Nickel(ni) Or Nickel Base Alloy Patents (Class 148/675)
  • Publication number: 20090014101
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing components capable of transporting a liquid including providing a mold, placing at least one core made from a core material into the mold, injecting a component material into the mold about the core to produce a green component, heating the green component to burn out the core and produce a brown component, and sintering the brown component to produce a finished component capable of transporting a liquid wherein the finished component is from about 95% to about 99% dense.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: MARIE ANN MCMASTERS, David Edwin Budinger, Daniel L. Durstock
  • Publication number: 20080245449
    Abstract: A method of rendering an alloy with increased hardness is provided, the method including the steps of heat treating the alloy until the formation of at least one ordered region in the alloy. An alloy prepared according to this method and an item of jewelry fashioned from or including such an alloy are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Silethelwe Nxumalo, Candace Irene Lang
  • 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: 20080145691
    Abstract: An article is presented where the article comprises an alloy having a minor phase dispersed within a matrix phase and a plurality of substantially equiaxed grains. The article further comprises a continuous gradient in grain size from a first grain size at an outer surface of the article to a second grain size at an inner portion of the article, wherein the first grain size is less than the second grain size. Methods for forming the article using high deformation processing are also presented, where the processing includes extruding the feedstock material through a die having a twist channel configured to apply a torsional strain to the feedstock material as it passes through the die to form an extruded billet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC
    Inventors: Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Dmytro Valentynovich Orlov, Sergiy Grygoryevych Snykov, Judson Sloan Marte, Jonathan Paul Blank, Yakiv Yukhymovych Beygelzimer
  • Publication number: 20080142126
    Abstract: A metallic structure having a graded microstructure is provided. The metallic structure comprises a graded region comprising a plurality of grains having a gradient in grain size varying as a function of position between a first median grain size at an outer region and a second median grain size at an inner region and a plurality of dispersoids dispersed within the microstructure. The first median grain size is different from the second median grain size. A method of forming a metallic structure having a graded microstructure is also provided. The method comprises: providing a metallic structure comprising at least one reactive species; diffusing at least one reactant at a controlled rate from an outer region of the metallic structure towards an inner region of the metallic structure to form a gradient in reactant activity; reacting the reactant with the reactive species to form a plurality of dispersoids; and heat treating the metallic structure to achieve grain growth so as to form a graded microstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: MICHAEL FRANCIS XAVIER GIGLIOTTI, PAZHAYANNUR RAMANATHAN SUBRAMANIAN, SUNDAR AMANCHERLA, KRISHNAMURTHY ANAND, DHEEPA SRINIVASAN, CANAN USLU HARDWICKE
  • Publication number: 20080121319
    Abstract: There are provided a high hardness, high corrosion resistance and high wear resistance alloy, wherein the alloy is an aging heat treated Cr(chromium)-Al(aluminum)-Ni(nickel)-base alloy, the proportion of a mixed phase of (? phase+?? phase+? phase) precipitated at grain boundaries of ? phase grains in a metal structure in the cross section of the alloy is not less than 95% in terms of area ratio, and the intensity ratio as measured by X-ray diffractometry of the alloy is not less than 50% and not more than 200% in terms of I?(110)/[I?(200)+I??(004)]×100, and a component comprising this alloy, a material for an alloy which can form this alloy, and a process for producing this alloy. The present invention can provide a Cr—Al—Ni-base alloy possessing excellent corrosion resistance, hardness, wear resistance, releasability, fatigue strength, and planishing property in a molding face, a component comprising this alloy, a material for an alloy which can form this alloy, and a process for producing this alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Takashi Rokutanda, Tomohisa Arai, Takao Kusaka, Nobuyoshi Jimbo
  • Publication number: 20080112814
    Abstract: A heat treatment method for a nickel-based superalloy, in particular for the production of single-crystal components or directionally solidified components having a chemical composition permits full solution annealing at a temperature T1, the method comprising: partially solution annealing in a controlled manner at a temperature T2<T1 in a first step so as to obtain 5-10% of undissolved ?? phase in a residual eutectic; and performing a two-stage ageing treatment at respectively lower temperatures in a second step. As a function of the selected level of the partial solution annealing temperature, the proportion of the undissolved ?? phase can be adjusted in a controlled way, and the tolerance with respect to the disorientation of small-angle grain boundaries/grain boundaries can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Mohamed Youssef Nazmy, Markus Staubli, Andreas Kuenzler
  • Publication number: 20080105341
    Abstract: A process to manufacture an oilfield component comprises selectively reinforcing a base material with an age-hardenable clad material and selectively heating at least a portion of the clad material such that it age-hardens and the base material remains at less than the tempering temperature of the base material. A body of a ram blowout preventer comprises, a low-ally base material, a vertical bore through the body and a horizontal bore through the body intersecting the vertical bore, wherein the body is heat treated by a process comprising selectively heating at least a portion of the clad material such that the clad material age-hardens and the base material remains at less than the tempering temperature of the base material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Philip A. Huff, Keith Pruden
  • Publication number: 20070272332
    Abstract: A nickel base repair alloy comprises a blend of about 40 to 60 wt % of a first nickel based braze alloy containing boron, about 15 to 35 wt % of a first nickel based filler material, and the remainder consisting of a blend of a second nickel based filler material and a low melting eutectic braze nickel based alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Beth Kwiatkowki Abriles, Norman Pietruska, John H. Hyde
  • Publication number: 20070267109
    Abstract: A fixture and method for repairing superalloy articles. The fixture ideally holds the article in place if repairs are made. An interface between the fixture and the article facilitate transfer of heat between the article and the fixture so that the article can be differentially heat treated. A portion of the article extends from the fixture. This portion of the article, which may be repaired within the fixture or may be repaired elsewhere, is solution heat treated while in the fixture so that the area extending from the fixture is solutioned, while heat is transferred from the article through the fixture, thereby preventing the temperature of the portion of the article within the fixture from being elevated so as to modify its microstructure. The solutioned portion can then be heat treated, while in the fixture, to precipitation harden it as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kelly, Warren D. Grossklaus, Brent R. Tholke, Christine Govern Walston
  • Patent number: 7217330
    Abstract: A method of heat treating a turbine rotor disk to obtain different radial properties at different locations in the rotor disk includes a) heating the rotor disk for a period of from 4 to 10 hours at a temperature of 1800° F.; b) cooling the rotor disk to a temperature of about 1550° F.; c) holding the rotor disk at about 1550° F. for a period of from about 2 to about 4 hours; d) cooling the rotor disk to room temperature; e) precipitation aging the rotor disk by heating the rotor disk to temperature of 1325° F. for 8 hours, holding it at 1150° F. for 8 hours, and f) cooling the rotor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samuel Vinod Thamboo, Michael Francis Henry
  • Patent number: 7192496
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of processing nickel-titanium alloys including from greater than 50 up to 55 atomic percent nickel to provide a desired austenite transformation temperature and/or austenite transformation temperature range. In one embodiment, the method comprises selecting a desired austenite transformation temperature, and thermally processing the nickel-titanium alloy to adjust an amount of nickel in solid solution in a TiNi phase of the alloy such that a stable austenite transformation temperature is reached, wherein the stable austenite transformation temperature is essentially equal to the desired austenite transformation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Wojcik
  • Patent number: 7166176
    Abstract: A nickel-based single crystal gas turbine component (30) having a low angle boundary (34) with improved material properties resulting from retained gamma/gamma prime eutectic phase at the low angle boundary. The coarse eutectic phase nodules roughen the grain boundary, reduce the slip distance and disperse concentrated planar slip in the vicinity of the boundary. As a result, the allowable angle of misorientation at the boundary may be increased to greater than 6° for the most highly stressed or critical areas of the component, thereby reducing the amount of scrap material and lowering the cost of manufacturing of a single crystal gas turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice Gell, Allister William James
  • Patent number: 7156932
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to nickel-base alloys, and in particular 718-type nickel-base alloys, having a desired microstructure that is predominantly strengthened by ??-phase precipitates and comprises an amount of at least one grain boundary precipitate. Other embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of heat treating nickel-base alloys, and in particular 718-type nickel-base alloys, to develop a desired microstructure that can impart thermally stable mechanical properties. Articles of manufacture using the nickel-base alloys and methods of heat treating nickel-base alloys according to embodiments of the present invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Di Cao, Richard L. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7147201
    Abstract: A method for annealing a structure formed by electrodeposition is provided, the method comprising providing the electrodeposition structure, the electrodeposition structure comprising an electroformed mold, the electroformed mold having a nominal thickness between and including 0.5 mm to 8.0 mm and having a melting temperature; heating the electrodeposition structure to a temperature between ambient temperature and the melting temperature of the electrodeposition structure; isostatically pressurizing the electrodeposition structure to a pressure above ambient pressure; cooling the electrodeposition structure to ambient temperature; and depressurizing the electrodeposition structure to ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman
    Inventors: Robert Grimmer, Alex Risca, Richard Combs
  • Patent number: 7138020
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for reducing residual stress in a nickel-base superalloy article comprising about 40–70% of gamma prime phase and having a gamma prime solvus temperature is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of super-solvus heat treating the superalloy article about 5–40° F. (3–22° C.) above the gamma prime solvus temperature; and holding at the super-solvus heat treatment temperature for about 0.25–2 hours, wherein the heat-treated superalloy article has reduced residual stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jon Raymond Groh, Shesh Krishna Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 7115175
    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 ?–?? free and which has a gamma prime morphology with a bimodal ?? distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. DeLuca, Charles M. Biondo
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7063752
    Abstract: A method for refining the grain size of alloys which undergo ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transformation and an alloy produced therefrom. By subjecting the alloy to a timed application of a strong magnetic field, the temperature of phase boundaries can be shifted enabling phase transformations at lower temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Jayoung Koo, Shiun Ling, Michael John Luton, Hans Thomann, Narasimha-Rao Venkata Bangaru
  • Patent number: 7037390
    Abstract: A method of heat treatment for an efficient forming of two-layered oxide film on the inside surface of a Ni-base alloy tube. The oxide film suppresses the Ni release in a high-temperature water environment. At least two gas supplying devices are provided on the outlet side of a continuous heat treatment furnace; or one gas supplying device is provided respectively on the outlet side and the inlet side thereof. The tube is put into the furnace while supplying an atmospheric gas into the tube from the front end of the tube moving direction with one of these gas supplying devices and a gas introducing pipe, which is arranged inside the furnace, and this tube is maintained at 650 to 1200° C. for 1 to 1200 minutes. The atmospheric gas consists of hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and argon, whose dew point is in a range of from ?60° C. to +20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Miyahara, Toshihiro Imoto, Hiroyuki Anada, Kazuyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7033448
    Abstract: An article made of a nickel-base superalloy strengthened by the presence of a gamma-prime phase is prepared by solution heat treating the nickel-base superalloy at a solutionizing temperature above a gamma-prime solvus temperature of the nickel-base superalloy, thereafter first quenching the nickel-base superalloy in a first molten salt bath maintained at a temperature of from the gamma-prime solvus temperature to about 100° F. below the gamma-prime solvus temperature, thereafter second quenching the nickel-base superalloy in a second molten salt bath maintained at a temperature below an aging temperature of the nickel-base superalloy, and thereafter precipitation heat treating the nickel-base superalloy at the aging temperature to precipitate an aged microstructure having gamma prime phase in a nickel-base matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jon Raymond Groh, Edward Lee Raymond, Shesh Krishna Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 6953509
    Abstract: A high-strength, corrosion- and heat-resistant aircraft structural component such as a fastener is prepared by providing a corrosion-resistant stainless steel or heat-resistant superalloy metallic component precursor that is not in its final heat-treated state, and coating with an aluminum-containing, curable polyaromatic phenolic coating material having a non-volatile portion that is predominantly organic and is curable at about the high-strength metallic alloy component's stress equalizing tempering temperature. The coated, high-strength metallic-alloy component is then thermally treated to concurrently impart pre-determined metallurgical properties to the finished, metallic substrate, and cure the organic, aluminum-containing coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Stephen G. Keener
  • Patent number: 6939419
    Abstract: The invention relates to plastic metal working, more specifically to methods for producing parts of the disk- or shell-type having conical, hemispherical, and also combined parts, such as disk-and-shaft ones. The invention is instrumental in producing large axially symmetric parts from hard-to-work multiphase alloys. The method consists in that the billet is heated in a temperature range above 0.4 m.p. but below the temperature at which a total content of precipitates or an allotropic modification of the matrix of a multiphase alloy is not below 7%. Then the preheated billet is rolled, while controlling its temperature and the tool load, as well as the rolling speed. Once rolled the billet is heat-treated at a temperature depending on the microstructure of the billet material resulting from rolling. Prerolling preparing of a specified microstructure of the billet material is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignees: General Electric Company, Institute of Metals Superplascity Problems of Academy of Science
    Inventors: Farid Zainullaevich Utyashev, Oscar Akramovich Kaibyshev, Vener Anvarovich Valitov
  • Patent number: 6908518
    Abstract: A nickel base superalloy suitable for the production of a large, crack-free nickel-base superalloy gas turbine bucket suitable for use in a large land-based utility gas turbine engine, comprising, by weight percents: Chromium 7.0 to 12.0 Carbon 0.06 to 0.10 Cobalt 5.0 to 15.0 Titanium 3.0 to 5.0 Aluminum 3.0 to 5.0 Tungsten 3.0 to 12.0 Molybdenum 1.0 to 5.0 Boron 0.0080 to 0.01 Rhenium 0 to 10.0 Tantalum 2.0 to 6.0 Columbium 0 to 2.0 Vanadium 0 to 3.0 Hafnium 0 to 2.0 and remainder nickel and incidental impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Keith Bouse, Michael Francis Henry, Jon Conrad Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20040261921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of developing a nickel-base superalloy consisting of a &ggr;-phase and &ggr;′-phase for the production of single-crystal or directionally solidified bodies of material. The invention is characterized in that the properties of nickel-base superalloys with a volume proportion of &ggr;′-phase of at least 50% after a degradation at room temperature are optimized, in that the composition of the alloy is chosen such that at room temperature a lattice displacement (&dgr;) between the &ggr;-phase and the &ggr;′-phase is as high as possible. It is thereby attained that the yield strength at room temperature after degrading is comparatively high, and thus only a small difference of the yield strengths occurs between initial state and degraded state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Mohamed Nazmy
  • Publication number: 20040216816
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of processing nickel-titanium alloys including from greater than 50 up to 55 atomic percent nickel to provide a desired austenite transformation temperature and/or austenite transformation temperature range. In one embodiment, the method comprises selecting a desired austenite transformation temperature, and thermally processing the nickel-titanium alloy to adjust an amount of nickel in solid solution in a TiNi phase of the alloy such that a stable austenite transformation temperature is reached, wherein the stable austenite transformation temperature is essentially equal to the desired austenite transformation temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Craig Wojcik
  • Patent number: 6755924
    Abstract: A heat treatment process that will restore the mechanical properties of an aircraft engine article that includes a cast nickel-based superalloy portion welded to a wrought portion. The heat treatment process includes placing an article that includes the nickel-based superalloy cast portion into a heat treatment chamber, evacuating the chamber to a suitable atmosphere, heating the chamber in a manner that minimizes distortion of the cast portion to a temperature in the range of 1950° F. to 2050° F., holding the temperature in that range for a period of time sufficient to solution all the delta phase precipitates, and then cooling the article to room temperature in a manner that minimizes distortion of the article. After solution heat treatment, the wrought portion of the engine part can be removed and replaced and the engine article can be reprocessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Henry Harrison, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Michael James Weimer
  • Patent number: 6755921
    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. A nickel-based single crystal alloy is offered where the composition consists of 7-15 of Co, 0.1-4 of Cr, 1-4 of Mo, 4-7 of W, 5.5-6.5 of Al, 5-7 of Ta, 4-5.5 of Re, 0-0.5 each of Hf and V, and 0-2 each of Ti and Nb in terms of % by weight and residual part substantially consists of Ni wherein said alloy may contain unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: National Research Institute for Metals
    Inventors: Toshiharu Kobayashi, Yutaka Koizumi, Shizuo Nakazawa, Hiroshi Harada, Toshihiro Yamagata
  • Publication number: 20040103963
    Abstract: A method of heat treatment for an efficient forming of two-layered oxide film on the inside surface of a Ni-base alloy tube. The oxide film suppresses the Ni release in a high-temperature water environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Miyahara, Toshihiro Imoto, Hiroyuki Anada, Kazuyuki Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20040079453
    Abstract: An alloy has a composition of, in weight percent, from about 16 percent to about 21 percent chromium, from about 6 percent to about 12 percent iron, from about 6 percent to about 12 percent cobalt, from about 2.8 percent to about 3.3 percent molybdenum, from about 5 percent to about 5.4 percent niobium, from 0 to about 2 percent tantalum, from about 0.65 percent to about 1.15 percent titanium, from about 0.2 percent to about 0.8 percent aluminum, from about 0.01 percent to about 0.05 percent carbon, from about 0.005 percent to about 0.01 percent boron, less than about 0.1 percent zirconium, balance nickel and impurities. A molten mass of this composition may be cast into a mold for solidification. The solid material may be welded either in a rework/repair process or to join it to a second article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Jon Raymond Groh, Michael Joseph Gambone
  • Publication number: 20040045645
    Abstract: Medical devices, medical device components, and methods of making the same. For example, one embodiment provides a method of shaping a reinforcing member through annealing. Another exemplary embodiment includes a method of making a medical device that includes such a shaped reinforcement member incorporated therein. Yet another exemplary embodiment provides a medical device including such a shaped reinforcing member therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: SCIMED LIFE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Pu Zhou
  • Publication number: 20040011443
    Abstract: A nickel base superalloy suitable for the production of a large, crack-free nickel-base superalloy gas turbine bucket suitable for use in a large land-based utility gas turbine engine, comprising, by weight percents:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Keith Bouse, Michael Francis Henry, Jon Conrad Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 6660110
    Abstract: A heat treatment assembly and heat treatment methods are disclosed for producing different microstructures in the bore and rim portions of nickel-based superalloy disks, particularly suited for gas turbine applications. The heat treatment assembly is capable of being removed from the furnace and disassembled to allow rapid fan or oil quenching of the disk. For solutioning heat treatments of the disk, temperatures higher than that of this solvus temperature of the disk are used to produce coarse grains in the rim of each disk so as to give maximum creep and dwell crack resistance at the rim service temperature. At the same time, solution temperature lower than the solvus temperature of the disk are provided to produce fine grain in the bore of the disk so as to give maximum strength and low cycle fatigue resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John Gayda, Timothy P. Gabb, Peter T. Kantzos
  • Publication number: 20030213536
    Abstract: A nickel-base alloy includes, in weight percent, up to about 0.10 percent carbon; about 12 up to about 20 percent chromium; up to about 4 percent molybdenum; up to about 6 percent tungsten, wherein the sum of molybdenum and tungsten is at least about 2 percent and not more than about 8 percent; about 5 up to about 12 percent cobalt; up to about 14 percent iron; about 4 percent up to about 8 percent niobium; about 0.6 percent up to about 2.6 percent aluminum; about 0.4 percent up to about 1.4 percent titanium; about 0.003 percent up to about 0.03 percent phosphorous; about 0.003 percent up to about 0.015 percent boron; nickel; and incidental impurities. The sum of atomic percent aluminum and atomic percent titanium is from about 2 to about 6 percent, the ratio of atomic percent aluminum to atomic percent titanium is at least about 1.5, and the atomic percent of aluminum plus titanium divided by the atomic percent of niobium equals about 0.8 to about 1.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Wei-Di Cao
  • Patent number: 6638373
    Abstract: A two step heat treatment for Ni—Cr—Mo alloys containing from 12% to 23.5% chromium provides higher yield strength, high tensile strength and other mechanical properties comparable to those observed in similar alloys age-hardened according to current practices. This treatment is done over a total time of not more than 50 hours. However, the treatment works for only those alloys having alloying elements present in amounts according to an equation here disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventors: Lee Pike, Jr., Dwaine L. Klarstrom, Michael F. Rothman
  • Patent number: 6610155
    Abstract: A single step heat treatment for Ni—Cr—Mo alloys containing from 12% to 19% chromium and from 18% to 23% molybdenum provides higher yield strength, high tensile strength and other mechanical properties comparable to those observed in similar alloys age-hardened according to current practices. This treatment is done over a total time of at least 4 hours and preferably less than 50 hours. However, the treatment works for only those alloys having alloying elements present in amounts according to an equation here disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Haynes International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee M. Pike, Dwaine L. Klarstrom
  • Patent number: 6605163
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a strip made of an Fe—Ni alloy of the “&ggr;′ and/or &ggr;″ structural hardening” type, the thermal expansion coefficient between 20° C. and 150° C. of which is less than 7×10−6/K, in which a hot strip is manufactured either by hot rolling a semi-finished product or by direct casting of a thin strip which is optionally lightly hot-rolled, and the hot strip is subjected to a softening annealing operation consisting of a soak between 950° C. and 1200° C. followed by rapid cooling and optionally a pickling operation, in order to obtain a softened strip; a cold-worked strip is manufactured by cold rolling the said softened strip, with a reduction ratio of greater than 5%; and the cold-worked strip is subjected to a recrystallization annealing operation in an inert or reducing atmosphere, carried out either on the run with a residence time between 900° C. and 1200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Imphy Ugine Precision
    Inventors: Ricardo Cozar, Jean-Pierre Reyal, Pierre Louis Reydet
  • Publication number: 20030116242
    Abstract: A heat treatment process that will restore the mechanical properties of an aircraft engine article that includes a cast Inconel 718 portion welded to a wrought portion. The heat treatment process includes placing an article that includes the Inconel 718 cast portion into a heat treatment chamber, evacuating the chamber to a suitable atmosphere, heating the chamber in a manner that minimizes distortion of the cast portion to a temperature in the range of 1950° F. to 2050° F., holding the temperature in that range for a period of time sufficient to solution all the delta phase precipitates, and then cooling the article to room temperature in a manner that minimizes distortion of the article. After solution heat treatment, the wrought portion of the engine part can be removed and replaced and the engine article can be reprocessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: William Henry Harrison, Thomas Joseph Kelly, Michael James Weimer
  • Patent number: 6579388
    Abstract: A single step heat treatment for Ni-Cr-Mo alloys containing from 12% to 19% chromium and from 18% to 23% molybdenum provides higher yield strength, high tensile strength and other mechanical properties comparable to those observed in similar alloys age-hardened according to current practices. This treatment is done over a total time of at least 24 hours and preferably less than 50 hours. However, the treatment works for only those alloys having alloying elements present in amounts according to an equation here disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Haynes International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee M. Pike, Jr., Dwaine L. Klarstrom
  • Publication number: 20030103862
    Abstract: A nickel base superalloy suitable for the production of a large, crack-free nickel-base superalloy gas turbine bucket suitable for use in a large land-based utility gas turbine engine, comprising, by weight percents:
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Keith Bouse, Michael Francis Henry, Jon Conrad Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20030084975
    Abstract: A single step heat treatment for Ni-Cr-Mo alloys containing from 12% to 19% chromium and from 18% to 23% molybdenum provides higher yield strength, high tensile strength and other mechanical properties comparable to those observed in similar alloys age-hardened according to current practices. This treatment is done over a total time of at least 4 hours and preferably less than 50 hours. However, the treatment works for only those alloys having alloying elements present in amounts according to an equation here disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Lee M. Pike, Dwaine L. Klarstrom
  • Patent number: 6544362
    Abstract: A two step heat treatment for Ni—Cr—Mo alloys containing from 12% to 23.5% chromium provides higher yield strength, high tensile strength and other mechanical properties comparable to those observed in similar alloys age-hardened according to current practices. This treatment is done over a total time of not more than 50 hours. However, the treatment works for only those alloys having alloying elements present in amounts according to an equation here disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Haynes International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee M. Pike, Jr., Dwaine L. Klarstrom, Michael F. Rothman
  • Publication number: 20030051783
    Abstract: A two step heat treatment for Ni—Cr—Mo alloys containing from 12% to 23.5% chromium provides higher yield strength, high tensile strength and other mechanical properties comparable to those observed in similar alloys age-hardened according to current practices. This treatment is done over a total time of not more than 50 hours. However, the treatment works for only those alloys having alloying elements present in amounts according to an equation here disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Lee M. Pike, Dwaine L. Klarstrom, Michael F. Rothman
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6500283
    Abstract: A method for promoting the environmental resistance of nickel, iron and cobalt-base superalloys of the type alloyed to develop a protective oxide scale. The method entails a technique for removing sulfur during or subsequent to the casting operation. The method generally includes casting a superalloy article in a mold cavity, and then heat treating the article while surfaces of the article are in contact with a compound containing a sulfide and/or oxysulfide-forming element, such as yttria, calcium oxide, magnesia, scandia, ceria, hafnia, zirconia, titania, lanthana, alumina and/or silica. The heat treatment is performed at a temperature sufficient to cause sulfur within the superalloy article to segregate to the surfaces of the article and react with the sulfide-forming element, thereby forming sulfides at the interface with the compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jon C. Schaeffer, Wendy H. Murphy, Norman R. Lindblad
  • Patent number: 6482528
    Abstract: (1) A nickel-base alloy product having, on the surface thereof, an oxide film comprising at least two layers, namely a first layer mainly composed of Cr2O3 and having a chromium content of not less than 50% relative to the total amount of metal elements and a second layer occurring outside the first layer and mainly composed of MnCr2O4, wherein the grain size of Cr2O3 crystals in the first layer is 50 to 1,000 nm and the total oxide film thickness is 180 to 1,500 nm. (2) A method of producing the nickel-base alloy product as specified above under (1) which comprises subjecting a nickel-base alloy product to oxide film formation treatment by maintaining the same at a temperature of 650 to 1,200° C. in a hydrogen atmosphere or hydrogen-argon mixed atmosphere showing a dew point of −60° C. to +20° C. for 1 to 1,200 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Anada, Kazuyuki Kitamura, Toshihiro Imoto, Osamu Miyahara
  • Patent number: 6478896
    Abstract: A turbine disk for a gas turbine engine differentially heat treated so as to produce a dual property disk. The process is applicable to superalloy disks, and achieves substantially uniform yet different temperatures in the rim and hub of the disk during heat treatment, so as to attain specific and different properties for the rim and hub. The process includes the steps of heat treating the entire disk to achieve a uniform structure having a fine grain size and fine precipitates. A device for heating the rim of the disk is then disposed at the disk's periphery, such that the rim is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature above the gamma prime solvus temperature of the superalloy so as to dissolve gamma prime precipitates present in the rim and cause grain growth in the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Swami Ganesh, Ronald Gene Tolbert
  • Patent number: 6471790
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the forming of precipitates of carbides and borides along the grain boundaries of an component made from an Ni based superalloy while in solid state. This follows from the finding that the carbides formed by carburization offer similar grain boundary strengthening properties as those cast into the article using the current art without the detrimental effects of adding more carbon to the alloy prior to casting. With advantage the process will be carried out in a way to form secondary caribides in the form Cr23C6, Cr7C, Cr6C and HfC and may take place before, during or after the normal solution and/or precipitation hardening heat treatments of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: ALSTOM (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventor: John Fernihough
  • Patent number: 6461744
    Abstract: A description follows of an article based on a nickel-chromium-silicon metal alloy, including microcrystalline borides, obtained by the rapid solidification and subsequent thermal treatment of a nickel-chromium-boron-silicon metal alloy comprising from 39.0 to 69.4 atom % of nickel, from 11.8 to 33.9 atom % of chromium, from 7.6 to 27.4 atom % of boron and from 7.6 to 17.5 atom % of silicon. The above article is preferably a tape or a sheet or a fiber having high mechanical properties and is particularly resistant to oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Edison Termoelettrica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Giunchi, Sergio Ceresara
  • Publication number: 20020139457
    Abstract: A method of providing a resistance to oxidation of Nickel at high temperatures by combining Ni powder with five percent Pt resinate, and heating the same to a temperature of 500° C. to 1300° C. Electro-conductive components serving as electrodes and the like comprise a Ni/Pt powder subjected to temperatures of between 500° C. and the respective melting points of Ni and Pt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Vito A. Coppola