With Ageing, Solution Treating, (i.e., For Hardening), Precipitation Hardening Or Strengthening Patents (Class 148/677)
  • Patent number: 12110607
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of directional solidification, and in particular, to an apparatus, method, and process for directional solidification by liquid metal spraying enhanced cooling (LMSC). The process has the following beneficial effects: the apparatus of the present disclosure can regulate a solidification structure of a casting, refine a dendrite spacing, and reduce or avoid metallurgical defects, and can be used to prepare high-quality large-sized columnar/single crystal blades or other castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Shanghai University
    Inventors: Zhongming Ren, Jiang Wang, Xingfu Ren, Zhenqiang Zhang, Xiaoxin Zhang, Xia Li, Tingsheng Tu, Baojun Wang
  • Patent number: 11566313
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an Ni-based alloy member in which the equilibrium amount of ?? phase precipitation at 700° C. is from 30 to 70 volume %. The method includes the steps of preparing an Ni-based alloy powder having a predetermined chemical composition; forming a precursor body wherein an average grain diameter of the ? phase grains is 50 ?m or less, by using the Ni-based alloy powder; and heating the precursor body to a temperature at least the ?? phase solvus temperature and subsequently slow-cooling the heated precursor body from the temperature to a temperature at least 100° C. lower than the ?? phase solvus temperature at a cooling rate of 100° C./h or lower. There is obtained a softened body in that the ?? phase particles of at least 20 volume % precipitate between/among the ? phase grains having an average grain diameter of 50 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Shinya Imano
  • Patent number: 11389868
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to powder-bed-based additive manufacturing processes. Embodiments thereof may include methods for producing a component from a superalloy. For example, a method for producing a component comprising a superalloy may include: preheating a powder bed comprising particles of a core material coated by a ceramic layer, the core material including alloying constituents of the superalloy and building up the component layer by layer in a powder bed by melting particles with an energy beam. The powder bed may be heated to a temperature below a melting point of the core material before the particles are melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Frank Heinrichsdorff, Ralph Reiche, Daniel Reznik, Oliver Stier
  • Patent number: 11131013
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to enhance the creep characteristics of an Ni-based alloy. The present invention relates to a Ni-based alloy characterized by having a composition containing, in terms of wt %, 15.00-25.00% Cr, 5.00-15.00% Co, 1.00% to less than 12.00% Mo, 1.50-2.50% Ti, 1.00-2.00% Al, 0.20-1.00% Nb, and 0.0010-0.10% C, and in terms of mass ppm, 10-200 ppm P, 30-250 ppm B, and 30-200 ppm N, the remainder comprising Ni and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN STEEL WORKS M&E, INC.
    Inventors: Takuya Okawa, Koichi Takasawa, Eiji Maeda, Masato Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11085104
    Abstract: Provided are: a method for manufacturing a Ni-based heat-resistant superalloy wire having excellent bending workability; and a Ni-based heat-resistant superalloy wire. The method for manufacturing a Ni-based heat-resistant superalloy wire comprises a rod preparation step for preparing a Ni-based heat-resistant superalloy rod; and a rod processing step in which plastic working having a working rate of 40% or less is repeated several times toward the axis from the circumferential surface of the rod at a temperature of 500° C. or lower until the cumulative working rate reaches 60% or more to reduce the cross-sectional area of the rod. A Ni-based heat-resistant superalloy wire obtained by the manufacturing method has a plastic worked or recrystallized microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ainul Arafah Binti Muhamad, Gang Han, Remi Mukose
  • Patent number: 10557189
    Abstract: To provide a manufacturing process of a Ni based superalloy and a member of the Ni based superalloy which achieves both of excellent workability in a manufacturing step of the Ni based superalloy of the precipitation strengthening type which contains much amount of the gamma prime phase and excellent high temperature strength of the Ni based superalloy. The manufacturing process of a Ni based superalloy includes a step for softening the Ni based superalloy and improving the workability, in which the step for softening the Ni based superalloy and improving the workability is a step for precipitating the gamma prime phase that is incoherent with a gamma phase that is a matrix by 20 vol % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Shinya Imano, Hironori Kamoshida
  • Patent number: 10240223
    Abstract: Provided is a Ni-based alloy having a composition consisting of, by mass %, Cr: 14.0% to 17.0% (preferably, not less than 14.0% and less than 15.0%), Fe: 5.0% to 9.0%, Ti: 2.2% to 2.8%, Al: 0.40% to 1.00%, a total amount of Nb+Ta: 0.7% to 1.2%, B: 0.001% to 0.010%, Zr: 0.01% to 0.15%, Mg: 0.001% to 0.050%, Mn: 0.01% to 0.20%, Cu: 0.005% to 0.300%, Mo: 0.01% to 0.30%, C: 0.01% to 0.05%, and the balance of Ni with inevitable impurities. In a creep test under conditions of a test temperature of 750° C. and a test load of 330 MPa, the Ni-based alloy preferably has a creep rupture life of not less than 120 hours and an elongation of not less than 16%, i.e., has good high-temperature creep characteristics. The Ni-based alloy is suitable for a gas turbine member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Komatsu, Katsuo Sugahara
  • Patent number: 9951406
    Abstract: A primary alloy includes: nickel; copper; zinc; an electrical conductivity from 5.2% International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS) to 5.6% IACS measured in accordance with ASTM E1004-09 (2009); and a disordered crystalline phase wherein atoms of the nickel, cooper, and zinc are randomly arranged in the disordered crystalline phase at room temperature in a post-annealed state. A process for making the primary alloy includes heating a secondary alloy to a first temperature that is greater than or equal to an annealing temperature to form an annealing alloy, the secondary alloy including a secondary phase; and quenching, by cooling the annealing alloy from the first temperature to a second temperature that is less than the annealing temperature, under a condition effective to form the primary alloy including the disordered crystalline phase, wherein the disordered crystalline phase is different than the secondary phase of the secondary alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARMENT OF THE TREASURY
    Inventors: Eric A. Lass, Mark R. Stoudt, Carelyn Campbell, Tsineng Tony Ying
  • Patent number: 9017490
    Abstract: A high strength, corrosion resistant alloy suitable for use in oil and gas environments includes, in weight %: 0-12% Fe, 18-24% Cr, 3-6.2% Mo, 0.05-3.0% Cu, 4.0-6.5% Nb, 1.1-2.2% Ti, 0.05-0.4% 0.05-0.2% Al, 0.005-0.040% C, balance Ni plus incidental impurities and deoxidizers. A ratio of Nb/(Ti+Al) is equal to 2.5-7.5 to provide a desired volume fraction of ?? and ?? phases. The alloy has a minimum yield strength of 145 ksi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Huntington Alloys Corporation
    Inventor: Sarwan Kumar Mannan
  • Publication number: 20150017015
    Abstract: A nickel (Ni) based alloy for forging includes: 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % of carbon (C); 12 to 23 wt. % of chromium (Cr); 3.5 to 5.0 wt. % of aluminum (Al); 5 to 12 combined wt. % of tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) in which the Mo content is 5 wt. % or less; a negligible small amount of titanium (Ti), tantalate (Ta) and niobium (Nb); and the balance of Ni and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Shinya Imano, Hiroyuki Doi, Jun Sato
  • Publication number: 20150013852
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a component, especially of a gas turbine, made of a single crystal (SX) or directionally solidified (DS) nickelbase superalloy, including a heat treatment and a machining and/or mechanical treatment step. The ductility of the component is improved by doing the machining and/or mechanical treatment step prior to said heat treatment and a solution heat treatment of the component is done prior to the machining/mechanical treatment step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas ETTER, Roland MÜCKE
  • Patent number: 8840735
    Abstract: Fatigue damage resistant metal or metal alloy wires have a submicron-scale or nanograin microstructure that demonstrates improved fatigue damage resistance properties, and methods for manufacturing such wires. The present method may be used to form a wire having a nanograin microstructure characterized by a mean grain size that is 500 nm or less, in which the wire demonstrates improved fatigue damage resistance. Wire manufactured in accordance with the present process may show improvement in one or more other material properties, such as ultimate strength, unloading plateau strength, permanent set, ductility, and recoverable strain, for example. Wire manufactured in accordance with the present process is suitable for use in a medical device, or other high end application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corp
    Inventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20140116582
    Abstract: A thermo-mechanical treatment process is disclosed. A nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a first heating step to a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked in a first working step to a reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature when the first working step begins. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a second working step to a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.) and less than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is not permitted to cool to ambient temperature between completion of the first working step and the beginning of the second heating step. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked to a second reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin M. Forbes Jones, Christopher D. Rock
  • Patent number: 8696836
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nonmagnetic high-hardness alloy having a Ni-based alloy composition containing; by weight %, C of 0.1% or less: Si of 2.0% or less; Mn of 2.0% or less; P of 0.03% or less; S of 0.01% or less; Cr of 30 to 45%; Al of 1.5 to 5.0%; and a balance of unavoidable impurities and Ni, the nonmagnetic high-hardness alloy being subjected to cold or warm plastic working and then ageing treatment, and a method for producing the nonmagnetic high-hardness alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritaka Takahata, Michiharu Ogawa, Shigeki Ueta, Tetsuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8679269
    Abstract: Components and methods of processing such components from precipitation-strengthened alloys so that the components exhibit desirable grain sizes following a supersolvus heat treatment. The method includes consolidating a powder of the alloy to form a billet having an average grain size. The billet is then forged at a temperature below the solvus temperature to form a forging having an average grain size of not coarser than the grain size of the billet. The billet is then forged at a total strain of at least 5%, after which at least a portion of the forging is heat treated at a temperature below the solvus temperature to pin grains within the portion. The entire forging can then be heat treated at a temperature above the solvus temperature of the alloy without coarsening the grains in the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Albert Goller, Raymond Joseph Stonitsch, Richard DiDomizio
  • Patent number: 8652400
    Abstract: A thermo-mechanical treatment process is disclosed. A nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a first heating step to a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked in a first working step to a reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature when the first working step begins. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a second working step to a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.) and less than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is not permitted to cool to ambient temperature between completion of the first working step and the beginning of the second heating step. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked to a second reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin M. Forbes Jones, Christopher D. Rock
  • Patent number: 8613810
    Abstract: A gamma prime nickel-base superalloy and components formed therefrom that exhibit improved high-temperature dwell capabilities, including creep and dwell fatigue crack growth behavior. The superalloy contains, by weight, 10.00 to 22.0% cobalt, 10.0 to 14.0% chromium, 4.0 to 6.0% tantalum, 2.0 to 4.0% aluminum, 2.0 to 6.0% titanium, 1.5 to 5.0% tungsten, 1.5 to 5.0% molybdenum, 1.0 to 3.5% niobium, 0.05 to 0.6% hafnium, 0.02 to 0.10% carbon, 0.01 to 0.40% boron, 0.02 to 0.10% zirconium, the balance essentially nickel and impurities, wherein the titanium:aluminum weight ratio is 0.7 to 1.5. The superalloy is hot worked and heat treated to contain cellular gamma prime precipitates that distort grain boundaries, creating tortuous grain boundary fracture paths that are believed to promote the fatigue crack growth resistance of the superalloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Paul Mourer, Kenneth Rees Bain
  • Patent number: 8608877
    Abstract: Articles that include a material that has L12-structured gamma-prime phase precipitates within a matrix phase at a concentration of at least 20% by volume are disclosed. The gamma-prime phase precipitates are less than 1 micrometer in size. The material also has A3-structured eta phase precipitates distributed within the matrix phase at a concentration in the range from about 1% to about 25% by volume. The articles may be formed by mechanically working a workpiece that has at least about 40% nickel, about 1.5% to about 8% titanium, and about 1.5% to about 4.5% aluminum. The workpiece may be worked at a temperature below a solvus temperature of the eta phase; and then heat treated at a temperature sufficient to dissolve any gamma prime phase present in the workpiece but below the solvus temperature of the eta phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard DiDomizio, Judson Sloan Marte, Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8545643
    Abstract: An alloy designed for use in gas turbine engines which has high strength and a low coefficient of thermal expansion is disclosed. The alloy may contain in weight percent 7% to 9% chromium, 21% to 24% molybdenum, greater than 5% tungsten, up to 3% iron, with a balance being nickel and impurities. The alloy must further satisfy the following compositional relationship: 31.95<R<33.45, where the R value is defined by the equation: R=2.66Al+0.19Co+0.84Cr?0.16Cu+0.39Fe+0.60Mn+Mo+0.69Nb+2.16Si+0.47Ta+1.36Ti+1.07V+0.40W The alloy has better hardness after being age-hardened at 1400° F. (760° C.) if tungsten is present from greater than 5% up to 10% and a preferred density if the alloy contains greater than 5% up to 7% tungsten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Haynes International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Pike, S. Krishna Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8512488
    Abstract: An Ni—Fe based superalloy forging material including 30 to 40 wt % of Fe, 14 to 16 wt % of Cr, 1.2 to 1.7 wt % of Ti, 1.1 to 1.5 wt % of Al, 1.9 to 2.2 wt % of Nb, 0.05 wt % or less of C and the remainder of Ni and inevitable impurities is solution-treated and aged, and thereby ?? phase (Ni3Al) having an initial mean particle size of about 50 to about 100 nm is precipitated. This superalloy is excellent in high-temperature strength and high-temperature ductility and can produce a large forged product of 10 ton or more. Therefore, this material is suitable for use as the material of a steam turbine rotor having a main steam temperature of 650° C. or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Imano, Hirotsugu Kawanaka, Hiroyuki Doi, Tatsuya Takahashi, Tsukasa Azuma, Koji Kajikawa
  • Patent number: 8479549
    Abstract: A method of producing a seamless, tubular product includes centrifugally casting a corrosion resistant alloy into a tubular workpiece having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The method then removes material from the inner diameter of the workpiece and subjects the workpiece to at least about a 25% wall reduction at a temperature below a recrystallization temperature of the workpiece using a metal forming process. The metal forming process includes radial forging, rolling, pilgering, and/or flowforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Dynamic Flowform Corp.
    Inventor: Matthew V. Fonte
  • Patent number: 8444778
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-thermal-expansion Ni-based super-heat-resistant alloy for a boiler, which has excellent high-temperature strength. The alloy can be welded without the need of carrying out any aging treatment. The alloy has a Vickers hardness value of 240 or less. The alloy comprises (by mass) C in an amount of 0.2% or less, Si in an amount of 0.5% or less, Mn in an amount of 0.5% or less, Cr in an amount of 10 to 24%, one or both of Mo and W in such an amount satisfying the following formula: Mo+0.5 W=5 to 17%, Al in an amount of 0.5 to 2.0%, Ti in an amount of 1.0 to 3.0%, Fe in an amount of 10% or less, and one or both of B and Zr in an amount of 0.02% or less (excluding 0%) for B and in an amount of 0.2% or less (excluding 0%) for Zr, with the remainder being 48 to 78% of Ni and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha, Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Uehara, Takehiro Ohno, Akihiro Toji, Takashi Sato, Gang Bao, Shinya Imano, Hiroyuki Doi
  • Patent number: 8435362
    Abstract: In a process for producing a large single-crystal component or directionally solidified component made of a nickel-based superalloy, the component is first cast into shape in a known manner to form a microstructure comprising dendrites, and then solution annealing for homogenizing the cast microstructure of the component and two-stage precipitation heat treatment are carried out. In order to avoid chemical inhomogeneities and internal stresses caused thereby, a HIP process with a pressure of higher than 160 MPa is carried out following the solution annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mohamad Nazmy, Claus Gerdes, Andreas Künzler
  • Patent number: 8349248
    Abstract: A metallic material is made from at least one refractory metal or an alloy based on at least one refractory metal. The metallic material has an oxygen content of about 1,000 to about 30,000 ?g/g and the oxygen is interstitial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Trotzschel, Bernd Spaniol
  • Publication number: 20120308428
    Abstract: A thermo-mechanical treatment process is disclosed. A nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a first heating step to a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked in a first working step to a reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature when the first working step begins. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a second working step to a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.) and less than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is not permitted to cool to ambient temperature between completion of the first working step and the beginning of the second heating step. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked to a second reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin M. Forbes Jones, Christopher D. Rock
  • Patent number: 8211360
    Abstract: A Ni-based heat resistant alloy for a gas turbine combustor, comprising a composition containing, in mass %, Cr: 14.0 to 21.5%, Co: 6.5 to 14.5%, Mo: 6.5 to 10.0%, W: 1.5 to 3.5%, Al: 1.2 to 2.4%, Ti: 1.1 to 2.1%; Fe: 7.0% or less, B: 0.001 to 0.020%, C: 0.03 to 0.15%, and a balance consisting of Ni and unavoidable impurities, wherein a content of S and P contained in the unavoidable impurities is controlled to be, in mass %, S: 0.015% or less, and P: 0.015% or less, wherein the alloy has a texture in which M6C type carbide and MC type carbide are uniformly dispersed in ? phase matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
    Inventors: Takanori Matsui, Komei Kato, Takuya Murai, Yoshitaka Uemura, Daisuke Yoshida, Ikuo Okada
  • Patent number: 8177929
    Abstract: A metal gasket formed from a suitable iron-nickel chromium alloy includes at least one embossment that exhibits essentially full functional recovery at temperatures exceeding 1000° F. and including in the range of 1100° F. to 1600° F. or more and which is made from sheet material that is work hardened and strengthened by cold rolling, or a combination of cold rolling and precipitation hardening, without any post embossment heat treating that would act to further harden the material. Suitable iron-nickel-chromium alloys include those comprising, by weight, greater than 18% nickel; greater than 14% chrome and 0.1-10% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, V, Al, Co, Nb, Ta and Cu, with the balance being substantially Fe, wherein the gasket sheet alloy has a deformed microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Zurfluh
  • Patent number: 8133334
    Abstract: A Ni—Fe—Cr alloy having high strength, ductility and corrosion resistance especially for use in deep-drilled, corrosive oil and gas well environments, as well as for marine environments. The alloy comprises in weight %: 35-55% Ni, 12-25% Cr, 0.5-5% Mo, up to 3% Cu, 2.1-4.5% Nb, 0.5-3% Ti, up to 0.7% Al, 0.005-0.04% C, balance Fe plus incidental impurities and deoxidizers. The alloy must also satisfy the ratio of (Nb?7.75 C)/(Al+Ti)=0.5-9 in order to obtain the desired high strength by the formation of ?? and ?? phases. The alloy has a minimum of 1% by weight ?? phase dispersed in its matrix for strength purposes and a total weight percent of ??+?? phases being between 10 and 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Huntington Alloys Corporation
    Inventors: Sarwan K. Mannan, Brett Clark Puckett
  • Publication number: 20120037280
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blank part in Ni-base superalloy, wherein an alloy is prepared and heat treatments are conducted characterized in that: the said superalloy contains at least a total of 2.5% of Nb and Ta; heat treatment is conducted comprising a plurality of steps: a first step at between 850 and 1000° C. held for at least 20 minutes to precipitate the ? phase at the grain boundaries; a second step held at a temperature higher than the temperature of the first step allowing partial dissolution of the ? phase obtained at the first step; ageing treatment comprising a third step and optionally one or more additional steps at a temperature below the temperature of the first step and allowing precipitation of the hardening phases ?? and ??. Part thus obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicants: AUBERT & DUVAL, SNECMA, TURBOMECA
    Inventor: Alexandre Devaux
  • Publication number: 20120006452
    Abstract: A method (40) of improving the mechanical properties of a component, for example a gas turbine engine turbine disc, (24) comprises isothermally forging (42) a preform to produce a shaped preform with a predetermined shape at a first predetermined temperature, solution heat treating (44) the shaped preform, quenching (46) the shaped preform, forging (48) the shaped preform at a second predetermined temperature to impart a predetermined residual strain in the shaped preform, ageing (50) the shaped preform and finally machining (52) the shaped preform to a finished shape. The second predetermined temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Robert J. MITCHELL, David U. FURRER, Mark C. HARDY
  • Patent number: 8062441
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Rokutanda, Tomohisa Arai, Takao Kusaka, Nobuyoshi Jimbo
  • Publication number: 20110255649
    Abstract: A jet pump beam is made of improved heat-treated precipitation-hardened nickel base alloy excellent in anti-stress corrosion cracking properties and high-temperature strength, and having high ductility and a high elastic modulus. A jet pump beam 27 made of improved heat-treated nickel base alloy is produced by preparing a precipitation-strengthened nickel base alloy material having a component composition containing by mass %, Ni: 50.0% to 55.0%, Cr: 17.0% to 21.0%, Nb+Ta: 4.75% to 5.50%, Mo: 2.8% to 3.3%, Ti: 0.65% to 1.15%, Al: 0.2% to 0.8%, C: 0.08% or less, Mn: 0.35% or less, Si: 0.35% or less, S: 0.015% or less, P: 0.03% or less, Cu: 0.30% or less, B: 0.006% or less, and Co: 1.0% or less, and Fe and inevitable impurities constituting a remaining part, subjecting the nickel base alloy material to solution heat treatment at a temperature of 1010° C. to 1090° C., and subjecting the nickel base alloy material to age-hardening heat treatment at a temperature of 694° C. to 714° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshinori Katayama, Motoji Tsubota, Yuuji Saito, Hajime Mori, Norihiko Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110203707
    Abstract: A gamma prime nickel-base superalloy and components formed therefrom that exhibit improved high-temperature dwell capabilities, including creep and dwell fatigue crack growth behavior. The superalloy contains, by weight, 10.00 to 22.0% cobalt, 10.0 to 14.0% chromium, 4.0 to 6.0% tantalum, 2.0 to 4.0% aluminum, 2.0 to 6.0% titanium, 1.5 to 5.0% tungsten, 1.5 to 5.0% molybdenum, 1.0 to 3.5% niobium, 0.05 to 0.6% hafnium, 0.02 to 0.10% carbon, 0.01 to 0.40% boron, 0.02 to 0.10% zirconium, the balance essentially nickel and impurities, wherein the titanium:aluminum weight ratio is 0.7 to 1.5. The superalloy is hot worked and heat treated to contain cellular gamma prime precipitates that distort grain boundaries, creating tortuous grain boundary fracture paths that are believed to promote the fatigue crack growth resistance of the superalloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Paul Mourer, Kenneth Rees Bain
  • Patent number: 7879161
    Abstract: A warm-rolled, annealed, polycrystalline, cube-textured, {100}<100>, FCC-based alloy substrate is characterized by a yield strength greater than 200 MPa and a biaxial texture characterized by a FWHM of less than 15° in all directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventor: Amit Goyal
  • Publication number: 20110011500
    Abstract: A Ni—Fe—Cr—Mo alloy containing a small amount of Cu and correlated percentages of Nb, Ti and Al to develop a unique microstructure to produce 145 ksi minimum yield strength. The unique microstructure is obtained by special annealing and age hardening conditions, by virtue of which the alloy has an attractive combination of yield strength, impact strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, thermal stability and formability, and is especially suited for corrosive oil well applications that contain gaseous mixtures of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The alloy comprises in weight percent the following: 0-15% Fe, 18-24% Cr, 3-9% Mo, 0.05 3.0% Cu, 3.6-6.5% Nb, 0.5-2.2% Ti, 0.05-1.0% Al, 0.005-0.040% C, balance Ni plus incidental impurities and a ratio of Nb/(Al+Ti) in the range of 2.5-7.5. To facilitate formability, the composition range of the alloy is balanced to be Laves phase free.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: HUNTINGTON ALLOYS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sarwan Kumar Mannan
  • Publication number: 20100329883
    Abstract: A gamma prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-base superalloy and method of forging an article from the superalloy to promote a low cycle fatigue resistance and high temperature dwell behavior of the article. The superalloy has a composition of, by weight, 16.0-22.4% cobalt, 6.6-14.3% chromium, 2.6-4.8% aluminum, 2.4-4.6% titanium, 1.4-3.5% tantalum, 0.9-3.0% niobium, 1.9-4.0% tungsten, 1.9-3.9% molybdenum, 0.0-2.5% rhenium, greater than 0.05% carbon, at least 0.1% hafnium, 0.02-0.10% boron, 0.03-0.10% zirconium, the balance nickel and incidental impurities. A billet is formed of the superalloy and worked at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus temperature of the superalloy so as to form a worked article, which is then heat treated above the gamma prime solvus temperature of the superalloy to uniformly coarsen the grains of the article, after which the article is cooled to reprecipitate gamma prime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Paul Mourer, Kenneth Rees Bain
  • Patent number: 7854064
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine engine component comprises the steps of providing a turbine engine component formed from a nickel-based superalloy, removing any defects from the turbine engine component, the removing step comprising subjecting the turbine engine component to a solutioning heat treatment using a heating rate in the range of from 29 degrees Fahrenheit/minute to approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit/minute as the component passes through a temperature in the range of from 1100 degrees Fahrenheit to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, and welding the turbine engine component to effect the repair. A deliberately slow post-solution treatment cooling rate is used to substantially prevent weld cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Malley
  • Patent number: 7846276
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides alloys having an ultra-low coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of 60° F. to 80° F. The alloys have coefficient of thermal expansion no greater than 0.35×10?6° F.?1 in the range of 60° F. to 80° F. Methods of making such alloys also are provided, as well articles of manufacture including such alloys and methods of making such articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hasek, Thomas R. Parayil
  • Patent number: 7799152
    Abstract: A nickel alloy having an excellent corrosion resistance (hereinafter referred to as “nickel alloy”) used for pipes, structural materials and structural members, such as bolts or the like, in a nuclear power plant or in a chemical plant, and a manufacturing method for the same are provided. In the nickel alloy according to the present invention, an excellent corrosion resistance, in particular an excellent resistance against the IGSCC, is obtained by specifying the low angle boundary rate of 4% or more in the grain boundaries, along with the restriction of the chemical composition in the alloy, thereby making it possible to provide a nickel alloy which is most suitably used for pipes, structural materials and structural members, such as bolts or the like. Accordingly, the nickel alloy according to the present invention is widely applicable to structural members used in a nuclear station or in a chemical plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Kanzaki
  • 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: 20100170597
    Abstract: A metal gasket formed from a suitable iron-nickel chromium alloy includes at least one embossment that exhibits essentially full functional recovery at temperatures exceeding 1000° F. and including in the range of 1100° F. to 1600° F. or more and which is made from sheet material that is work hardened and strengthened by cold rolling, or a combination of cold rolling and precipitation hardening, without any post embossment heat treating that would act to further harden the material. Suitable iron-nickel-chromium alloys include those comprising, by weight, greater than 18% nickel; greater than 14% chrome and 0.1-10% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, V, Al, Co, Nb, Ta and Cu, with the balance being substantially Fe, wherein the gasket sheet alloy has a deformed microstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Zurfluh
  • Patent number: 7682474
    Abstract: A cutter is composed of a Ni—Cr—Al alloy containing from 32 to 44 mass percent of Cr, from 2.3 to 6.0 mass percent of Al, the balance being Ni, impurities, and additional trace elements and having a Rockwell C hardness of 52 or more. This Ni—Cr—Al alloy provides a cutter produced with a superior workability and by a significantly simplified process, having a low deterioration in the hardness even when heated in use, having excellent corrosion resistance and low-temperature embrittlement resistance, and satisfactorily maintaining the cutting performance for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomohisa Arai, Takashi Rokutanda, Tadaharu Kido
  • Publication number: 20090321405
    Abstract: A nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), niobium (Nb), silicon (Si) welding alloy, articles made therefrom for use in producing weldments and methods for producing these weldments. The welding alloy contains in % by weight about: 23.5 to 25.5% Cr, 15 to 22% Co, up to 3% Fe, up to 1% Mo, up to 1% Mn, 1.1 to 2.0% Al, 0.8 to 1.8% Ti, 0.8 to 2.2% Nb, 0.05 to 0.28% Si, up to 0.3% Ta, up to 0.3% W, 0.005 to 0.08% C, 0.001 to 0.3% Zr, 0.0008 to 0.006% B, up to 0.05% rare earth metals, up to 0.025% Mg plus optional Ca and the balance Ni including trace additions and impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: HUNTINGTON ALLOYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian A. Baker, Gaylord D. Smith, Ronald D. Gollihue
  • Patent number: 7632363
    Abstract: A method for refurbishing service-degraded gas turbine component can recover the microstructure of the alloy of the gas turbine component, whose material is deteriorated or damaged after its operation, to the extent that is equivalent or more than the characteristic at the time of its manufacture. The method comprises performing a recovery heat treatment, performing a solution heat treatment, and performing an aging heat treatment. The recovery heat treatment heat-treats the component under a predetermined pressure, which is higher than normal pressure, wherein the temperature of the component is increased to a predetermined temperature under the predetermined pressure. The solution heat treatment is processed under reduced pressure or inert gas atmosphere after the recovery heat treatment. The aging heat treatment is processed under reduced pressure or inert gas atmosphere after the recovery heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yomei Yoshioka, Daizo Saito, Junji Ishii, Yoshihiro Aburatani
  • Publication number: 20090257908
    Abstract: A high temperature, high strength Ni—Co—Cr alloy possessing essentially fissure-free weldability for long-life service at 538° C. to 816° C. contains in % by weight about: 23.5 to 25.5% Cr, 15-22% Co, 1.1 to 2.0% Al, 1.0 to 1.8 % Ti, 0.95 to 2.2% Nb, less than 1.0% Mo, less than 1.0% Mn, less than 0.3% Si, less than 3% Fe, less than 0.3% Ta, less than 0.3% W, 0.005 to 0.08% C, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, 0.0008 to 0.006% B, up to 0.05% rare earth metals, 0.005% to 0.025% Mg plus optional Ca and the balance Ni including trace additions and impurities. The strength and stability is assured at 760° C. when the Al/Ti ratio is constrained to between 0.95 and 1.25. Further, the sum of Al+Ti is constrained to between 2.25 and 3.0. The upper limits for Nb and Si are defined by the relationship: (% Nb+0.95)+3.32(% Si)<3.16.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: HUNTINGTON ALLOYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian A. Baker, Gaylord D. Smith, Ronald D. Gollihue
  • Publication number: 20090148337
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of manufacturing a Ni-based superalloy component for a gas turbine using a one-step process of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and heat treatment, and a component manufactured by the method. In the method, an HIP process and a heat treatment process, which have been performed to manufacture or repair a Ni-based superalloy component for a gas turbine, are performed as a one-step process using an HIP apparatus. Thus, component defects, such as micropores and microcracks, which are generated when casting, welding, or brazing the Ni-based superalloy component for a gas turbine used for a combined cycle thermal power plant or airplane, can be cured using an HIP apparatus at high temperature and high pressure and, at the same time, the physical properties of the Ni-based superalloy component can be optimized using the heat treatment process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Korea Electric Power Corporation
    Inventors: Min-Tae KIM, Sung-Yong Chang, Jong-Bum Won, Won-Young Oh
  • Patent number: 7537725
    Abstract: A compositionally graded gas turbine disk is made by placing a cylindrically symmetric slip case concentrically into an interior of a cylindrically symmetric outer container. A first nickel-base superalloy powder is loaded into a radially inner first portion of the interior and a second nickel-base superalloy powder is loaded into a radially outer second portion of the interior. The slip case is removed so that the first nickel-base superalloy powder and the second nickel-base superalloy powder contact in the transition region and form a non-compacted powder mass. The non-compacted powder mass is processed into a gas turbine disk, typically by compacting the non-compacted powder mass to form a compacted powder mass, and thereafter heat treating the compacted powder mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jon Raymond Groh, Eric Allen Ott, Robert Edward Schafrik, Daniel Donald Krueger
  • Patent number: 7531054
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to nickel-base alloys and methods of direct aging nickel-base alloys. More specifically, certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods of direct aging 718Plus® nickel-base alloy to impart improved mechanical properties, such as, but not limited to, tensile strength, yield strength, low cycle fatigue, fatigue crack growth, and creep and rupture life to the alloys. Other embodiments of the present disclosure relate to direct aged 718Plus® nickel-base alloy, and articles of manufacture made therefrom, having improved mechanical properties, such as, but not limited to, tensile strength, yield strength, low cycle fatigue, fatigue crack growth, and creep and rupture life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Kennedy, Wei-Di Cao
  • Patent number: 7527702
    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, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Di Cao, Richard L. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20090000706
    Abstract: A method of forming a component from a gamma prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-base superalloy. The method entails formulating the superalloy to have a sufficiently high carbon content and forging the superalloy at sufficiently high local strain rates so that, following a supersolvus heat treatment, the component is characterized by a fine and substantially uniform grain size distribution, preferably finer than ASTM 7 and more preferably in a range of about ASTM 8 to 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Scott Huron, Joseph Aloysius Heaney, David Paul Mourer, Jon Raymond Groh, Edward Lee Raymond, David Alan Utah, Michael James Weimer, Kenneth Rees Bain