. The micro-forging device is movable along with the material conveyor for forging the solidified portion, wherein the micro-forging device comprises a first forging hammer and a second forging hammer, the first forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a first deformation, and the second forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a second deformation greater than the first deformation.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, comprises an energy source device for providing a first energy beam and a second energy beam; and a forging device comprising a forging head. The first energy beam and a substrate are configured to move relative to each other to fuse at least a portion of a material added to the surface of the substrate for forming a cladding layer on the substrate. The forging head is configured to forge the cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer. The second energy beam is configured to heat a forging area of the cladding layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing a component, wherein the component comprises at least one opening in a surface thereof, the method comprising: placing the component in an electrophoretic fluid comprising particles of a masking material as an electrode, applying a voltage to the component and a counter electrode of the component, depositing particles of the masking material in the electrophoretic fluid into the at least one aperture through electrophoresis to mask the at least one aperture; processing a surface of the component; and removing the masking material in the at least one opening.

Abstract: A temperature control method for additive manufacturing includes directing an energy beam of a first energy source toward a material and fusing at least a portion of the material to form a cladding layer, forging the cladding layer with a micro-forging device, and detecting a first internal effect parameter of the cladding layer at a forging position where is forged by the micro-forging device. The first internal effect parameter includes at least one of a stress or a strain of the cladding layer. The method also includes calculating a first calculated temperature of the cladding layer at the forging position based on the first internal effect parameter and adjusting the at least one of the first energy source and the micro forging device if the first calculated temperature does not fall within a desired temperature range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature control system for additive manufacturing and method for same. The temperature control system comprises: a cladding device configured to fuse a material and form a cladding layer, the cladding device comprising a first energy source; a micro-forging device coupled to the cladding device for forging the cladding layer; a detecting device; a control module; and an adjusting module coupled to at least one of the first energy source and the micro-forging device.

Abstract: A gasification component for use in a gasification environment includes a metal-based substrate and a coating deposited on the metal-based substrate. The coating includes at least about 51% by weight of chromium in the alpha phase at an operating temperature of gasification.

Abstract: A surface of an article is modified by aluminizing an initial surface at a first temperature to form a first aluminized layer and a sublayer, removing at least a portion of the first aluminized layer, aluminizing the sublayer at a second temperature to form a second aluminized layer, and finally removing at least a portion of the second aluminized layer to form a processed surface. The second temperature is less than the first temperature and a roughness of the processed surface is less than the roughness of the initial surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an additive manufacturing system and its methods. The system includes a material conveyor, an energy source, and a micro-forging device. The material conveyor is configured to convey material. The energy source is configured to direct an energy beam toward the material, the energy beam fuses at least a portion of the material to form a solidified portion. The micro-forging device is movable along with the material conveyor for forging the solidified portion, wherein the micro-forging device comprises a first forging hammer and a second forging hammer, the first forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a first deformation, and the second forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a second deformation greater than the first deformation.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, comprises an energy source device for providing a first energy beam and a second energy beam; and a forging device comprising a forging head. The first energy beam and a substrate are configured to move relative to each other to fuse at least a portion of a material added to the surface of the substrate for forming a cladding layer on the substrate. The forging head is configured to forge the cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer. The second energy beam is configured to heat a forging area of the cladding layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing a component, wherein the component comprises at least one opening in a surface thereof, the method comprising: placing the component in an electrophoretic fluid comprising particles of a masking material as an electrode, applying a voltage to the component and a counter electrode of the component, depositing particles of the masking material in the electrophoretic fluid into the at least one aperture through electrophoresis to mask the at least one aperture; processing a surface of the component; and removing the masking material in the at least one opening.

Abstract: A fluid conduit (10) is provided having (a) a fluid conduit exterior surface (14); (b) a fluid conduit interior surface (16); (c) an electroless nickel protective coating (18) disposed upon one or both of the fluid conduit interior surface and the fluid conduit exterior surface; and (d) a layer (20) of Ni3S2 disposed upon and substantially covering the electroless nickel protective coating. The fluid conduit can be any fluid conduit through which a fluid may be caused to pass, such as a downhole tubular used in oil and gas production, or a gas liquid cyclonic separator. And a hydrocarbon production tube, a method of producing a fluid conduit comprising a nickel sulfide protective layer, a machine component comprising at least one surface having a protective outer layer are provided. The combination of the electroless nickel inner protective coating with an outer layer of Ni3S2 affords articles such as fluid conduits and machine components with exceptional scale and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature control system for additive manufacturing and method for same. The temperature control system comprises: a cladding device configured to fuse a material and form a cladding layer, the cladding device comprising a first energy source; a micro-forging device coupled to the cladding device for forging the cladding layer; a detecting device; a control module; and an adjusting module coupled to at least one of the first energy source and the micro-forging device.

Abstract: A forging head for additive manufacturing, comprising a base portion and a forging portion. The forging portion extends from the base portion for forging a cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer by additive manufacturing. The forging head further comprising a through hole which is formed through the base portion and the forging portion, for at least one of an energy bean and an additive material to pass through during formation of the cladding layer.

Abstract: A surface of an article is modified by aluminizing an initial surface at a first temperature to form a first aluminized layer and a sublayer, removing at least a portion of the first aluminized layer, aluminizing the sublayer at a second temperature to form a second aluminized layer, and finally removing at least a portion of the second aluminized layer to form a processed surface. The second temperature is less than the first temperature and a roughness of the processed surface is less than the roughness of the initial surface.

Abstract: A gasification component for use in a gasification environment includes a metal-based substrate and a coating deposited on the metal-based substrate. The coating includes at least about 51% by weight of chromium in the alpha phase at an operating temperature of gasification.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is presented. The photovoltaic device includes a transparent conductive layer; a window layer disposed on the transparent conductive layer; and an absorber layer disposed on the window layer. The window layer includes a low-diffusivity layer disposed adjacent to the transparent conductive layer and a high-diffusivity layer interposed between the low-diffusivity layer and the absorber layer. Method of making a photovoltaic device is also presented.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor assemblies is provided. The manufacturing method includes thermally processing a first semiconductor assembly comprising a first semiconductor layer disposed on a first support and thermally processing a second semiconductor assembly comprising a second semiconductor layer disposed on a second support. The first and second semiconductor assemblies are thermally processed simultaneously, and the first and second semiconductor assemblies are arranged such that the first semiconductor layer faces the second semiconductor layer during the thermal processing.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a substrate formed of a high temperature resistant material and a corrosion resistant layer. The corrosion resistant layer is inert to the molten salt impurities and includes a refractory metal vanadate of formula MxVyOz, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals, group IV and V transition metals, rare-earth metals and their combinations, and wherein z=x+2.5y, or z=1.5x+2.5y, or z=2x+2.5y.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is presented. The photovoltaic device includes a transparent conductive layer; a window layer disposed on the transparent conductive layer; and an absorber layer disposed on the window layer. The window layer includes a low-diffusivity layer disposed adjacent to the transparent conductive layer and a high-diffusivity layer interposed between the low-diffusivity layer and the absorber layer. Method of making a photovoltaic device is also presented.