Treating Single Crystal Patents (Class 148/562)
  • Patent number: 11913134
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a two-dimensional film of a group IV material having a hexagonal crystalline structure, in particular, graphene, comprises formation of a growth substrate, comprising the transfer of a single-crystal metal film suitable for the growth of the two-dimensional film on a support substrate, and epitaxial growth of the two-dimensional film on the metal film of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SOITEC
    Inventors: Bruno Ghyselen, Jean-Marc Bethoux
  • Patent number: 10214798
    Abstract: In a method for controlling energy damping in a shape memory alloy, provided is a shape memory alloy having a composition including at least one of: Cu in at least about 10 wt. %, Fe in at least about 5 wt. %, Au in at least about 5 wt. %, Ag in at least about 5 wt. %, Al in at least about 5 wt. %, In in at least about 5 wt. %, Mn in at least about 5 wt. %, Zn in at least about 5 wt. % and Co in at least about 5 wt. %. The shape memory alloy is configured into a structure including a structural feature having a surface roughness and having a feature extent that is greater than about 1 micron and less than about 1 millimeter. Energy damping of the structural feature is modified by exposing the structural feature to process conditions that alter the surface roughness of the structural feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Massachussetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Christopher Schuh, Stian Melhus Ueland
  • Patent number: 9127338
    Abstract: Dental arches of single-crystal shape memory alloys, methods of fabrication and apparatus for fabrication. The methods include drawing a single crystal of a shape memory alloy from a melt of the alloy. This is followed by heating, forming, and quenching the crystal sufficiently rapid to limit the formation of alloy precipitates to an amount which retains hyperelastic composition and properties of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred David Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140209219
    Abstract: Methods are provided for shape-setting hyperelastic, single-crystal shape memory alloy (SMA) material while preserving the hyperelastic properties of the material. A wire or rod of a single crystal shape memory alloy material is heated to an annealing temperature (Ta). While maintained at the annealing temperature, the wire or rod is shaped by driving the wire or rod and a shaping form together into contact with each other, and the shaped wire or rod is quenched in a quenching medium virtually simultaneously with the shaping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ORMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alfred David Johnson, Sammel S. Alauddin
  • Patent number: 8685184
    Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for shape-setting hyperelastic, single-crystal shape memory alloy (SMA) material while preserving the hyperelastic properties of the material. Also described are hyperelastic, single-crystal SMA devices that have been shape set by these methods. In particular, described herein are hyperelastic, single crystal SMA dental archwires and methods of forming them while preserving the hyperelastic properties, e.g., without significant grain boundaries in the crystal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred David Johnson, Sammel S. Alauddin
  • Patent number: 8556969
    Abstract: We describe herein biocompatible single crystal Cu-based shape memory alloys (SMAs). In particular, we show biocompatibility based on MEM elution cell cytotoxicity, ISO intramuscular implant, and hemo-compatibility tests producing negative cytotoxic results. This biocompatibility may be attributed to the formation of a durable oxide surface layer analogous to the titanium oxide layer that inhibits body fluid reaction to titanium nickel alloys, and/or the non-existence of crystal domain boundaries may inhibit corrosive chemical attack. Methods for controlling the formation of the protective aluminum oxide layer are also described, as are devices including such biocompatible single crystal copper-based SMAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred David Johnson
  • Patent number: 8486175
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a new type of grain refiners for steel, in the form of a particulate composite material, containing a high volume fraction of tailor-made dispersed particles, with the purpose of acting as potent heterogeneous nucleation sites for iron crystals during solidification and subsequent thermo-mechanical treatment of the steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sinvent AS
    Inventors: Øystein Grong, Casper Van Der Eijk, Gabriella Maria Tranell, Leiv Olav Kolbeinsen
  • Patent number: 8382917
    Abstract: Shape-setting methods for fabricating devices made of single crystal shape memory alloys. In particular the methods described may be used to fabricate dental arches of single-crystal shape memory alloys. The methods include drawing a single crystal of a shape memory alloy from a melt of the alloy. This is followed by heating, forming, and quenching the crystal sufficiently rapid to limit the formation of alloy precipitates to an amount which retains hyperelastic composition and properties of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred David Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130042948
    Abstract: A decorative steel article having a textured crystalline surface includes a steel alloy, single crystal or large, macroscopic grained crystal body. The steel alloy includes iron and at least one element selected from the group of nickel and chromium. The steel article has a surface characterized by a decorative, macroscopic, martensitic phase surface feature. The decorative steel article is suitable for sundry applications where an enhanced visual appearance is desirable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Lynn A. Boatner
  • Patent number: 8353444
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for repairing cracks in a turbine engine component. The process comprises the steps of providing a component, preferably formed from a single crystal nickel based material, with at least one crack, applying a repair alloy composition containing a single crystal nickel based alloy, a first nickel based braze alloy and a second nickel based braze alloy to the crack(s), and subjecting the component with the applied repair alloy composition to a thermal cycle to diffuse the repair alloy composition into the crack(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Norman Pietruska, Beth Kwiatkowski Abriles, John F. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 7896986
    Abstract: An improved method of heat treating superalloys prior to welding includes subjecting only the portion of the component to be repaired to a localized heat treatment, leaving the remainder of the component untreated. The localized heat treatment permits the use of higher hold temperatures that are near, at, or above the Ni3(Al,Ti) solution temperature of the alloy. Such heat treatment prevents strain age cracking and also prevents recrystallization in areas that are not heat treated. Such localized heat treatment can be applied before and/or after welding, for material rejuvenation, pre-brazing, and post-brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Srikanth C. Kottilingam, Peter J. Ditzel
  • Patent number: 7892370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat treatment method for monocrystalline or directionally solidified structural components. Said method comprises a heat treatment which results in dissolving at least one crystalline phase of the material of the structural component, referred to in the following as component material. The inventive method is characterized by carrying out the heat treatment by heating the structural component to a dissolution temperature required for dissolving the crystalline phase only in at least one first component area in which the stresses within the component material do not exceed a predetermined value. In at least one second component area in which the stresses within the component material exceed the predetermined value the material is only heated to a temperature below the dissolution temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Ott, Uwe Paul
  • Patent number: 7842143
    Abstract: Shape-setting methods for fabricating devices made of single crystal shape memory alloys. The method include drawing a single crystal of a shape memory alloy from a melt of the alloy. This is followed by heating and quenching the crystal sufficiently rapid to limit the formation of alloy precipitates to an amount which retains hyperelastic composition and properties of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: TiNi Alloy Company
    Inventors: Alfred David Johnson, Valery Martynov, Michael D. Bokaie, George R. Gray
  • Patent number: 7754035
    Abstract: A method for improving the strength, creep and failure resistance of a single crystal component, such as a turbine engine component, is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming a component, such as a turbine engine component, having a single crystal microstructure with a plurality of ?? cuboids forming a limited amount of oriented platens in a particular direction prior to the component being placed into service to delay coalescence of the platens relative to the applied load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Staroselsky, Carroll V. Sidwell
  • Publication number: 20100108206
    Abstract: A method for improving the strength, creep and failure resistance of a single crystal component, such as a turbine engine component, is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming a component, such as a turbine engine component, having a single crystal microstructure with a plurality of ?? cuboids forming a limited amount of oriented platens in a particular direction prior to the component being placed into service to delay coalescence of the platens relative to the applied load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander Staroselsky, Carroll V. Sidwell
  • Patent number: 7708844
    Abstract: A method for forming a metallic glass, which comprises a step of subjecting a metallic glass to a rough forming by die casting, to prepare a roughly formed article, and a step of heating the roughly formed article to a temperature region corresponding to an undercooled liquid thereof, followed by subjecting the heated article to warm press forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Tohoku University
    Inventors: Naokuni Muramatsu, Ken Suzuki, Akihisa Inoue, Hisamichi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7632362
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering the properties of single crystal and directionally solidified Nickel based superalloys and articles made thereof, after use in a high temperature environment. The method comprises the steps of a stress relief treatment, a ?? rejuvenation heat treatment at a temperature below the ??-solvus temperature (Tsolvus, ??) of the superalloy, a precipitation heat treatment and an aging heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Maxim Konter, Robert Baumann, John Fernihough
  • Publication number: 20090171294
    Abstract: Devices and methods of making devices having one or more components made of single crystal shape memory alloy capable of large recoverable distortions, defined herein as “hyperelastic” SMA. Recoverable Strains are as large as 9 percent, and in special circumstances as large as 22 percent. Hyperelastic SMAs exhibit no creep or gradual change during repeated cycling because there are no crystal boundaries. Hyperelastic properties are inherent in the single crystal as formed: no cold work or special heat treatment is necessary. Alloy components are Cu—Al—X where X may be Ni, Fe, Co, Mn. Single crystals are pulled from melt as in the Stepanov method and quenched by rapid cooling to prevent selective precipitation of individual elemental components. Conventional methods of finishing are used: milling, turning, electro-discharge machining, abrasion. Fields of application include aerospace, military, automotive, medical devices, microelectronics, and consumer products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: A. David Johnson, Michael Bokaie, Valery Martynov
  • Patent number: 7544257
    Abstract: Devices and methods of making devices having one or more components made of single crystal shape memory alloy capable of large recoverable distortions, defined herein as “hyperelastic” SMA. Recoverable Strains are as large as 9 percent, and in special circumstances as large as 22 percent. Hyperelastic SMAs exhibit no creep or gradual change during repeated cycling because there are no crystal boundaries. Hyperelastic properties are inherent in the single crystal as formed: no cold work or special heat treatment is necessary. Alloy components are Cu—Al—X where X may be Ni, Fe, Co, Mn. Single crystals are pulled from melt as in the Stepanov method and quenched by rapid cooling to prevent selective precipitation of individual elemental components. Conventional methods of finishing are used: milling, turning, electro-discharge machining, abrasion. Fields of application include aerospace, military, automotive, medical devices, microelectronics, and consumer products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: TiNi Alloy Company
    Inventors: A. David Johnson, Michael Bokaie, Valery Martynov
  • Publication number: 20090139613
    Abstract: Shape-setting methods for fabricating devices made of single crystal shape memory alloys. The method include drawing a single crystal of a shape memory alloy from a melt of the alloy. This is followed by heating and quenching the crystal sufficiently rapid to limit the formation of alloy precipitates to an amount which retains hyperelastic composition and properties of the crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: TINI ALLOY COMPANY
    Inventors: Alfred David Johnson, Valery Martynov, Michael D. Bokaie, George R. Gray
  • Patent number: 7540899
    Abstract: A method of forming a single crystal in a thin film by progressively rapidly heating (and cooling) a narrow band of amorphous material. The amorphous thin film may be of shape memory alloy such as TiNi or CuAlNi. Heating may be accomplished by a line-focused laser beam. The thin film may be formed by sputter deposition on a substrate such as silicon. The thin film crystal that is formed has non-isotropic stress/strain characteristics, and very large recoverable strain in a preferred direction. The single crystal SMA exhibits greater strain recovery; Constant force deflection; Wider transition temperature range; Very narrow loading hysteresis; and Recovery that is repeatable & complete. Single Crystal SMA is manufactured by pulling a single crystal from melt, a method similar to that used by the semiconductor industry to fabricate silicon boules. This process enables manufacture of materials that approach theoretical limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: TiNi Alloy Company
    Inventor: A David Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090110951
    Abstract: A method for preparing an iridium tip with atomic sharpness. The method includes tapering an iridium wire to a needle shape and heating the iridium needle in an oxygen atmosphere. Also disclosed is an iridium needle having a pyramidal structure which terminates with a small number of atoms prepared by the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Hong-Shi Kuo, Ing-shouh Hwang, Tien T. Tsong, Tsu-Yi Fu
  • Publication number: 20080202650
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat treatment method for monocrystalline or directionally solidified structural components. Said method comprises a heat treatment which results in dissolving at least one crystalline phase of the material of the structural component, referred to in the following as component material. The inventive method is characterized by carrying out the heat treatment by heating the structural component to a dissolution temperature required for dissolving the crystalline phase only in at least one first component area in which the stresses within the component material do not exceed a predetermined value. In at least one second component area in which the stresses within the component material exceed the predetermined value the material is only heated to a temperature below the dissolution temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Ott, Uwe Paul
  • Publication number: 20080175745
    Abstract: An intermetallic compound having excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures is provided. An intermetallic compound of the present invention contains greater than 5 at % and not greater than 13 at % of Al, not less than 9.5 at % and less than 17.5 at % of V, not less than 0 at % and not greater than 3.5 at % of Ti, not less than 0 weight ppm and not greater than 1000 weight ppm of B, and the remaining portion consisting of Ni and inevitable impurities, and having a dual multi-phase microstructure comprising a primary L12 phase and an (L12+D022) eutectoid microstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Takayuki Takasugi, Yasuyuki Kaneno
  • Publication number: 20080163962
    Abstract: Directionally solidified columnar grain nickel base alloy casting consisting essentially of, in weight %, of about 11.6% to 12.70% Cr, about 8.50 to 9.5% Co, about 1.65% to 2.15% Mo, about 3.5% to 4.10% W, about 4.80% to 5.20% Ta, about 3.40 to 3.80% Al, about 3.9% to 4.25% Ti, about 0.05% to 0.11% C, about 0.003% to 0.015% B, balance essentially Ni and having substantial transverse stress rupture strength and ductility as compared to a similar casting without boron present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: John Corrigan, Russell G. Vogt, John R. Mihalisin, John K. Bennett, Uwe Paul, Christoph Mayr, Winfried Esser
  • Patent number: 7270720
    Abstract: In a method of bending a rod- or rod-like unfinished workpiece of a single crystal material of a Cu alloy the workpiece is bent at an elevated temperature so as to provide for a predetermined curvature and then the workpiece is further heated whereby the curvature is established but the superelasticity is lost, the workpiece is cooled down and then tempered at another raised temperature for at least one hour and is then immediately quenched in a cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Brhel, Harald Fischer
  • Patent number: 7189293
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing an annealed wafer wherein a silicon single crystal wafer having a diameter of 200 mm or more produced by the Czochralski (CZ) method is subjected to a high temperature heat treatment in an atmosphere of an argon gas, a hydrogen gas, or a mixture gas thereof at a temperature of 1100–1350° C. for 10–600 minutes, and before the high temperature heat treatmen, a pre-annealing is performed at a temperature less than the temperature of the high temperature heat treatment, so that the growth of slip dislocations is suppressed by growing oxide precipitates. Thereby, there is provided a method of producing an annealed wafer wherein the generation and growth of slip dislocations generated in a high temperature heat treatment are suppressed and the defect density in the wafer surface layer is lowered even in the case of a silicon single crystal wafer having a large diameter of 200 mm or more, and the annealed wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Kobayashi, Masaro Tamatsuka, Takatoshi Nagoya, Wei Feig Qu, Hiroshi Takeno, Ken Aihara
  • Patent number: 7156280
    Abstract: A nickel-based high-temperature braze alloy composition includes Cr, Hf, and B. Furthermore, a cobalt-based high-temperature braze alloy composition includes Cr, Hf, and B. The braze alloys can be used, for example, as a single homogenous braze. The braze alloys can also be used, for example, as a component in a wide gap braze mixture where higher or lower melting point superalloy and/or brazing powder is used. The braze alloys may permit joining/repairing of superalloy articles with complex shape and may be used in high temperature applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Liang Jiang, Laurent Cretegny, Warren M. Miglietti
  • Patent number: 7074284
    Abstract: In a heat treatment process for a single-crystal or directionally solidified material body comprising a nickel-based superalloy, the material body is solution-annealed and then at a first temperature ?? particles of greater than 1 ?m are precipitated in a proportion by volume with Vtot?V1 of less than 50%, where Vtot is the total amount of ?? particles after complete heat treatment and V1 is the proportion of the ?? particles which is greater than 1 ?m, and at least at a second temperature ‘?’ particles of less than 1 ?m are precipitated. The ?? particles are preferably precipitated in a size of 2 pin or more with a proportion by volume of 0.25<(Vtot?V1)/(100?V1)<0.55 at the first temperature. The proportion by volume Vtot of the ?? particles will be at least 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LTD
    Inventors: Mohamed Nazmy, Joachim Roesler, Alexander Schnell, Christoph Toennes
  • Publication number: 20040231759
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing an annealed wafer wherein a silicon single crystal wafer having a diameter of 200 mm or more produced by the Czochralski (CZ) method is subjected to a high temperature heat treatment in an atmosphere of an argon gas, a hydrogen gas, or a mixture gas thereof at a temperature of 1100-1350° C. for 10-600 minutes, and before the high temperature heat treatmen, a pre-annealing is performed at a temperature less than the temperature of the high temperature heat treatment, so that the growth of slip dislocations is suppressed by growing oxide precipitates. Thereby, there is provided a method of producing an annealed wafer wherein the generation and growth of slip dislocations generated in a high temperature heat treatment are suppressed and the defect density in the wafer surface layer is lowered even in the case of a silicon single crystal wafer having a large diameter of 200 mm or more, and the annealed wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Norihiro Kobayashi, Masaro Tamatsuka, Takatoshi Nagoya, Wei Feig Qu, Hiroshi Takeno, Ken Aihara
  • Publication number: 20040200551
    Abstract: In a superelastic element obtained by bending a rod- or rod-like unfinished workpiece of a single crystal material of a Cu alloy at an elevated temperature so as to provide for a predetermined curvature and then heating the workpiece whereby the curvature is established but the superelasticity is lost, the previously coated workpiece is tempered at another raised temperature so as to be tempered for at least one hour and is then immediately quenched in a cooling medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Brhel, Harald Fischer
  • Patent number: 6773667
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage material which is an AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy having a CaCu5 type crystal structure represented by general formula: MmNiaMnbAlcCod wherein Mm is a misch metal, 4.1<a≦4.3, 0.4<b≦0.6, 0.2≦c≦0.4, 0.1≦d≦0.4, and 5.2≦a+b+c+d≦5.45, or general formula: MmNiaMnbAlcCodXe wherein Mm is a misch metal, X is Cu and/or Fe, 4.1<a≦4.3, 0.4<b≦0.6, 0.2≦c≦0.4, 0.1≦d≦0.4, 0<e≦0.1, and 5.2≦a+b+c+d+e≦5.45, characterized in that the lattice length on the c-axis is 406.2 pm or more, and a process of producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Yasuda, Yoshiki Sakaguchi, Shingo Kikugawa
  • Patent number: 6709771
    Abstract: A hybrid component (30) having a cast single crystal superalloy portion (32) and an attached powder metallurgy material portion (34). The component may be a blade (30) of a gas turbine engine having a single crystal airfoil section and a powder metallurgy material root section. The powder metallurgy material may extend to form a core (36) within the airfoil section and may include cooling passages 38. The single crystal portion has a relatively simple geometry so that casting yields are optimized. The powder metallurgical portion includes the lower stressed and more complicated geometry sections of the component. A method of forming such a component includes casting the single crystal superalloy portion, then using that portion to form part of the mold for forming the powder metallurgy material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventor: James Allister
  • Publication number: 20040050460
    Abstract: In a heat treatment process for a single-crystal or directionally solidified material body comprising a nickel-based superalloy, the material body is solution-annealed and then at a first temperature &ggr;′ particles of greater than 1 &mgr;m are precipitated in a proportion by volume with Vtot−V1 of less than 50%, where Vtot is the total amount of &ggr;′ particles after complete heat treatment and V1 is the proportion of the &ggr;′ particles which is greater than 1 &mgr;m, and at least at a second temperature ‘&ggr;’ particles of less than 1 &mgr;m are precipitated. The &ggr;′ particles are preferably precipitated in a size of 2 pin or more with a proportion by volume of 0.25<(Vtot−V1)/(100−V1)<0.55 at the first temperature. The proportion by volume Vtot of the &ggr;′ particles will be at least 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Mohamed Nazmy, Joachim Roesler, Alexander Schnell, Christoph Toennes
  • Publication number: 20040048088
    Abstract: A process for producing a heat-resistant intermetallic compound Ni3Al foil having a room-temperature ductility, which comprises a first step of arc-melting an alloy having a chemical composition containing Ni as a main component and Al to form a starting rod, a second step of growing the starting rod in columnar crystal form by unidirectional solidification, a third step of cutting out the unidirectionally solidified rod to form a plate, and a fourth step of cold-rolling the plate cut at room temperature to form a foil. The invention can provide a process for producing a thin Ni3Al foil which has a thickness of 200 microns or less and which is excellent in high-temperature strength, oxidation and corrosion resistances and room-temperature ductility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hirano, Masahiko Demura
  • Publication number: 20040025983
    Abstract: An ingot is manufactured by pulling it up such that V/Ga and V/Gb become 0.23 to 0.50 mm2/minute. ° C., respectively, where V (mm/minute) is a pulling-up speed, and Ga (° C./mm) is an axial temperature gradient at the center of the ingot and Gb (° C./mm) is an axial temperature gradient at the edge of the ingot at temperatures in a range of 1,300° C. to a melting point of silicon. A wafer obtained by slicing the ingot is heat treated in a reductive atmosphere at temperatures in a range of 1,050° C. to 1,220° C. for 30 to 150 minutes. A silicon wafer free of OSF's, tree of COP's, and substantially free of contamination such as Fe and of occurrence of slip, is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Etsuro Morita, Takaaki Shiota, Yoshihisa Nonogaki, Yoshinobu Nakada, Hisashi Furuya, Hiroshi Koya, Jun Furukawa, Hideo Tanaka, Yuji Nakata
  • Publication number: 20040007296
    Abstract: A single crystal casting is cast from a nickel base superalloy including Cr, Co, Mo, W, Ta, Al, Ti, Re and Hf as alloying elements with C increased effective to substantially reduce formation of a solidification-driven, as-cast eutectic/secondary phase scale metallurgically bonded to the casting when the alloy is cast as a single crystal and to reduce recrystallized grains when the casting is solution heat treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Mihalisin, John Corrigan, Gilbert M. Gratti, Russell G. Vogt
  • Patent number: 6613162
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method for preparing a homogeneous ternary or quaternary alloy from a quaternary melt. The method includes providing a family of phase diagrams for the quaternary melt which shows (i) composition/temperature data, (ii) tie lines connecting equilibrium liquid and solid compositions, and (iii) isotherms representing boundaries of a miscibility gap. Based on the family of phase diagrams, a quaternary melt composition and an alloy growth temperature is selected. A quaternary melt having the selected quaternary melt composition is provided and a ternary or quaternary alloy is grown from the quaternary melt at the selected alloy growth temperature. A method for making homogeneous ternary or quaternary alloy from a ternary or quaternary melt is also disclosed, as are homogeneous quaternary single-crystal alloys which are substantially free from crystal defects and which have the formula AxB1−xCyD1−y, x and y being the same or different and in the range of 0.001 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Partha S. Dutta, Thomas R. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030150534
    Abstract: The present invention contemplates a multi-airfoil vane segment produced as a single crystal casting from a rhenium containing directionally solidified alloy. The single crystal casting containing grain boundary strengtheners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Donald J. Frasier, Philip S. Burkholder
  • Publication number: 20030041930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved single crystal nickel base superalloy and a process for making same. The single crystal nickel base superalloy has a composition comprising 3 to 12 wt % chromium, up to 3 wt % molybdenum, 3 to 10 wt % tungsten, up to 5 wt % rhenium, 6 to 12 wt % tantalum, 4 to 7 wt % aluminum, up to 15 wt % cobalt, up to 0.05 wt % carbon, up to 0.02 wt % boron, up to 0.1 wt % zirconium, up to 0.8 wt % hafnium, up to 2.0 wt % niobium, up to 1.0 wt % vanadium, up to 0.7 wt % titanium, up to 10 wt % of at least one element selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, and mixtures thereof, and the balance essentially nickel. The single crystal nickel base superalloy has a microstructure which is pore-free and eutectic &ggr;-&ggr;′ free and which has a gamma prime morphology with a bimodal &ggr;′ distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel P. DeLuca, Charles M. Biondo
  • Patent number: 6503349
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for repairing components formed from a single crystal nickel based superalloy. The method comprises the steps of applying a repair alloy to at least one portion of a component formed from the single crystal nickel based superalloy and heating the component with the repair alloy thereon to a temperature that avoids recrystallization and repair zone incipient melting of the single crystal nickel based superalloy. Following the heating step, the component is preferably rapidly cooled and subjected to an aging treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Norman Pietruska, David J. Kline
  • Publication number: 20020157738
    Abstract: A high-temperature component made of a nickel super-alloy has the following composition in wt %: 11-13% of Cr, 3-5% of W, 0.5-2.5% of Mo, 3-5% of Al, 3-5% of Ti, 3-7% of Ta, 1-5% of Re and a remainder formed of nickel. A corresponding component which is also provided is formed of an alloy having a composition essentially similar to that mentioned above, but with the rhenium proportion replaced with 0.1-5 wt % of ruthenium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Ralf Burgel, Winfried Esser, Jorn Grossmann, Wolfgang Hermann, Hael Mughrabi, Jurgen Preuhs, Florian Pyczak, Alfred Scholz, Robert Singer, Andreas Volek
  • Publication number: 20020124915
    Abstract: The present inventions offer a nickel-based single crystal alloy which has a high strength, is easy in conducting the solution heat treatment, hardly gives a harmful phase and is resistant to corrosion at high temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Toshiharu Kobayashi, Yutaka Koizumi, Shizuo Nakazawa, Hiroshi Harada, Toshihiro Yamagata
  • Patent number: 6444061
    Abstract: A process for producing a heat-resistant intermetallic compound Ni3Al foil having a room-temperature ductility, which comprises a first step of arc-melting an alloy having a chemical composition containing Ni as a main component and Al to form a starting rod, a second step of growing the starting rod in columnar crystal form by unidirectional solidification, a third step of cutting out the unidirectionally solidified rod to form a plate, and a fourth step of cold-rolling the plate cut at room temperature to form a foil. The invention can provide a process for producing a thin Ni3Al foil which has a thickness of 200 microns or less and which is excellent in high-temperature strength, oxidation and corrosion resistances and room-temperature ductility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Agency of National Research Institute for Metals
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hirano, Masahiko Demura
  • Patent number: 6436208
    Abstract: A process of preparing aligned, in-situ, two-phase single crystal alloys of titanium, aluminum and niobium which comprises growing the alloys at rates of about 3.0 mm. to about 6.0 mm. per hour by rotating a seed rod alloy consisting essentially of Ti-43 to 45 Al-10 to 12 Nb+0.5 Si, in atomic percent, at about 7.75 to 8.25 RPM while in contact with a rotating feed rod alloy consisting essentially of Ti-43 to 45 Al-10 to 12 Nb, in atomic-percent, rotating at about 5.75 to 6.25 RPM in an atmosphere of substantially pure argon at melt temperatures ranging from about 1650° C. to 1750° C. to obtain two-phase single crystal alloys of Ti-43 to 45Al-10 to 12 Nb characterized as having improved ductility, excellent oxidation resistance, and high-temperature creep strength. These alloys are particularly useful for manufacturing high-temperature material components for internal combustion engines, gas turbines, and advanced aircraft engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Rabindra Mahapatra, Eui W. Lee, Jeffrey Waldman, John H. Perepezko
  • Publication number: 20020094678
    Abstract: An initial single-crystal substrate 1 having, locally and on the surface, at least one discontinuity in the single-crystal lattice is formed. The initial substrate is recessed at the discontinuity. The single-crystal lattice is amorphized around the periphery ofthe recess. A layer ofamorphous material having the same chemical composition as that ofthe initial substrate is deposited on the structure obtained. The structure obtained is thermally annealed in order to recrystallize the amorphous material so as to be continuous with the single-crystal lattice ofthe initial substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Menut, Yvon Gris
  • Publication number: 20020062886
    Abstract: A nickel-base single-crystal superalloy, essentially consists of, in percentages by weight, 4.0% to 11.0% of cobalt, 3.5% to less than 5.0% of chromium, 0.5% to 3.0% of molybdenum, 7.0% to 10.0% of tungsten, 4.5% to 6.0% of aluminum, 0.1% to 2.0% of titanium, 5.0% to 8.0% of tantalum, 1.0% to 3.0% of rhenium, 0.01% to 0.5% of hafnium, 0.01% to 0.1% of silicon, and a balance being nickel and inevitable impurity, a total amount of rhenium and chromium being not less than 4.0% and a total amount of rhenium, molybdenum, tungsten and chromium being not more than 18.0%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takehisa Hino, Yutaka Koizumi, Toshiharu Kobayashi, Shizuo Nakazawa, Hiroshi Harada, Yutaka Ishiwata, Yomei Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 6331217
    Abstract: Large gas turbine blades made from separate cast segments of superalloys are disclosed. The turbine blade is designed such that bond lines between adjacent segments are placed in low stress regions of the blade. The cast superalloy segments of the blades are aligned and fitted together with specified tolerances. The turbine blade segments are then joined by transient liquid phase bonding, followed by a controlled heat treatment which produces the desired microstructure in the bond region. The method allows for the production of large, high quality turbine blades by joining small, high quality cast superalloy sections, in comparison with prior attempts to cast large turbine blades as single pieces which have produced very low yields and high individual component costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Burke, Paula D. Freyer, Mohan A. Hebbar, Brij B. Seth, Gary W. Swartzbeck, Thomas Walter Zagar
  • Patent number: 6325871
    Abstract: A method of bonding cast superalloys is disclosed. The method includes the steps of casting separate superalloy component parts, machining the mating surfaces of the separate parts in a controlled manner to avoid recrystallization of the material and to ensure a tight fit between the parts, bonding the parts together, and thermally treating the bonded component. In a preferred embodiment, the component is a turbine blade for a land-based gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Burke, Paula D. Freyer, Mohan A. Hebbar, Brij B. Seth, Gary W. Swartzbeck, Thomas Walter Zagar
  • Patent number: 5976280
    Abstract: A nickel base superalloy, having either columnar or equiaxed grain structure, which has significantly improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, and to fatigue in air. The material is processed so as to be essentially free of script type carbides, .gamma./.gamma.' eutectic islands and porosity. The processing includes heat treating above the .gamma.' solvus temperature to solution the script type carbides and eutectic islands, followed by HIP to eliminate the porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel P. DeLuca, Charles M. Biondo