Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a metal alloy resistant to aqueous corrosion consists essentially of or consists of niobium with additions of tungsten, molybdenum, and one or both of ruthenium and palladium.

Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Nb alloys or Nb—Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

Abstract: A method for making a sputtering target including steps of encapsulating and hot isostatically pressing at least one mass of metal powder (e.g., tantalum), having a particle size ranging from about 10 to about 1000 ?m, with at least about 10 percent by weight of particles having a particle size greater than about 150 ?m (for example, about 29 to about 56 percent (e.g., about 35 to about 47 percent) by weight of the particles in the at least one mass of metal powder having a particle size that is larger than 150 microns, but below about 250 ?m), for defining at least a portion of a sputtering target body, having an essentially theoretical random and substantially uniform crystallographic texture.

Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires feature assemblies of clad composite filaments and/or stabilized composite filaments embedded within a wire matrix. The wires may include one or more stabilizing elements for improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires feature assemblies of clad composite filaments and/or stabilized composite filaments embedded within a wire matrix. The wires may include one or more stabilizing elements for improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: A method for making a sputtering target including steps of encapsulating and hot isostatically pressing at least one mass of metal powder (e.g., tantalum), having a particle size ranging from about 10 to about 1000 ?m, with at least about 10 percent by weight of particles having a particle size greater than about 150 ?m (for example, about 29 to about 56 percent (e.g., about 35 to about 47 percent) by weight of the particles in the at least one mass of metal powder having a particle size that is larger than 150 microns, but below about 250 ?m), for defining at least a portion of a sputtering target body, having an essentially theoretical random and substantially uniform crystallographic texture.

Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a metal alloy resistant to aqueous corrosion consists essentially of or consists of niobium with additions of tungsten, molybdenum, and one or both of ruthenium and palladium.

Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a metal alloy resistant to aqueous corrosion consists essentially of or consists of niobium with additions of tungsten, molybdenum, and one or both of ruthenium and palladium.

Abstract: In various embodiments, superconducting wires feature assemblies of clad composite filaments and/or stabilized composite filaments embedded within a wire matrix. The wires may include one or more stabilizing elements for improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: In various embodiments, refractory-metal glass melt electrodes are single-crystalline, at least within an outer layer thereof.

Abstract: A method for making a sputtering target including steps of encapsulating and hot isostatically pressing at least one mass of metal powder (e.g., tantalum), having a particle size ranging from about 10 to about 1000 ?m, with at least about 10 percent by weight of particles having a particle size greater than about 150 ?m (for example, about 29 to about 56 percent (e.g., about 35 to about 47 percent) by weight of the particles in the at least one mass of metal powder having a particle size that is larger than 150 microns, but below about 250 ?m), for defining at least a portion of a sputtering target body, having an essentially theoretical random and substantially uniform crystallographic texture.

Abstract: A method of making an alloy of niobium that includes: A) forming a blend comprising niobium powder and a powder of a metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, aluminum, hafnium, titanium, zirconium, thorium, lanthanum and cerium and pressing the blend to form pressed blend; B) attaching the pressed blend to an electrode comprising niobium; C) melting the electrode and pressed blend under vacuum arc remelting conditions, such that the blend mixes with the melted electrode; D) cooling the melted electrode to form an alloy ingot; and E) applying thermo-mechanical processing steps to the alloy ingot to form a wrought product. The method provides a fully recrystallized niobium wrought product with a grain size finer that ASTM 5, that can be used to make deep drawn cups and sputtering targets.

Abstract: A method of making a silicon-containing alloy of niobium or tantalum that includes: A) forming a blend comprising niobium or tantalum powder and silicon powder and pressing the blend to form pressed blend; B) attaching the pressed blend to an electrode comprising niobium or tantalum; C) melting the electrode and pressed blend under vacuum arc remelting conditions, such that the blend mixes with the melted electrode; D) cooling the melted electrode to form an alloy ingot; and E) applying thermo-mechanical processing steps to the alloy ingot to form a wrought product. The method provides a fully recrystalized niobium or tantalum wrought product with a grain size finer that ASTM 5, that can be used to make deep drawn cups and sputtering targets.

Abstract: Refractory metal products, such as tantalum, can be rejuvenated after metal consumption in selected zones by filling the zones with powder and simultaneously applying focused radiant energy to the powder.

Abstract: A process to chemically refine and consolidate tantalum, niobium and their alloys to a fabricated product of net shape or near-net shape with higher throughput, more consistency, and lower manufacturing costs compared to prior art routes or rejuvenate damaged and deteriorated refractory metal parts. Powder metal is loaded into hoppers to be fed into laser forming/melting equipment. A suitable substrate is loaded into a laser forming/melting chamber onto which the powder will be deposited and consolidated in a point-scan process. As the powder is fed onto successive points of the surface of the substrate in linear traces, the laser is used to heat and partially melt the substrate and completely melt the powder. A combined deposition and melt beam traces the substrate surface repeatedly over a selected area to build up a dense coating of controlled microstructure in multiple layers. A fully dense deposit is built up that becomes the desired shape.

Abstract: A powder metal (P/M) mill product and the method of fabrication such product made out of low oxygen (<400 ppm) refractory metal, or alloys thereof, using oxide additive (such as MgO, SiO2, and Y2O3) for co-fabrication to achieve refractory metal grain size stabilization as required in high temperature applications. One such product is a sheet with small grain size containing oxide particles as grain size stabilizers. The product has good mechanical properties, low oxygen content in refractory metal fiber derivatives of the powder within the mill product and if is available as large pieces of sheet (lateral dimensions). The metal powder is consolidated to a sheet bar by different methods, which may weigh 50 pounds or more.