Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making freestanding metal matrix composite articles and alloy articles are described. A method of making a freestanding composite article described herein comprises disposing over a surface of the temporary substrate a layered assembly comprising a layer of infiltration metal or alloy and a hard particle layer formed of a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and the hard particles. The layered assembly is heated to infiltrate the hard particle layer with metal or alloy providing a metal matrix composite, and the metal matrix composite is separated from the temporary substrate. Further, a method of making a freestanding alloy article described herein comprises disposing over the surface of a temporary substrate a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and powder alloy and heating the sheet to provide a sintered alloy article. The sintered alloy article is then separated from the temporary substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making freestanding metal matrix composite articles and alloy articles are described. A method of making a freestanding composite article described herein comprises disposing over a surface of the temporary substrate a layered assembly comprising a layer of infiltration metal or alloy and a hard particle layer formed of a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and the hard particles. The layered assembly is heated to infiltrate the hard particle layer with metal or alloy providing a metal matrix composite, and the metal matrix composite is separated from the temporary substrate. Further, a method of making a freestanding alloy article described herein comprises disposing over the surface of a temporary substrate a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and powder alloy and heating the sheet to provide a sintered alloy article. The sintered alloy article is then separated from the temporary substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making freestanding metal matrix composite articles and alloy articles are described. A method of making a freestanding composite article described herein comprises disposing over a surface of the temporary substrate a layered assembly comprising a layer of infiltration metal or alloy and a hard particle layer formed of a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and the hard particles. The layered assembly is heated to infiltrate the hard particle layer with metal or alloy providing a metal matrix composite, and the metal matrix composite is separated from the temporary substrate. Further, a method of making a freestanding alloy article described herein comprises disposing over the surface of a temporary substrate a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and powder alloy and heating the sheet to provide a sintered alloy article. The sintered alloy article is then separated from the temporary substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, composite articles are described herein employing cobalt-based alloy claddings exhibiting high hardness and wear resistance while maintaining desirable integrity and adhesion to surfaces of metallic substrates. A composite article, in some embodiments, comprises a metallic substrate and a composite cladding metallurgically bonded to one or more surfaces of the metallic substrate, the composite cladding including cobalt-based alloy having a chromium gradient, wherein chromium content increases in a direction from the composite cladding surface to an interface of the composite cladding with the metallic substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making cladded articles are described herein. A method of making a cladded article, in some embodiments, comprises disposing over a surface of a metallic substrate a sheet comprising organic binder and powder metal or powder alloy having a solidus temperature at least 100° C. less than the metallic substrate and heating the powder metal or powder alloy to provide a sintered metal or sintered alloy cladding metallurgically bonded to the metallic substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making freestanding metal matrix composite articles and alloy articles are described. A method of making a freestanding composite article described herein comprises disposing over a surface of the temporary substrate a layered assembly comprising a layer of infiltration metal or alloy and a hard particle layer formed of a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and the hard particles. The layered assembly is heated to infiltrate the hard particle layer with metal or alloy providing a metal matrix composite, and the metal matrix composite is separated from the temporary substrate. Further, a method of making a freestanding alloy article described herein comprises disposing over the surface of a temporary substrate a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and powder alloy and heating the sheet to provide a sintered alloy article. The sintered alloy article is then separated from the temporary substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, composite articles are described herein employing cobalt-based alloy claddings exhibiting high hardness and wear resistance while maintaining desirable integrity and adhesion to surfaces of metallic substrates. A composite article, in some embodiments, comprises a metallic substrate and a composite cladding metallurgically bonded to one or more surfaces of the metallic substrate, the composite cladding including cobalt-based alloy having a chromium gradient, wherein chromium content increases in a direction from the composite cladding surface to an interface of the composite cladding with the metallic substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making freestanding metal matrix composite articles and alloy articles are described. A method of making a freestanding composite article described herein comprises disposing over a surface of the temporary substrate a layered assembly comprising a layer of infiltration metal or alloy and a hard particle layer formed of a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and the hard particles. The layered assembly is heated to infiltrate the hard particle layer with metal or alloy providing a metal matrix composite, and the metal matrix composite is separated from the temporary substrate. Further, a method of making a freestanding alloy article described herein comprises disposing over the surface of a temporary substrate a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and powder alloy and heating the sheet to provide a sintered alloy article. The sintered alloy article is then separated from the temporary substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making cladded articles are described herein. A method of making a cladded article, in some embodiments, comprises disposing over a surface of a metallic substrate a sheet comprising organic binder and powder metal or powder alloy having a solidus temperature at least 100° C. less than the metallic substrate and heating the powder metal or powder alloy to provide a sintered metal or sintered alloy cladding metallurgically bonded to the metallic substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making cladded articles are described herein. A method of making a cladded article, in some embodiments, comprises disposing over a surface of a metallic substrate a sheet comprising organic binder and powder metal or powder alloy having a solidus temperature at least 100° C. less than the metallic substrate and heating the powder metal or powder alloy to provide a sintered metal or sintered alloy cladding metallurgically bonded to the metallic substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making freestanding metal matrix composite articles and alloy articles are described. A method of making a freestanding composite article described herein comprises disposing over a surface of the temporary substrate a layered assembly comprising a layer of infiltration metal or alloy and a hard particle layer formed of a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and the hard particles. The layered assembly is heated to infiltrate the hard particle layer with metal or alloy providing a metal matrix composite, and the metal matrix composite is separated from the temporary substrate. Further, a method of making a freestanding alloy article described herein comprises disposing over the surface of a temporary substrate a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and powder alloy and heating the sheet to provide a sintered alloy article. The sintered alloy article is then separated from the temporary substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making cladded articles are described herein. A method of making a cladded article, in some embodiments, comprises disposing over a surface of a metallic substrate a sheet comprising organic binder and powder metal or powder alloy having a solidus temperature at least 100° C. less than the metallic substrate and heating the powder metal or powder alloy to provide a sintered metal or sintered alloy cladding metallurgically bonded to the metallic substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of insert bits (10) for use with powered screwdrivers. The formed bits (10) may be treated to have a desired microstructure by either an austempering process or by the three step heating, quenching, tempering process. The bits (10) may also be electro-polished. Austempering provides for improved function and increased fatigue life and electro-polishing provides for improved function and increased fatigue life and torque capacity. The bits (10) and may have reduced diameter midportions (30), particularly for use with impact drivers.