With Ageing, Solution Treating, (i.e., For Hardening), Precipitation Hardening Or Strengthening Patents (Class 148/677)
  • Publication number: 20080213099
    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 2.7 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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Shinya IMANO, Hirotsugu KAWANAKA, Hiroyuki DOI, Tatsuya TAKAHASHI, Tsukasa AZUMA, Koji KAJIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20080110534
    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: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: Manabu Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 7306683
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a shape memory and/or super-elastic material, such as a nickel titanium alloy. Additionally or alternatively, the present invention relates to a super-elastic or pseudo-elastic material that has an initial transition temperature Af above a body temperature. The shape memory material can have a super-elasticity or pseudo-elasticity property at a temperature below the initial transition temperature Af of the material. For example, the shape memory material can have its workable temperature for producing super-elasticity or pseudo-elasticity of about 0° C. to 15° C. below the initial transition temperature Af. The shape memory material can be malleable at a room temperature, and become super-elastic or pseudo-elastic at a body temperature. In addition, the present invention relates to a method of making a shape memory or a super-elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignees: Versitech Limited, The City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Kenneth Man Chee Cheung, Kelvin Wai Kwok Yeung, William Weijia Lu, Chl Yuen Chung
  • Patent number: 7285174
    Abstract: A method for producing metallic strips having a high-grade cube texture based on nickel, copper, aluminum, silver or alloys of these metals including austenitic iron-nickel alloys makes it possible to obtain, during a subsequent annealing process and with lower total degrees of forming, a recrystallization cube layer of a quality equal to that of one obtained using customary roll forming and produces a better quality cube texture with comparable total degrees of forming. To this end, a forming method is provided during which the materials are formed by cold drawing before their recrystallization annealing thereby rendering them high-grade. The tools used for this include: a) non-driven roll devices with an axially parallel flat pair of rolls or turk's head arrangements with two pairs of rolls or; b) fixed drawing jaws that are slanted toward one another. The strips produced according to the invention can be used, for example, as a coating support for producing strip-shaped high-temperature superconductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Leibniz-Institut fuer Festkoerper-und Werkstoffforschung Dresden e.V.
    Inventors: Joerg Eickemeyer, Dietmar Selbmann, Ralph Opitz
  • 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: 7198684
    Abstract: A plurality of gas turbine components or other articles are manufactured from a plurality of metallic-alloy workpieces using a manufacturing apparatus having a metalworking apparatus, and an annealing apparatus wherein the individual workpieces are annealed by single-workpiece annealing and not by large-batch annealing. A workpiece flow of the plurality of workpieces is established sequentially through the metalworking apparatus and the annealing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Froats Broderick, Jeffrey Lynn Myers, Francois Laurent Giguere, Peter Brian Haley, Paul Raymond Phaneuf, William Francis Bergeron, Thomas Caudwell Straub
  • 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: 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: 7041204
    Abstract: A PVD component forming method includes inducing a sufficient amount of stress in the component to increase magnetic pass through flux exhibited by the component compared to pass through flux exhibited prior to inducing the stress. The method may further include orienting a majority crystallographic structure of the component at (200) prior to inducing the stress, wherein the induced stress alone is not sufficient to substantially alter surface grain appearance. Orienting structure may include first cold working a component blank to at least about an 80% reduction in cross-sectional area. The cold worked component blank can be heat treated at least at about a minimum recrystallization temperature of the component blank. Inducing stress may include second cold work to a reduction in cross-sectional area between about 5% to about 15% of the heat treated component. At least one of the first and second cold working can be unidirectional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Cooper
  • 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: 6932877
    Abstract: A forging blank of a forging nickel-base superalloy is forged in a forging press having forging dies made of a die nickel-base superalloy. The forging is accomplished by heating the forging blank to a forging-blank starting temperature of from about 1850° F. to about 1950° F., heating the forging dies to a forging-die starting temperature of from about 1500° F. to about 1750° F., placing the forging blank into the forging press and between the forging dies, and forging the forging blank at the forging-blank starting temperature using the forging dies at the forging-die starting temperature, to produce a forging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Lee Raymond, Richard Gordon Menzies, Terrence Owen Dyer, Barbara Ann Link, Richard Frederick Halter, Mike Eugene Mechley, Francis Mario Visalli, Shesh Krishna Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 6908519
    Abstract: A superalloy made of a forging nickel-base superalloy such as Rene™ 88DT or ME3 is forged in a forging press having forging dies made of a die nickel-base superalloy. The forging is accomplished by heating to a forging temperature of from about 1700° F. to about 1850° F., and forging at that forging temperature and at a nominal strain rate. The die nickel-base superalloy is selected to have a creep strength of not less than a flow stress of the forging nickel-base superalloy at the forging temperature and strain rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Lee Raymond, Shesh Krishna Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 6846397
    Abstract: A PVD component forming method includes inducing a sufficient amount of stress in the component to increase magnetic pass through flux exhibited by the component compared to pass through flux exhibited prior to inducing the stress. The method may further include orienting a majority crystallographic structure of the component at (200) prior to inducing the stress, wherein the induced stress alone is not sufficient to substantially alter surface grain appearance. Orienting structure may include first cold working a component blank to at least about an 80% reduction in cross-sectional area. The cold worked component blank can be heat treated at least at about a minimum recrystallization temperature of the component blank. Inducing stress may include second cold work to a reduction in cross-sectional area between about 5% to about 15% of the heat treated component. At least one of the first and second cold working can be unidirectional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20030164213
    Abstract: A Ni-base alloy which has excellent resistance to permanent set at high temperature and which can be produced at low cost, a heat-resistant spring made of the Ni-base alloy, and a process for producing the spring. The Ni-base alloy of the present invention consists of 0.01 to 0.15 mass % of C, 2.0 mass % or less of Si, 2.5 mass % or less of Mn, 12 to 25 mass % of Cr, 5.0 mass % or less of Mo and/or 5.0 mass % or less of W on condition that Mo+W/2 does not exceed 5.0 mass % or less, 1.5 to 3.5 mass % of Ti, 0.7 to 2.5 mass % of Al, 20 mass % or less of Fe, and the balance of Ni and unavoidable impurities. The ratio of Ti/Al in terms of atomic percentage ranges from 0.6 to 1.5 and the total content of Ti and Al ranges from 4.0 to 8.5 atomic %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: DAIDO TOKUSHUKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Ueta, Toshiharu Noda
  • Patent number: 6610154
    Abstract: A surface treatment process for enhancing the resistance to intergranular corrosion and intergranular cracking of components fabricated from austenitic Ni—Fe—Cr based alloys comprising the application of surface deformation to the component, to a depth in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm, for example by high intensity shot peening below the recrystallization temperature, followed by recrystallization heat treatment, preferably at solutionizing temperatures. The surface deformation and annealing process can be repeated to further optimize the microstructure of the near-surface region. Following the final heat treatment, the process optionally comprises the application of further surface deformation (work) of reduced intensity, yielding a worked depth of between 0.005 mm to 0.01 mm, to impart residual compression in the near surface region to further enhance cracking resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Integran Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Limoges, Gino Palumbo, Peter K. Lin
  • Patent number: 6565683
    Abstract: The invention relates to plastic working of metals and alloys, predominantly low-plastic and hard-to-work ones, e.g., nickel-, titanium-, and iron-base high-temperature alloys, and producing billets for parts made by plastic working of said billets. The method comprises thermomechanical processing which is performed beginning with the temperature at which a total content of precipitates or an allotropic modification of the matrix exceeds 7%, followed by a stage-by-stage decrease of the working temperature down to the temperature at which a stable fine-grained microstructure of the material is obtained, with ratio between the grain size of various phases differing by not more than 10 times, the billet under processing undergoes deformation with a 1.2 to 3.9 times change in the billet cross-sectional area. When preparing billets from nickel-base alloys a stage-by-stage decrease of the working temperature is carried out so as to provide a maximum 14% gain in the &ggr;-phase at each stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Farid Zainullaevich Utyashev, Oscar Akramovich Kaibyshev, Vener Anvarovich Valitov
  • Patent number: 6562157
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, particularly a forging treatment and a heat treatment method of a Ni-based alloy having sulfidation-corrosion resistance used for component members of corrosion-resistant high-temperature equipment, that is, Waspaloy (a trademark of United Technologies) or its improved Ni-based alloy wherein the high temperature sulfidation-corrosion resistance of the alloy can be improved while maintaining hot strength properties is disclosed. A Ni-based alloy used for the method consists essentially of 0.005 to 0.1% C, 18 to 21% Cr, 12 to 15% Co, 3.5 to 5.0% Mo, not more than 3.25% Ti and 1.2 to 4.0% Al (expressed in mass percentage), with the balance substantially comprising Ni.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nonomura, Takehiro Ohno, Toshihiro Uehara, Hiroshi Yakuwa, Matsuho Miyasaka, Shuhei Nakahama, Shigeru Sawada
  • 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: 6475311
    Abstract: An alloy having a cube textured substrate is disclosed. The alloy includes two different metals. The alloy can be used as a substrate for a superconductor. Optionally, one or more buffer layers can be disposed between the substrate and the superconductor material. The alloy can be prepared using a process that includes rolling the alloy and annealing the alloy. The alloy can have a relatively large volume percent that is formed of grains with cube texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie G. Fritzemeier, Cornelis Leo Hans Thieme, Elliott D. Thompson
  • 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: 6447624
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, particularly a heat treatment method of a Ni-based alloy having sulfidation-corrosion resistance used for component members of corrosion-resistant high-temperature equipment, that is, Waspaloy (a trademark of United Technologies) or its improved Ni-based alloy wherein the high temperature sulfidation-corrosion resistance of the alloy can be improved while maintaining hot strength properties is disclosed. A Ni-based alloy used for the method consists essentially of 0.005 to 0.1% C, 18 to 21% Cr, 12 to 15% Co, 3.5 to 5.0% Mo, not more than 3.25% Ti and 1.2 to 4.0% Al (expressed in mass percentage), with the balance substantially comprising Ni. In the manufacturing method of a Ni-based alloy having improved sulfidation-corrosion resistance, the alloy is, after solution heat treatment, subjected to stabilizing treatment at a temperature not lower than 860° C. and not higher than 920° C. for 1 to 16 hours, and aging treatment at a temperature not lower than 680° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignees: Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nonomura, Takehiro Ohno, Toshihiro Uehara, Hiroshi Yakuwa, Matsuho Miyasaka, Shuhei Nakahama, Shigeru Sawada
  • Publication number: 20020112789
    Abstract: A method (10) of forming sputtering target (11) from ingots of tantalum or niobium of requisite purity by the process of cutting the ingot to short lengths (12) and pressure working (14, 22, 30, 34) the ingot along alternating essentially orthogonal work axes. Intermediate anneals (18, 26, 38) are applied as necessary to establish a uniform texture thickness-wise and area-wide throughout the target, including the center. The uniform texture is a substantially constant mix of grains with orientation {100} and {111}, thereby improving sputtering performance by providing a more predictable sputter rate to control film thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: H.C. Starck, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Jepson, Henning Uhlenhut, Prabhat Kumar
  • Patent number: 6416564
    Abstract: A method of producing a nickel base alloy includes casting the alloy within a casting mold and subsequently annealing and overaging the ingot at at least 1200° F. (649° C.) for at least 10 hours. The ingot is electroslag remeelted at a melt rate of at least 8 lbs/min (3.63 kg/mm.), and the ESR ingot is then transferred to a heating furnace within 4 hours of complete solidification and is subjected to a novel post-ESR heat treatment. A suitable VAR electrode is provided form the ESR ingot, and the electrode is vacuum arc remelted at a melt rate of 8 to 11 lbs/minute (3.63 to 5.00 kg/minute) to provide a VAR ingot. The method allows premium quality VAR ingots having diameters greater than 30 inches (762 mm) to be prepared from Alloy 718 and other nickel base superalloys subject to significant segregation on casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Betsy J. Bond, Laurence A. Jackman, A. Stewart Ballantyne
  • Publication number: 20020079029
    Abstract: A method of treating a wrought IN718 part comprising treating the part to a solution having a temperature of at least 980° C. for a time sufficient to remove precipitant present on the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Ling Yang, Samuel V. Thamboo
  • Patent number: 6409853
    Abstract: A process for forging large components of Alloy 718 material so that the components do not exhibit abnormal grain growth includes the steps of: a) providing a billet with an average grain size between ASTM 0 and ASTM 3; b) heating the billet to a temperature of between 1750° F. and 1800° F.; c) upsetting the billet to obtain a component part with a minimum strain of 0.125 in at least selected areas of the part; d) reheating the component part to a temperature between 1750° F. and 1800° F.; e) upsetting the component part to a final configuration such that said selected areas receive no strains between 0.01 and 0.125; f) solution treating the component part at a temperature of between 1725° F. and 1750° F.; and g) aging the component part over predetermined times at different temperatures. A modified process achieves abnormal grain growth in selected areas of a component where desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samuel V. Thamboo, Ling Yang
  • Publication number: 20020053376
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, particularly a forging treatment and a heat treatment method of a Ni-based alloy having sulfidation-corrosion resistance used for component members of corrosion-resistant high-temperature equipment, that is, Waspaloy (a trademark of United Technologies) or its improved Ni-based alloy wherein the high temperature sulfidation-corrosion resistance of the alloy can be improved while maintaining hot strength properties is disclosed. A Ni-based alloy used for the method consists essentially of 0.005 to 0.1% C, 18 to 21% Cr, 12 to 15% Co, 3.5 to 5.0% Mo, not more than 3.25% Ti and 1.2 to 4.0% Al (expressed in mass percentage), with the balance substantially comprising Ni.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nonomura, Takehiro Ohno, Toshihiro Uehara, Hiroshi Yakuwa, Matsuho Miyasaka, Shuhei Nakahama, Shigeru Sawada
  • Patent number: 6372063
    Abstract: The process for manufacturing a metallic component, such as a wheel part for the rolling system of a vehicle, which includes, in an initial stage, forming the component of a metallic material in a semi-solid state and having a thixotropic structure, and in a subsequent cold-treatment stage, cold-treating at least part of said component by blasting it with projectiles with a view to plastic deformation thereof. A wheel in which a metallic disk is welded to a wheel rim and in which the metallic disk is obtained by the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.
    Inventor: Gilles Grillon
  • Patent number: 6344097
    Abstract: A surface treatment process for enhancing the intergranular corrosion and intergranular cracking resistance of components fabricated from austenitic Ni—Fe—Cr based alloys comprised of the application of surface cold work to a depth in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm, for example by high intensity shot peening, followed by recrystallization heat treatment preferably at solutionizing temperatures (>900 C.). The surface cold work and annealing process can be repeated to further optimize the microstructure of the near-surface region. Following the final heat treatment, the process can optionally comprise the application of surface cold work of reduced intensity, yielding a cold worked depth of 0.005 mm to 0.01 mm, in order further enhance resistance to cracking by rendering the near surface in residual compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Integran Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Limoges, Gino Palumbo, Peter K. Lin
  • Patent number: 6328827
    Abstract: In order to obtain sheets made of a nickel-based superalloy of type 718 having properties of superplasticity, the sheets are manufactured with a final cycle comprising the steps of: a) solution treatment at 1060° C. for 15 minutes; b) precipitation at 730° C. to 800° C. for 1 to 2 hours; c) cold rolling at a ratio greater than 60%, and d) recrystallization at 900° C. for 30 minutes. Superplastic deformation of such sheets is carried out at about 970±10° C. and under pressures inducing stresses between 45 and 60 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation “Snecma”
    Inventors: Mohamed Bouzidi, Philippe Caburet, Pierre Clement, André Claude Félix Collot, Jean-Lou Lebrun, Benoit Marty
  • Publication number: 20010039984
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, particularly a heat treatment method of a Ni-based alloy having sulfidation-corrosion resistance used for component members of corrosion-resistant high-temperature equipment, that is, Waspaloy (a trademark of United Technologies) or its improved Ni-based alloy wherein the high temperature sulfidation-corrosion resistance of the alloy can be improved while maintaining hot strength properties is disclosed. A Ni-based alloy used for the method consists essentially of 0.005 to 0.1% C, 18 to 21% Cr, 12 to 15% Co, 3.5 to 5.0% Mo, not more than 3.25% Ti and 1.2 to 4.0% Al (expressed in mass percentage), with the balance substantially comprising Ni. In the manufacturing method of a Ni-based alloy having improved sulfidation-corrosion resistance, the alloy is, after solution heat treatment, subjected to stabilizing treatment at a temperature not lower than 860° C. and not higher than 920° C. for 1 to 16 hours, and aging treatment at a temperature not lower than 680° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nonomura, Takehiro Ohno, Toshihiro Uehara, Hiroshi Yakuwa, Matsuho Miyasaka, Shuhei Nakahama, Shigeru Sawada
  • Patent number: 6315846
    Abstract: A heat treatment for hot or cold worked 725 corrosion resistant Ni-base alloys to increase the room temperature yield strength of the material to above about 140 ksi (965 MPa). The material is useful for oil patch and gas turbine applications. The process includes annealing the material at about 1825° F. (996° C.) for about 1.5-4 hours, age hardening the material at about 1400° F. (760° C.) for about 3.0 to 10.5 hours to precipitate double gamma prime, furnace cooling the material about 50° F. (28° C.) to 100° F. (56° C.) per hour and heat treating the material at about 1200° F. (649° C.) for about 4.0 to about 12.5 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Inco Alloys International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Lee Hibner, Sarwan Kumar Mannan
  • Patent number: 6231694
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing Fe—Ni alloys used for electron gun parts. The alloy consists of: all by weight, 30 to 55% of Ni; 0.05 to 2.00% of Mn; 0.001% to 0.050 of S; and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities. The process substantially consists of melting, casting, hot working, cold rolling and annealing. The Fe—Ni alloy satisfies 0.0005≦((%Mn)*(%S))≦0.0100. The hot working is carried out at a temperature T defined by the following equation. 1050 ≦ T ⁢   ⁢ ° ⁢   ⁢ C . ≦ 9500 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., LTD
    Inventors: Norio Yuki, Yoshihisa Kita
  • Patent number: 6193822
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a diesel engine valve for intake and exhaust having good corrosion resistance and increased valve face strength, and therefore, of improved durability. A Ni-base heat resistant alloy of strong precipitation hardening type or an Fe-base heat resistant alloy of the same type is used as the material. The method comprises hot forging to prepare a blank form of the valve to be manufactured, solution treatment, cold processing to form the face part, and age-treating for increasing the hardness of the face part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Daido Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomotaka Nagashima, Michio Okabe, Toshiharu Noda
  • Patent number: 6193823
    Abstract: An article is formed from an ingot of a nickel-iron base alloy having a composition including from about 4.5 weight percent niobium to about 5.5 weight percent niobium and capable of forming delta-phase precipitates, and having fewer than about 1 grain per square inch at 100× magnification. An array of intragranular delta-phase precipitates is precipitated within the ingot to provide grain nucleation sites. The ingot having the array of delta-phase precipitates therein is deformed at a temperature below a delta-phase solvus temperature, thereby producing a fine-grained billet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Wyman Gordon Company
    Inventor: Martin M. Morra
  • Patent number: 6165292
    Abstract: An improved guiding member for use within a body lumen having a unique combination of superelastic characteristics. The superelastic alloy material has a composition consisting of about 30% to about 52% (atomic) titanium, and about 38% to 52% nickel and may have one or more elements selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, platinum, palladium, vanadium, copper, zirconium, hafnium and niobium. The alloy material is subjected to thermomechanical processing which includes a final cold working of about 10 to about 75% and then a heat treatment at a temperature between about 450.degree. and about 600.degree. C. and preferably about 475.degree. to about 550.degree. C. Before the heat treatment the cold worked alloy material is preferably subjected to mechanical straightening. The alloy material is preferably subjected to stresses equal to about 5 to about 50% of the room temperature ultimate yield stress of the material during the thermal treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Abrams, Sepehr Fariabi
  • Patent number: 6146478
    Abstract: A heat treatment process for material bodies made of a high-temperature-resistant iron-nickel superalloy of the type IN 706 comprises the following steps: solution annealing at approximately 965 to 995.degree. C. for 5 to 20 hours, stabilization annealing at approximately 775 to 835.degree. C. for 5 to 100 hours, and precipitation hardening at 715 to 745.degree. C. for 10 to 50 hours and at 595 to 625.degree. C. for 10 to 50 hours. A heat-treated material body of this kind, made of a high-temperature-resistant iron-nickel superalloy of the type IN 706 exhibits a crack growth rate of less than 0.05 mm/h and/or exhibits a minimum elongation of 2.5% without cracks at a constant strain rate of 0.05%/h and a temperature of 600.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Werner Balbach, Gunnar Harkeg.ang.rd, Reiner Redecker
  • Patent number: 6139660
    Abstract: A high corrosion resisting alloy for use in inlet and exhaust valves of diesel engines which is low in cost and excellent in corrosion resistance and strength, which consists by weight percentage of C.ltoreq.0.1%, Si.ltoreq.1.0%, Mn.ltoreq.1.0%, 25%<Cr.ltoreq.32%, 2.0%<Ti.ltoreq.3.0%, 1.0%.ltoreq.Al.ltoreq.2.0% and the balance being Ni and incidental impurities. The valves for the diesel engines are manufactured through the steps of forging the above-mentioned alloy into near net shapes of the valves, performing aging treatment (after solid solution treatment according to demand), and further enhancing hardness of the valves at their valve faces locally through partial cold forging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignees: Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha, Nittan Valvle Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomotaka Nagashima, Michio Okabe, Toshiharu Noda, Kiyoshi Okawachi
  • Patent number: 6132535
    Abstract: Provided is a process for improving alloy properties which can improve the high-temperature ductility of a Ni-base heat-resisting alloy while maintaining its excellent high-temperature strength and weldability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Okada, Taiji Torigoe, Hisataka Kawai, Koji Takahashi, Itaru Tamura, Shyuichi Sakashita
  • Patent number: 6129795
    Abstract: A method is provided for improving the microstructure of nickel and iron-based precipitation strengthened superalloys used in high temperature applications by increasing the frequency of "special", low-.SIGMA. CSL grain boundaries to levels in excess of 50%. Processing entails applying specific thermomechanical processing sequences to precipitation hardenable alloys comprising a series of cold deformation and recrystallization-annealing steps performed within specific limits of deformation, temperature, and annealing time. Materials produced by this process exhibit significantly improved resistance to high temperature degradation (eg. creep, hot corrosion, etc.), enhanced weldability, and high cycle fatigue resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Integran Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Lehockey, Gino Palumbo, Peter Keng-Yu Lin, David L. Limoges
  • Patent number: 6068714
    Abstract: The process for making a forged nickel-base superalloy part for use in the 700-900.degree. C. range which includes the steps of:a) providing a nickel-base superalloy having the following composition:______________________________________ percentage by weight ______________________________________ Cr 15.5-18 Co 14.0-15.5 Mo 2.75-3.25 W 1.00-1.50 Ti 4.75-5.25 Al 2.25-2.75 Zr 0.025-0.050 B 0.01-0.02 C 0.006-0.025 Cu .ltoreq.0.10 Mn .ltoreq.0.15 Fe .ltoreq.0.50 Si .ltoreq.0.2 P .ltoreq.0.05 S .ltoreq.0.05 Ni balance ______________________________________and eventual impurities, where the weight ration B/C is equal to or greater than 1.1;b) forging said nickel-base superalloy to obtain an as-forged part;c) submitting the as-forged part of step b) to a solution heat treatment at a temperature ranging from 10 to 30.degree. C. above the .gamma.' phase solvus temperature;d) quenching the solution heat treated forged part resulting from step c) at a quenching rate above 100.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Turbomeca
    Inventor: Dominique Fran.cedilla.ois Fournier
  • Patent number: 6066291
    Abstract: Castings based on the nickel aluminide intermetallic alloy IC-221M were melted and poured with an addition of enough molybdenum to bring its concentration to 5 weight %. This resulted in a minimization or elimination of the nickel-zirconium eutectic phase in the dies machined and prepared from these castings. The benefit of eliminating or minimizing the nickel zirconium eutectic phase with the addition of measurable amounts of molybdenum (Mo) to the nickel aluminide (Ni.sub.3 Al) alloy is the increase in the useful service life of the tooling made from it; thus providing the advantages of increased productivity, enhanced quality and reduced costs in a manufacturing setting. Heat treatment of the dies machined and prepared from these castings was also undertaken. The heat treatment regimen includes solution treatment at 2100.degree. F. for 24 hours and aging from between 1150.degree. F. and 1300.degree. F. for between 12 to 24 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: United Defense, L.P.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Guy Monroe Maddox, Jr., John Edward Orth, Elliott Lee Turbeville
  • Patent number: 6059904
    Abstract: A method combining isothermal and high retained strain forging is described for Ni-base superalloys, particularly those which comprise a mixture of .gamma. and .gamma.' phases, and most particularly those which contain at least about 40 percent by volume of .gamma.'. The method permits the manufacture of forged articles having a fine grain size in the range of 20 .mu.m or less. The method comprises the selection of a fine-grained forging preform formed from a Ni-base superalloy, isothermal forging to develop the shape of the forged article, subsolvus forging to impart a sufficient level of retained strain to the forged article to promote subsequent recrystallization and avoid critical grain growth, and annealing to recrystallize the microstructure. The method permits the forging of relatively complex shapes and avoids the problem of critical grain growth. The method may also be used to produce location specific grain sizes and phase distributions within the forged article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gilbert Benz, Michael Francis Henry, Charles Philip Blankenship, Jr., Aldo Enrique Murut
  • Patent number: 6042662
    Abstract: This process makes it possible to manufacture articles of any shape by stamping, in which articles the matrix of the alloy has to have a coarse-grained structure. According to the invention, a partial hot-forming operation is carried out by stamping a blank made of an oxide-dispersion-strengthened alloy, especially a nickel-based alloy, having an initial ultrafine-grained structure, in order to form a shaped component, this shaped component is subjected to a secondary recrystallization heat treatment so as to develop an abnormal grain growth, and then a new hot-forming operation is carried out by stamping in order to give the recrystallized shaped component the final shape of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: SEVA
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Bagard
  • Patent number: 5958159
    Abstract: A process for the production of a superelastic material out of a nickel and titanium alloy, characterized by the fact that it consists in obtaining an ingot starting from a mixing of nickel and titanium consisting in 55.6%.+-.0.4% in weight of nickel and to proceed with a thermal treatment of martensite plaquettes generation by subjecting said ingot during 5 to 45 minutes to a temperature comprised between 480 and 520.degree. C. The process allows the obtaining of a truly superelastic material at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Memometal Industries
    Inventor: Bernard Prandi
  • Patent number: 5938863
    Abstract: A high strength nickel base superalloy article having a machined surface is disclosed. The superalloy comprises, in weight percent, 1.2-3.5 Al, 3.0-7.0 Ti, 12.0-20.0 Cr, 2.0-3.9 Mo, 10.0-20.0 Co, 0-4.5 W, 0.005-0.025 C, 0.005-0.05 B, 0.01-0.1 Zr, 0-0.005 Mg, 0-1.0 Ta, 0-1.0 Nb, 0-2.0 Fe, 0-0.3 Hf, 0-0.02 Y, 0-0.1 V, 0-1.0 Re, balance essentially Ni. The superalloy further comprises a plurality of discrete carbides essentially free from molybdenum for increased fatigue strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Malley
  • Patent number: 5759305
    Abstract: A method for forming nickel base superalloy articles of manufacture by a combination of hot die forging, isothermal forging and heat treatment below and above the solvus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gilbert Benz, Edward Lee Raymond, Robert Donald Kissinger, Eric Scott Huron, Charles Philip Blankenship, Jr., Michael Francis Henry
  • Patent number: 5702543
    Abstract: In the fabrication of components from a face centred cubic alloy, wherein the alloy is cold worked and annealed, the cold working is carried out in a number of separate steps, each step being followed by an annealing step. The resultant product has a grain size not exceeding 30 microns, a "special" grain boundary fraction not less than 60%, and major crystallographic texture intensities all being less than twice that of random values. The product has a greatly enhanced resistance to intergranular degradation and stress corrosion cracking, and possesses highly isotropic bulk properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Gino Palumbo
  • Patent number: 5693159
    Abstract: A process for producing a fine grain forged superalloy article having a high yield strength at intermediate temperatures. A preferred starting composition comprises, by weight, 15% Cr, 13.6% Co, 4.1% Mo, 4.6% Ti, 2.2% Al, 0.01% C, 0.007% B, 0.07% Zr, balance Ni. This material is forged at a temperature above the gamma prime solvus and at a true strain of at least 0.5. Alternately, the material may be forged below the gamma prime solvus temperature with intermediate super solvus anneals. The overaged material is then worked at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus. The resultant fine grain material is then heat treated or can be further isothermally forged prior to heat treatment to produce complex shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Roy L. Athey, John A. Miller, William J. Gostic, Paul D. Genereux, Timothy P. Fuesting
  • Patent number: 5665180
    Abstract: A heat treatment and hot working method for producing a thin sheet of nickel base superalloy single crystals is described, wherein a single crystal preform of an alloy is first heat treated in vacuum at temperatures below the .gamma.' solvus temperature of the alloy in order to obtain an overaged .gamma.' microstructure in the preform, sized and surface ground in order to remove surface defects, and then preferably surrounded by plates and interlayers of refractory metal or alloy and parting agent coatings; the plates are then welded to form an enclosure and evacuated, preheated and soaked at 1093.degree. to 1150.degree. C. and rolled at roll speeds of about 0.12 to 0.25 rods in successive passes, at about 5 to 15% reduction per pass with reheating at the soaking temperature between successive passes, to a reduction in thickness of 50 to 75%; the plates are then removed and the preform is conditioned, repacked and successively rolled to preselected thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Venkat K. Seetharaman, Sheldon L. Semiatin, Carl A. Lombard