Patents by Inventor Peter C. Lopez

Peter C. Lopez has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Packed bed carburization of tantalum and tantalum alloy
    Patent number: 5916377
    Abstract: Packed bed carburization of a tantalum or tantalum alloy object. A method for producing corrosion-resistant tantalum or tantalum alloy objects is described. The method includes the steps of placing the object in contact with a carburizing pack, heating the packed object in vacuum furnace to a temperature whereby carbon from the pack diffuses into the object forming grains with tantalum carbide along the grain boundaries, and etching the surface of the carburized object. This latter step removes tantalum carbides from the surface of the carburized tantalum object while leaving the tantalum carbide along the grain boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Peter C. Lopez, Patrick J. Rodriguez, Ramiro A. Pereyra