Magnesium Base Patents (Class 148/420)
  • Patent number: 6322644
    Abstract: A magnesium-based casting alloy having good salt-spray corrosion resistance and improved creep resistance, tensile yield strength and bolt-load retention, particularly at elevated temperatures of at least 150° C., is provided. The inventive alloy comprises, in weight percent, 2 to 9% aluminum and 0.5 to 7% strontium, with the balance being magnesium except for impurities commonly found in magnesium alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Norands, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihriban Ozden Pekguleryuz, Pierre Labelle
  • Patent number: 6299834
    Abstract: A heat-resistant magnesium alloy exhibiting excellent heat resistance and castability, which comprises 1.0 to 6.0 % by weight of zinc, 0.4 to 1.0 % by weight of zirconium, 1.5 to 5.0 % by weight of rare earth element, up to 0.3 % by weight of calcium, magnesium being as the balance, and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Toshio Horie, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Tomoyasu Kitano, Harumi Ueno, Takamasa Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010023720
    Abstract: The present invention provides a die casting magnesium alloy having excellent heat resistance and castability, and the alloy of the present invention is a die casting magnesium alloy having excellent heat resistance and castability, comprising 2 to 6% by weight of Al, 0.3 to 2% by weight of Ca, 0.01 to 1% by weight of Sr, 0.1 to 1% by weight of Mn, the balance magnesium and unavoidable impurities. According to the present invention, more excellent effects can be obtained in the composition wherein rare earth elements are added to the composition described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Aluminum Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Ohori, Yusuke Nakaura, Takeshi Sakagami
  • Publication number: 20010020498
    Abstract: A thin, forged magnesium alloy casing is integrally constituted by a thin plate with projections on either or both surfaces, and the thin plate is as thin as about 1.5 mm or less. The thin forged casing can be produced by (a) carrying out a first forging step for roughly forging a magnesium alloy plate to form an intermediate forged product under the conditions of a preheating temperature of the magnesium alloy plate of 350-500° C., a die temperature of 350-450° C., a compression pressure of 3-30 tons/cm2, a compressing speed of 10-500 mm/sec. and a compression ratio of 75% or less; and (b) carrying out a second forging step for precisely forging the intermediate forged product under the conditions of a preheating temperature of the intermediate forged product of 300-500° C., a die temperature of 300-400° C., a compression pressure of 1-20 tons/cm2, a compressing speed of 1-200 mm/sec., and a compression ratio of 30% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Isao Seki, Shigeo Hama, Shigehiro Taniike, Fukashi Watanabe, Masahiko Kakizaki, Shinji Seki
  • Patent number: 6264763
    Abstract: A family of die castable, creep-resistant magnesium alloys has been developed for high-temperature structural applications such as automotive engines and transmission cases. These alloys contain between 3% and 6% aluminum, 1.7% and 3.3% calcium, and up to 0.2% strontium. They have demonstrated 25% greater tensile and compressive creep resistance than AE42, a commercial aluminum, rare earth containing magnesium alloy, and corrosion resistance as good as AZ91D. These alloys are estimated to cost less than AZ91D and have good castability in metal molds as used in permanent mold casting and die casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Bob Ross Powell, Vadim Rezhets, Aihua A. Luo, Basant Lal Tiwari
  • Patent number: 6264762
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy material includes magnesium; more than 1 wt. % manganese; and at least one sp-metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, mercury, gallium, indium, thallium, germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth, wherein the manganese and the at least one sp-metal together are a maximum of 5 wt. % of the alloy material. The magnesium materials are resistant to corrosion and are especially useful in articles exposed to aqueous electrolytes during use or production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Heike Bommer, Jürgen Lang, Felix Nitschke
  • Patent number: 6193817
    Abstract: A magnesium base alloy for high pressure die casting (HPDC), providing good creep and corrosion resistance, comprises: at least 91 weight percent magnesium; 0.1 to 2 weight percent of zinc; 2.1 to 5 percent of a rare earth metal component; 0 to 1 weight percent calcium; 0 to 0.1 weight percent of an oxidation inhibiting element other than calcium (e.g., Be); 0 to 0.4 weight percent zirconium, hafnium and/or titanium; 0 to 0.5 weight percent manganese; no more than 0.001 weight percent strontium; no more than 0.05 weight percent silver and no more than 0.1 weight percent aluminum; any remainder being incidental impurities. For making prototypes, gravity (e.g. sand) cast and HPDC components from the alloy have similar mechanical properties, in particular tensile strength. The temperature dependence of the latter, although negative, is much less so than for some other known alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Luxfer Group Limited
    Inventors: John Frederick King, Paul Lyon, Kevin Nuttall
  • Patent number: 6146584
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy having a high strength and elongation, comprising by weight, 4.3-10.0% aluminum, 0.7-6.0% zinc, 0.4-5.0% silicon, 0.025-5.0% phosphorus, up to 0.7% copper, with the substantial balance being magnesium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Jin Park, Jae Jhoong Kim, Doe Hyang Kim, Chul Soo Shin, Nak Jhoon Kim
  • Patent number: 6143097
    Abstract: This invention is to provide a magnesium alloy cast material capable of manufacturing a wheel, a large-sized forged piece such as wheel having properties equivalent to those of aluminum molten forged member, directly from the state of continuous cast material. The magnesium alloy cast material is a nearly intermediate alloy composition between conventional AZ61 alloy and AZ80 alloy, comprising Al: 6.2 to 7.6 wt. %, Mn: 0.15 to 0.4 wt. %, Zn: 0.4 to 0.8 wt. % and Mg: balance, and casting by defining the mean crystal grain size under 200 .mu.m. The forgeability is excellent, and when forged, a forged piece superior in mechanical properties and corrosion resistance to the aluminum molten forged member can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Fujita, Nobuo Sakate, Shoji Hirabara, Yukio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6139651
    Abstract: A magnesium based alloy for high pressure die casting, comprising at least 83 wt % magnesium; 4.5 to 10 wt % Al; wt % Zn that is comprised in one of the two ranges 0.01 to 1 and 5 to 10; 0.15 to 1.0 wt % Mn; 0.05 to 1 wt % of rare earth elements; 0.01 to 0.2 wt % Sr; 0.0005 to 0.0015 wt % Be; and calcium in an amount higher than 0.3 (wt % Al -4.0).sup.0.5 wt % and lower than 1.2 wt %. The alloy may further comprise incidental impurities. The alloy may comprise at least 88 wt % magnesium, 4.5 to 10 wt % Al, 0.1 to 1 wt % of rare earth elements. The alloy may contain 5 to 10 wt % Zn and 0.1 to 1 wt % of rare earth elements, and wherein the zinc content is related to the aluminum content by the formula: wt % Zn=8.2-2.2 in (wt % Al -3.5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignees: Dead Sea Magnesium Ltd, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Boris Bronfin, Eliyahu Aghion, Soenke Schumann, Peter Bohling, Karl Ulrich Kainer
  • Patent number: 6103024
    Abstract: A mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage material having 75-95 atomic percent Mg, 5-15 atomic percent Ni, 0.5-6 atomic percent Mo, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Al, C, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, Nd, Si, Ti, V, and Zr, preferably between 1-15 atomic %. The mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage preferably contains from 3-15 atomic % C and at least one other element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ca, Ce, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, and Nd. The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Sapru, Lu Ming, Ned T. Stetson
  • Patent number: 5976276
    Abstract: Mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage materials having a major atomic percentage of magnesium and a minor atomic percentage of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, iron and titanium. Preferably the mechanical alloy comprises a multi-phase material, including at least one amorphous phase. Also, the at least two elements are preferably either nickel (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and molybdenum (from about 0.5 to 5 at. %) or iron (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and titanium (from about 5 to 15 at. %). The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Sapru, Lu Ming, Subramanian Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 5964965
    Abstract: Disclosed is a very light-weight, Mg and Be-based material which has the ability to reversibly store hydrogen with very good kinetics. This material is of the formula (M.sub.1-x A.sub.x) D.sub.y wherein M is Mg, Be or a combination of them; A is an element selected from the group consisting of Li, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, O, Si, B, C and F; D is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt (preferably Pd); x is a number ranging from 0 to 0.3; and y is a number ranging from 0 to 0.15. This material is in the form of a powder of particles of the formula M.sub.1-x A.sub.x as defined hereinabove, having an average size ranging from 0.1 to 100 .mu.m, each particle consisting of nanocrystalline grains having an average size of 3 to 100 nm or having a nano-layered structure with a layer spacing of 3 to 100 nm. Some of these particles have clusters of metal D attached thereto, with an average size ranging from 2 to 200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, McGill University
    Inventors: Robert Schulz, John Strom-Olsen, Leszek Zaluski, Alicja Zaluska
  • Patent number: 5958155
    Abstract: A substrate (2) is rotatably installed in a vacuum chamber (1) at an upper part thereof MgF.sub.2 granules (3) as a film source material are placed in a quartz boat (4) and mounted on a magnetron cathode (5). The magnetron cathode (5) is connected through a matching box (6) to a 13.56 MHz radio frequency power source (7). Cooling water (8) for holding the temperature of the magnetron cathode (5) constant flows against a lower face of the magnetron cathode (5). A side wall of the vacuum chamber (1) is provided with gas introduction ports (9), (10) for introducing gas in the vacuum chamber (1). A shutter (11) is placed between the magnetron cathode (5) and the substrate (2). This structure provides a process enabling forming a thin film at a high speed by sputtering, especially a high speed sputtering process enabling forming a thin fluoride film free of light absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Kawamata, Nobuaki Mitamura
  • Patent number: 5916381
    Abstract: Mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage materials having a major atomic percentage of magnesium and a minor atomic percentage of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, iron and titanium. Preferably the mechanical alloy comprises a multi-phase material, including at least one amorphous phase. Also, the at least two elements are preferably either nickel (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and molybdenum (from about 0.5 to 5 at. %) or iron (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and titanium (from about 5 to 15 at. %). The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Sapru, Lu Ming, Subramanian Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 5906792
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nanocrystalline composite useful for hydrogen storage, which provides optimum hydrogenation conditions along with high hydrogen storage capacity. This composite is the combination of at least one high temperature metal hydride such as Mg or Mg.sub.2 Ni, which has a high hydrogen storage capacity by weight but requires high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption, with at least one low temperature metal hydride such as FeTi, LaNi.sub.5, Nb, Mn or Pd, which has a low hydrogen storage capacity by weight but does not require high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption. The high and low temperature metal hydrides are in direct contact with each other and each in the form of a nanocrystalline powder or layer. This composite is particularly useful as a hydrogen supply source for hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec and McGill University
    Inventors: Robert Schulz, Sabin Boily, Jacques Huot, John Strom-Olsen, Leszek Zaluski, Alicja Zaluska
  • Patent number: 5895518
    Abstract: A method for preparing controlled phase alloys useful for engineering and hydrogen storage applications. This novel method avoids melting the constituents by employing vapor transport, in a hydrogen atmosphere, of an active metal constituent, having a high vapor pressure at temperatures .apprxeq.300 C. and its subsequent condensation on and reaction with the other constituent (substrate) of an alloy thereby forming a controlled phase alloy and preferably a single phase alloy. It is preferred that the substrate material be a metal powder such that diffusion of the active metal constituent, preferably magnesium, and reaction therewith can be completed within a reasonable time and at temperatures .apprxeq.300 C. thereby avoiding undesirable effects such as sintering, local compositional inhomogeneities, segregation, and formation of unwanted second phases such as intermetallic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Everett Guthrie, George John Thomas, Walter Bauer, Nancy Yuan Chi Yang
  • Patent number: 5855697
    Abstract: A magnesium based alloy exhibiting superior elevated-temperature properties such as creep resistance and tensile strength and die castability such as reduced hot-cracking and die-sticking, contains about 2 to 9 wt. % aluminum, 6 to 12 wt. % zinc, 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % calcium, optionally 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % manganese, and the balance comprising magnesium. The alloy includes the intermetallic compound Mg--Al--Zn--Ca at the grain boundaries of the magnesium crystals. The alloy according to this invention may have a creep extension of less than about 0.6% at the tensile stress of about 35 MPa and the temperature of about 150.degree. C., and a tensile yield strength of at least 110 MPa at the temperature of about 150.degree. C. The alloy is particularly useful in die casting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Imra America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aihua A. Luo, Toru Shinoda
  • Patent number: 5811058
    Abstract: A heat-resistant magnesium alloy containing, based on the total weight of the alloy, 4.5-10 wt. % of aluminum, 0.1-3 wt. % of calcium, 1-3 wt. % of a rare earth element and 0.2-1 wt. % of manganese and having a composition that the contents of aluminum, calcium and the rare earth element satisfy the relationship of the following expression (1):1.66+1.33 Ca+0.37 RE.ltoreq.Al.ltoreq.2.77+1.33 Ca+0.74 REwherein Ca, RE and Al represent the weight percentages of Ca, at least one rare earth element and aluminum contained in the alloy, respectively, in the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Baba, Kensuke Honma, Masao Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 5804138
    Abstract: A composition of matter suitable for use as a protective flux in the production of magnesium metal and magnesium-containing alloys is disclosed. The composition comprises 70 to 80 percent by weight KCl, and 20 to 30 percent by weight MgCl.sub.2 and up to 0.5 percent by weight CaF.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Dow Chmical Company
    Inventor: Matthew R. Earlam
  • Patent number: 5728239
    Abstract: A process for hardening aluminum comprises the steps of adding a magnesium hardener to molten aluminum wherein the hardener has a magnesium content in the range of 64-72 wt % based on the weight of the hardener, with a remaining portion of the hardener comprising aluminum. The process may further include the steps of preheating the hardener prior to adding the hardener to the aluminum for decreasing a temperature differential between the hardener and the aluminum so as to stabilize the hardener and prevent shattering thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: KBAlloys, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Setzer, Richard J. Malliris, David K. Young, Francis P. Koch
  • Patent number: 5701576
    Abstract: The manufacturing method of plastically formed products prevents the generation of cracks at the time of plastic working, thereby increasing the productivity. It is also prevented that the metallic particles constituting the product become large and rough in structure. In the manufacturing method, only the compact treatment and the vacuum deaeration treatment are carried out prior to the extrusion treatment, without the pressure-heat treatment performed. Therefore, processing steps prior to the extrusion treatment are simplified, so that the productivity of the plastically formed products is improved and the metallic particles are prevented from being large and rough. The diffusion treatment between the extrusion treatment and the forging treatment enhances the adhesion at the inner part of the extruded material in the radial direction, whereby the generation of cracks at the time of plastic working is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Fujita, Yukio Yamamoto, Nobuo Sakate, Shoji Hirabara
  • Patent number: 5693158
    Abstract: A method for producing a magnesium light alloy product. In order to enhance formability in plastically forming a magnesium alloy material and obtain high tensile strength and high proof stress in the final product, the magnesium alloy material is cast by using molten magnesium alloy containing strontium of 0.02 to 0.5 weight percent and then plastically formed into a magnesium light alloy product in set shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Yamamoto, Makoto Fujita, Nobuo Sakate, Katsuya Ohuchi, Shoji Hirabara
  • Patent number: 5681403
    Abstract: A magnesium Mg--Al--RE magnesium alloy wherein an amount of a rare earth component may be reduced while optimial tensile strength and durability are obtained. The Alloy further includes a small calcium component. A high degree of creep resistance is obtained. Further, additional copper and/or zinc components may be introduced together, or singly for providing favorable tensile characteristics to the alloy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Makino, Toshiro Kawata, Kyosuke Kanemitsu, Koji Watanabe, Masaji Matsunaga, Mamoru Sayashi
  • Patent number: 5669990
    Abstract: A--Si containing magnesium alloy for casting with a melt thereof with a cast structure having eutectic compounds of Mg.sub.2 Si produced to improve creep strength of a cast product, preferably a Si-containing magnesium alloy of a Mg--Al--Zn system having either 0.01% to 2.0% or 6 to 12% of Zn and 6 to 12% of Al, is disclosed with the improvement in that the alloy contains 0.3 to 1.5% by weight of Si in combination with 0.005 to 0.2% of Sr added to effect refinement of the eutectic compounds to thereby reduce hot cracking and improve mechanical properties of the cast product, while the improved creep strength is preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Adachi, Satoru Sato, Hiroto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5573607
    Abstract: A metal matrix composite of aluminum, magnesium or titanium, and their alloys, containing particles of a silicon boride composition. A preferred form of the boride is silicon hexaboride. A small amount of carbon can be present in the silicon boride composition as Si--B--C. The particles can be pre-blended with particles of the metal prior to melting, or can be added after the melting of the metal. Because of the similar specific gravity of silicon boron compounds and aluminum, very little stirring is required to achieve a homogeneous mixture in the melt. This substantially reduces formation of oxide and hydrogen inclusions. Improved machinability is achieved through utilization of rounded particles. The composite has improved strength, stiffness and reduced thermal coefficient of expansion, thus making the composite composition more useful in industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Millennium Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel C. Weaver
  • Patent number: 5551996
    Abstract: A--Si containing magnesium alloy for casting with a melt thereof with a cast structure having eutectic compounds of Mg.sub.2 Si produced to improve creep strength of a cast product, preferably a Si-containing magnesium alloy of a Mg--Al--Zn system having either 0.01% to 2.0% or 6 to 12% of Zn and 6 to 12% of Al, is disclosed with the improvement in that the alloy contains 0.3 to 1.5% by weight of Si in combination with 0.005 to 0.2% of Sr added to effect refinement of the eutectic compounds to thereby reduce hot cracking and improve mechanical properties of the cast product, while the improved creep strength is preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Adachi, Satoru Sato, Hiroto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5531806
    Abstract: A process for preparing a high strength magnesium alloy comprising heating a melt comprised of a base metal of magnesium, greater than 0.5% of lithium, and at least one alkali metal impurity selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium, the total alkali metal present in an amount greater than 5 ppm, to a temperature of about 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. above the melting point of alloy being refined in a vacuum for a sufficient time to reduce the aggregate concentration of alkali metal impurities in the melt to less than about 5 ppm as measured by GDMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminium Limited
    Inventor: Donald Webster
  • Patent number: 5501748
    Abstract: Procedure for the production of a thixotropic magnesium alloy by adding a grain refiner combined with controlled, rapid solidification with subsequent heating to the two-phase area. It is preferable to use a solidification rate of >1.degree. C./s, more preferably >10.degree. C./s. It is essential that the solidification takes place at such a speed that growth of dendrites is avoided. Heating to the two-phase area is carried out rapidly in 1-30 minutes, preferably 2-5 minutes. By heating an alloy comprising 2-8 weight % Zn, 1.5-5 weight % RE, 0.2-0.8 weight Zr balanced with magnesium to a temperature in the two-phase area after casting, the structure will assume a form in which the .alpha.-phase is globular (RE=rare earth metal). The size of the spheres will be dependent on the temperature and the holding time at that temperature and they will be surrounded by a low-smelting matrix. It is preferable that the alloy has a grain size of not greater than <100 .mu.m, more preferably 50-100 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro A.S.
    Inventors: Haavard Gjestland, HAkon Westengen
  • Patent number: 5494538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydroreactive magnesium mixture preparation for producing hydrogen. The preparation contains magnesium, causing generation of hydrogen, as catalyst nickel and, possibly, cobalt and/or manganese, and as additional component, zinc, which is employed as a passivating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Magnic International, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Kirillov, Alexander N. Vastrebov
  • Patent number: 5413644
    Abstract: Disclosed is a practical magnesium based alloy containing 1 to 99 weight % beryllium and an improved method of semi-solid processing of magnesium alloys containing beryllium. The present method avoids agitation of molten alloys and the need for introducing shear forces by utilizing atomized or ground particles of beryllium mixed with solid, particulate or liquidus magnesium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Brush Wellman Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Marder, Warren J. Haws
  • Patent number: 5409555
    Abstract: An article of manufacture made of a magnesium alloy is made by casting the magnesium alloy to provide a casting, forging the casting to render material of the casting to have an average crystalline particle size of not greater than 100 .mu.m, and carrying out a T6 treatment (a solution treatment and an artificial aging treatment) with respect to the casting. Physical properties such as, for example, the tensile strength, elongation and the like of the article are considerably improved by virtue of the synergistic effect of the micronized crystalline particles and the T6 treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Fujita, Yukio Yamamoto, Nobuo Sakate, Shoji Hirabara
  • Patent number: 5350468
    Abstract: A process for producing amorphous alloy materials having high toughness and high strength from various alloy powders, thin ribbons or bulk materials consisting of an amorphous phase by heating them to a temperature at which intermetallic compounds or other compounds are not produced. During this heating, fine crystal grains consisting of a supersaturated solid solution made of a main alloying element and additive elements and having a mean grain diameter of 5 nm to 500 nm are precipitated and uniformly dispersed in a volume percentage of 5 to 50% throughout an amorphous matrix. In the process, when deformation, pressing or other working is simultaneously conducted with the heating, consolidation or combining of the resultant alloy materials can also be effected in the same production procedure. The amorphous alloy used in the production process preferably comprises Al, Mg or Ti as a main element and, as additive elements, rare earth elements and/or other elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignees: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 5348591
    Abstract: An amorphous magnesium alloy has a composition of Mg.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.c (M is Zn and/or Ga, X is La, Ce, Mm (misch metal), Y, Nd, Pr, Sm and Gd), a is from 65 to 96.5 atomic %, b is from 3 to 30 atomic %, and c is from 0.2 to 8 atomic %). The magnesium alloy has a high specific strength and does not embrittle at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignees: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Yoshida Kogyo K.K., Teikoku Piston Ring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Akira Kato, Toshisuke Shibata, Nobuyuki Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 5342576
    Abstract: The invention provides a magnesium manganese alloy suitable for use in the production of a pellet 10 for administration to a ruminant by dposition in its rumenoreticular sac. A typical pellet 10 comprises a magnesium alloy tube 12 enclosing a degradable core formed of plurality of tablets 14, 16. The magnesium alloy used in the construction comprises at least 90% by weight of magnesium, uyp to 1% zinc and up to 2% of manganese. Preferably the alloy may further include aluminium, silicon or zirconium along with iron and beryllium. When deposited in an animal's rumen the alloy reacts with the rumen juices to form an anodic film over the exposed surface of the tube 12. This prevents corrosion or dissolution of the tube 12 except at its exposed ends where galvanic corrosion by coupling with the electrically conductive core 14, 16 is provided. The normal requirement of a non-degradable exterior coating e.g. resin for the tube exterior is obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Castex Products Limited
    Inventor: Derek J. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 5340416
    Abstract: A high-strength magnesium-based alloy possessing a microcrystalline composition represented by the general formula: Mg.sub.a Al.sub.b M.sub.c or Mg.sub.a,Al.sub.b M.sub.c X.sub.d (wherein M stands for at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ga, Sr, and Ba, X stands for at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ce, Zr, and Ca, and a, a', b, c, and d stand for atomic percents respectively in the ranges of 78.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.94, 75.ltoreq.a'.ltoreq.94, 2.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.12, 1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.10, and 0.1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.3). This alloy can be advantageously produced by rapidly solidifying the melt of an alloy of the composition shown above by the liquid quenching method. It is useful as high-strength materials and highly refractory materials owing to its high hardness, strength, and heat-resistance. It is also useful as materials with high specific strength because of light weight and high strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignees: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Yoshida Kogyo K.K., Akihisa Inoue
    Inventors: Toshisuke Shibata, Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto
  • Patent number: 5326528
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy comprises magnesium, zinc in the amount of 4.0 to 15.0 weight % and silicon in the amount of 0.5 to 3.0 weight %, the weight % being based on the total amount of the alloy. The magnesium alloy further may contain manganese in the range of 0.2 to 0.4 weight %, beryllium in the range of 5 to 20 ppm by weight or rare earth metals in the range of 0.1 to 0.6 weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Makino, Noboru Miyamoto, Kyosuke Kanemitsu
  • Patent number: 5316598
    Abstract: Magnesium base metal alloy sheet is produced by rolling the rolling stock extruded or forged from a billet at a temperature ranging from 200.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. The billet is consolidated from rapidly solidified magnesium based alloy powder that consists essentially of the formula Mg.sub.bal Al.sub.a Zn.sub.b X.sub.c, wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of manganese, cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, and yttrium, "a" ranges from about 0 to 15 atom percent, "b" ranges from about 0 to 4 atom percent, "c" ranges from about 0.2 to 3 atom percent, the balance being magnesium and incidental impurities, with the proviso that the sum of aluminum and zinc present ranges from about 2 to 15 atom percent. The alloy has a uniform microstructure comprised of fine grain size ranging from 0.2-1.0 .mu.m together with precipitates of magnesium and aluminum containing intermetallic phases of a size less than 0.1 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Fong Chang, Santosh K. Das
  • Patent number: 5304260
    Abstract: The present invention provides high strength magnesium-based alloys which are composed a fine crystalline structure, the alloys having a composition represented by the general formula (I) Mg.sub.a X.sub.b ; (II) Mg.sub.a X.sub.c M.sub.d, (III) Mg.sub.a X.sub.c Ln.sub.e ; or (IV) Mg.sub.a X.sub.c M.sub.d Ln.sub.e (wherein X is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn and Zn; M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Si and Ca; Ln is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd and Sm or a misch metal of rare earth elements; and a, b, c, d and e are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges: 40.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.60, 1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.35, 1 .ltoreq.d.ltoreq.25 and 3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.25). Since the magnesium-based alloys have a superior combination of properties of high hardness, high strength and good processability, they are very useful in various industrial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuo Aikawa, Katsuyuki Taketani
  • Patent number: 5296059
    Abstract: A process for producing an amorphous alloy material characterized by imparting ductility to an amorphous alloy having a supercooled liquid region by giving a prescribed amount of strain at a prescribed strain rate to the alloy in the glass transition temperature region of the alloy. The amorphous alloy may be in the form of spherical or irregular-shaped powders or thin ribbons or in the form of primary consolidated shapes thereof or an amorphous alloy casting. The amount of strain and strain rate are preferably 50% or greater and 2.times.10.sup.-2 /sec or higher, respectively, and the worked amorphous alloy material is preferably allowed to cool in a furnace or spontaneously. Suitable examples of the amorphous alloy to be employed include Al-TM-Ln, Mg-TM-Ln, Zr-TM-Al and Hf-TM-Al alloys, wherein TM is a transition metal element and Ln is a rare earth metal element. The thus obtained amorphous alloy is greatly improved in the prevention of embrittlement in hot working peculiar to the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignees: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Junichi Nagahora, Kazuhiko Kita
  • Patent number: 5273569
    Abstract: A composite has a magnesium base metal matrix and a reinforcing phase. The composite is produced from a charge containing a rapidly solidified magnesium base alloy and particles of a reinforcing material present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to 50 percent by volume of the charge. Ball milling the charge energetically enfolds metal matrix material around each of the particles, while maintaining the charge in a pulverant state. Consolidation of the charge provides a mechanically formable, substantially void-free mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Gilman, Michael S. Zedalis
  • Patent number: 5238883
    Abstract: Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into a boron donor material and a carbon donor material. The reactive infiltration typically results in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound, a carbon-containing compound and residual metal, if desired. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron donor material and carbon donor material. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing a wide ranging varying volume percentage of ceramic, metal, and porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Lanxide Technology Company, LP
    Inventors: Marc S. Newkirk, William B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5223215
    Abstract: A process for forming cast, magnesium based alloy articles having reduced microshrinkage comprising the steps of forming a molten alloy consisting essentially of magnesium together with 4 to 10% by weight aluminum, 0 to 1% by weight manganese, and either 0 to 3% by weight zinc or 0 to 1% by weight silicon, adding to the molten alloy 0.01 to 2% by weight strontium, and molding the molten alloy and solidifying to form a cast alloy article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Pechiney Electrometallurgie
    Inventors: Jean Charbonnier, Gilles Nussbaum, Gilles Regazzoni
  • Patent number: 5221376
    Abstract: Disclosed are high strength magnesium-based alloys consisting essentially of a composition represented by the general formula (I) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.d, (II) Mg.sub.a Ln.sub.c X.sub.d or (III) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b Ln.sub.c X.sub.d, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cu, Al, Zn and Ca; Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Sm and Nd or a misch metal (Mm) which is a combination of rare earth elements; X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba and Ga; and a, b, c and d are, in atomic percent, 55.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 3.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.25, 1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.30, the alloy being at least 50 percent by volume composed of an amorphous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignees: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., Ltd., Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Takashi Sakuma, Toshisuke Shibata
  • Patent number: 5174834
    Abstract: A process of production of alumina short fiber reinforced magnesium or magnesium alloy product features formation of alumina short fiber pre-form utilizing a inorganic binder which is composed of one or more oxides having thermodynamically stability equivalent to or higher than MgO. In the alternative, the composite almina fiber and binder surfaces of the alumina short fiber pre-form can be coated by a baked coating layer. Pressure casting of molten magnesium or magnesium alloy is then performed for forming the final products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, Nichias Corporation
    Inventors: Harumichi Hino, Mikiya Komatsu, Kenichi Shibata, Mitsushi Wadasako, Junichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5147603
    Abstract: An alloy based on magnesium with a load at rupture of at least 290 MPa and an elongation at rupture of at least 5%, the alloy comprising by weight, 2 to 11% aluminum, 0 to 1% manganese, 0.1 to 6% strontium, various possible impurities, and the remainder magnesium. The alloy has a structure including a matrix of fine grains of magnesium of a mean size below 3 .mu.m reinforced by intermetallic compounds dispersed homogeneously at the grain boundairies and having a mean size less than 1 .mu.m, the structure remaining unchanged if kept for more than 24 hours at a temperature up to 300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignees: Pechiney Electrometallurgie, Norsk Hydro A.S.
    Inventors: Gilles Nussbaum, Damien Deweirder, Haavard T. Gjestland
  • Patent number: 5143564
    Abstract: Cast magnesium alloy parts being substantially free of microporosity and having a fine grain size are produced by addition of strontium in an amount of 0.001 to 0.1%, by weight, to the melt of the magnesium alloy, prior to casting; the addition of strontium effects a reduction in the grain size and concentrates the shrinkage microporosity, whereby the microporosity can be shifted by conventional techniques to an appendix of the casting which is subsequently removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: McGill University
    Inventors: John E. Gruzleski, Abdulcelil Aliravci
  • Patent number: 5143795
    Abstract: A magnesium based metal matrix composite is made from rapidly solidified magnesium alloy powder and SiC particulate using liquid suspension coprocessing or mechanical alloying. The composite is suitable for consolidation into bulk shapes having, in combination, high strength, high stiffness, low density, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and high hardness. The composite is suited for uses in such applications as space and missile guidance and navigation and control system precision components where low density, very high specific stiffness and long term dimensional and environmental stability are principal performance criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh K. Das, Chin-Fong Chang, Derek Raybould
  • Patent number: 5129960
    Abstract: Magnesium base metal alloy sheet is produced by rolling the rolling stock extruded or forged from a billet at a temperature ranging from 200.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. The billet is consolidated from rapidly solidified magnesium based alloy powder that consists essentially of the formula Mg.sub.bal Al.sub.a Zn.sub.b X.sub.c, wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of manganese, cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, and yttrium, "a" ranges from about 0 to 15 atom percent, "b" ranges from about 0 to 4 atom percent, "c" ranges from about 0.2 to 3 atom percent, the balance being magnesium and incidental impurities, with the proviso that the sum of aluminum and zinc present ranges from about 2 to 15 atom percent. The alloy has a uniform microstructure comprised of fine grain size ranging from 0.2-1.0 .mu.m together with precipitates of magnesium and aluminum containing intermetallic phases of a size less than 0.1 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Fong Chang, Santosh K. Das
  • Patent number: 5118368
    Abstract: Disclosed are high strength magnesium-based alloys consisting essentially of a composition represented by the general formula (I) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.d, (II) Mg.sub.a Ln.sub.c X.sub.d or (III) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b Ln.sub.c X.sub.d, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cu, Al, Zn and Ca; Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Sm and Nd or a misch metal (Mm) which is a combination of rare earth elements; X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba and Ga; and a, b, c and d are, in atomic percent, 55.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 3.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.25, 1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.30, the alloy being at least 50 percent by volume composed of an amorphous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignees: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., Ltd., Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Akihisa Inoue, Takashi Sakuma, Toshisuke Shibata