Electrical Discharge (e.g., Arcs, Sparks, Etc.) Patents (Class 427/580)
  • Publication number: 20120114878
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for making a coated article including an antibacterial and/or antifungal coating. In certain example embodiments, the method includes providing a first sputtering target including Zr; providing a second sputtering target including Zn; and co-sputtering from at least the first and second sputtering targets in the presence of nitrogen to form a layer including ZnxZryNz on a glass substrate. These layers may be heat-treated or thermally tempered to form a single layer including ZnxZryOz. In other examples, two discrete layers of Zn and Zr may be formed. The coating may be heated or tempered to form a single layer including ZnxZryOz. Coated articles made using these methods may have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Jiangping Wang, Jason Barber
  • Patent number: 8162601
    Abstract: A method for forming a dense coating on a limited region of a subject body is disclosed. The method is composed of the steps of: applying one selected from the group of a compressed body of a powder of a metal and a sintered compressed body of a powder of a metal to a working electrode; executing discharge deposition to deposit a first coating from the working electrode on the subject body by applying the subject body as a workpiece of the discharge deposition; executing discharge deposition to deposit a second coating from the working electrode on the first coating by applying the subject body as a workpiece of the discharge deposition; and heating the subject body in one selected from the group of a vacuum, an air and an oxidizing atmosphere so as to densify the second coating or oxidizing the second coating at least in part to generate a solid lubricant substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa, Issei Otera
  • Publication number: 20120094429
    Abstract: A sputtering target includes at least one metal selected from copper, indium and gallium and a sodium containing compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel R. Juliano, Robert Tas, Neil Mackie, Abdelouahab Ziani
  • Patent number: 8158216
    Abstract: Vapor plasma deposition of titanium (Ti) metal onto a substrate forms a structured surface that exhibits enhanced cell attachment properties. Initially deposited round nanoparticulate surface structures develop tentacles with a spine or thorn-like appearance upon continued deposition under special conditions. The density and size of the formed spinulose particles can be controlled by timing the deposition intervals. A significant increase in osteoblast, fibroblast and endothelial cell attachment is observed on Ti spinulose surfaces compared to attachment on nanoparticulate surfaces lacking spinulous nanostructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Metascape LLC
    Inventors: Christina Kay Thomas, Luke J. Ryves, Daniel M. Storey
  • Publication number: 20120088038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum coating method with very high deposition rates at high layer thickness homogeneity and material yield as well as apparatuses for achieving the coating. In order to overcome the existing conflict between layer thickness homogeneity on the one side and material yield and coating rate on the other side reducing the classic vacuum evaporation, the substrate forms the boundary of an essentially closed coating chamber which is supplied by an evaporation source. The walls of this coating chamber as well as all surfaces which are not to be coated are either kept at a certain temperature or provided with a non-stick coating such that the vapor cannot condensate thereon and is scattered back into the coating chamber. Thereby, a very high vapor pressure is created in the coating chamber which leads to a very high condensation rate onto the substrate and to a homogenization of the layer thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Werner Prusseit
  • Publication number: 20120076946
    Abstract: A system for coating a surface comprising providing a source of amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements and applying the amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements to the surface by a spray. Also a coating comprising a composite material made of amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements. An apparatus for producing a corrosion-resistant amorphous-metal coating on a structure comprises a deposition chamber, a deposition source in the deposition chamber that produces a deposition spray, the deposition source containing a composite material made of amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements, and a system that directs the deposition spray onto the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph C. Farmer
  • Publication number: 20120057983
    Abstract: A method for forming a surface layer, the method including: arranging a member in a machining fluid; and forming a surface layer including silicon by supplying silicon component from the silicon electrode to the member side by applying a predetermined voltage and generating electric discharge, wherein a value of an electric discharge detection level is set to be equal to or larger than a value obtained by adding a voltage depression at the silicon electrode to an arc potential during electric discharge, and wherein the surface layer is formed on a surface of the member by repetitively performing, after the voltage is applied, detecting the electric discharge generated between the silicon electrode and the member by detecting a drop of the voltage to be lower than the electric discharge detection level, stopping applying the voltage for a predetermined time, and applying the voltage again after a predetermined break time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Hiroyuki Teramoto, Nobuyuki Sumi, Yoshikazu Nakano
  • Patent number: 8124178
    Abstract: A directed vapor deposition (DVD) method and system for applying at least one bond coating on at least one substrate for thermal barrier coating systems. To overcome the limitations incurred by conventional methods, the DVD system uses an electron beam directed vapor deposition (DVD) technique to evaporate and deposit compositionally and morphologically controlled bond coats at high rate. The present DVD system uses the combination of an electron beam and a combined inert gas/reactive gas carrier jet of controlled composition to create engineering films. In this system, the vaporized material can be entrained in the carrier gas jet and deposited onto the substrate at a high rate and with high materials utilization efficiency. The velocity and flux of the gas atoms entering the chamber, the nozzle parameters, and the operating chamber pressure can all be significantly varied, facilitating wide processing condition variation and allowing for improved control over the properties of the deposited layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Derek D. Hass, Haydn N. G. Wadley, Kumar P. Dharmasena, Yosef Marciano
  • Publication number: 20120037851
    Abstract: A particle has a permanent dipole moment, a film includes the particle, and a method of forming the film includes aligning the particle on a surface. The particle has a permanent dipole moment and includes heterogeneous materials, wherein a positive pole is located in a first material and a negative pole is located in a second material different from the first material. The method includes aligning a particle such that the particle has one dipole moment direction. The film includes the aligned particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kyung-sang CHO, Dae-young CHUNG, Sang-jin LEE
  • Publication number: 20120009357
    Abstract: In a rotation member rotatably engaged with a housing, a pulsing electric discharge is generated in a processing liquid or in a gas, between an electrode and the rotation member. The electrode is a chemical compound of a metallic powder or metal, or a molded body formed by molding ceramic powder, or a molded body obtained by heating the molded body. Energy from the electric discharges causes coating to be formed on an engagement portion engaging the housing, the coating formed from the material of the electrode or a substance to which the electrode material combined by the energy of the electric discharges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa, Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 8092721
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the deposition of ternary oxide films containing ruthenium and an alkali earth metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoko Gatineau, Julien Gatineau, Christian Dussarrat
  • Publication number: 20110318497
    Abstract: A method of and system for repairing the sheaves (24) in an elevator system has these steps. The ropes (22) associated with the sheave are removed, the sheave is cleaned, and a coating (24) is deposited on the cleaned surface. The coating is adapted to reduce the wear coefficient of the surface of the coated sheave by about 80% to 90% with respect to the sheave without a coating. The thickness of the coated sheave is adjusted to produce a specified sheave diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: James T. Beals, Mark Steven Thompson, Wayde R. Schmidt, Aaron T. Nardi, Gregory S. Welsh
  • Publication number: 20110319271
    Abstract: A high temperature superconductor structure including: a substrate on which at least one buffer layer is deposited, a superconductor layer on the buffer layer, the superconducting layer composed of superconductor material that forms at least two substantially parallel superconductor filaments that continuously extend along the length of the substrate wherein at least two superconductor filaments are separated from each other by at least one insulating strip wherein the insulating strip continuously extends along the length of the substrate and is composed of insulating material with a resistivity greater than about 1 m?cm. Also disclosed are methods of producing high temperature superconductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicants: SUPERPOWER, INC., UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Venkat Selvamanickam, Senthil Sambandam
  • Publication number: 20110300311
    Abstract: A surface treatment method of a subject body is comprised steps of: packing and pressurizing powder including an electrically conductive material in a mold so as to obtain a plurality of compressed powder bodies; joining the plurality of compressed powder bodies together by arranging the plurality of compressed powder bodies to be mutually in close contact and applying isostatic pressure on the arranged compressed powder bodies; sintering the joined compressed powder bodies so as to obtain a sintered body; and carrying out a discharge surface treatment by bringing the sintered body close to a subject body and generating electric discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Hiroki Yoshizawa, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Kyouhei Nomura, Yukihiro Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20110271872
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wear protection layer for tools such as milling cutters, cutting inserts, injection molds and the like, in particular wear protection layers deposited using physical vapor deposition, said layers having the general composition AlNbX, where X stands for N, C, B, CN, BN, CBN, NO, CO, BO, CNO, BNO, or CNCO, characterized in that the Nb fraction is less than 40 at % and/or the aluminum powder used in the manufacturing process is mixed with 10 to 50 at % zirconium relative to the aluminum, and also relates to a method for manufacturing a wear protection layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Oerlikon Trading AG, Trubbach
    Inventor: Markus Lechthaler
  • Patent number: 8003563
    Abstract: A method for producing a tungsten trioxide powder for a photocatalyst according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a sublimation step for obtaining a tungsten trioxide powder by subliming a tungsten metal powder or a tungsten compound powder by using inductively coupled plasma process in an oxygen atmosphere, and a heat treatment step for heat-treating the tungsten trioxide powder obtained in the sublimation step at 300° C. to 1000° C. for 10 minutes to 2 hours in an oxidizing atmosphere. A tungsten trioxide powder which is obtained by the method for producing a tungsten trioxide powder for a photocatalyst according to the present invention has excellent photocatalytic performance under visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Sato, Kayo Nakano, Yasuhiro Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20110188950
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting tool for metal machining with improved wear properties, comprising a cutting tool substrate of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics or a super hard material, and a wear resistant coating, wherein the wear resistant coating comprises a PVD Ti—Si—C—N layer with a compositional gradient, and a method of making thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventor: Mats Ahlgren
  • Publication number: 20110183084
    Abstract: A PVD layer system for the coating of workpieces encompasses at least one mixed-crystal layer of a multi-oxide having the following composition: (Me11-xMe2x)2O3, where Me1 and Me2 each represent at least one of the elements Al, Cr, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Nb, Ti, Sb or V. The elements of Me1 and Me2 differ from one another. The crystal lattice of the mixed-crystal layer in the PVD layer system has a corundum structure which in an x-ray diffractometrically analyzed spectrum of the mixed-crystal layer is characterized by at least three of the lines associated with the corundum structure. Also disclosed is a vacuum coating method for producing a mixed-crystal layer of a multi-oxide, as well as correspondingly coated tools and components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: OERLIKON TRADING AG, TRUBBACH
    Inventors: Jurgen Ramm, Beno Widrig, Michael Ante, Christian Wohlrab
  • Publication number: 20110165348
    Abstract: A method of coating a surface comprising providing a source of amorphous metal that contains manganese (1 to 3 atomic %), yttrium (0.1 to 10 atomic %), and silicon (0.3 to 3.1 atomic %) in the range of composition given in parentheses; and that contains the following elements in the specified range of composition given in parentheses: chromium (15 to 20 atomic %), molybdenum (2 to 15 atomic %), tungsten (1 to 3 atomic %), boron (5 to 16 atomic %), carbon (3 to 16 atomic %), and the balance iron; and applying said amorphous metal to the surface by a spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph C. Farmer, Frank M.G. Wong, Jeffery J. Haslam, Xiaoyan (Jane) Ji, Sumner D. Day, Craig A. Blue, John D.K. Rivard, Louis F. Aprigliano, Leslie K. Kohler, Robert Bayles, Edward J. Lemieux, Nancy Yang, John H. Perepezko, Larry Kaufman, Arthur Heuer, Enrique J. Lavernia
  • Publication number: 20110151267
    Abstract: A cermet armor material for highly effective ballistic performance which is comprised of a layer of base metal in which is deposited a layer or layers of ceramic and a compatible metal such that the deposited metal in combination with the base metal forms a continuous matrix around the ceramic particles. The body has a structure which is continuously graded from a highest ceramic content at the outer surface (strike face) decreasing to zero within the base substrate, and contained no abrupt interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: James C. Withers, Roger S. Storm, Vladimir Shapovalov, Raouf Loutfy
  • Publication number: 20110139486
    Abstract: A thin electrical insulating coating and method for application is provided for a copper surface. The electrical insulating coating includes a bond coat layer of titanium, nickel, or NiCrAlY forming a metallurgical bond with the copper surface and an insulating layer of alumina or tantala applied to the bond coat layer. An insulating layer does not firmly adhere to copper under harsh environmental conditions such as an electroslag refining process when applied directly to the copper. However, when bond coat layer is applied between the copper and the insulating layer, it forms a strong bond adhering bond for the harsh environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: William T. Carter, Scott A. Weaver, Russell S. Miller
  • Publication number: 20110143042
    Abstract: Methods for making near net shape airfoil metal leading edge protective strips including providing a high temperature additive manufacturing device; providing a tooling system having a mandrel; a metallic cladding applied to the mandrel; and at least one cooling channel associated with the mandrel applying a metallic deposit to the mandrel having the metallic cladding using the high temperature additive manufacturing device; and concurrently removing heat from the mandrel using the at least one cooling channel to produce the near net shape airfoil metal leading edge protective strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Michael W. Peretti, Timothy Trapp
  • Publication number: 20110143054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for using a target for a coating process of metal oxide and/or metal nitride coatings by means of spark evaporation, wherein the target can be operated at a temperature that is higher than the melting point of the metal used in the target, and wherein the target is comprised of a metal whose oxides and/or nitrides are not electrically conducting. The invention further relates to the use of a target for producing metal oxide coatings and/or metal nitride coatings by means of spark evaporation, wherein the target has a matrix comprised of a metal, in which matrix non electrically conducting oxides and/or nitrides of the metal are embedded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: OERLIKON TRADING AG, TRÜBBACH
    Inventors: Denis Kurapov, Markus Lechthaler
  • Publication number: 20110135845
    Abstract: An electrical discharge surface treatment method for forming a coating film by generating a pulsed electrical discharge between an electrode and a workpiece in working fluid or gas using a green compact obtained by molding metal powder or metal alloy powder or a molded body obtained by heating the green compact as the electrode, and by melting an electrode material by an energy of the pulsed electrical discharge, forming a coating of the electrode material or a coating of a material obtained by a reaction of the electrode material by the energy of the pulsed electrical discharge on a surface of the workpiece, the electrical discharge surface treatment method includes generating the pulsed electrical discharge by mixing together two or more types of pulsed electrical discharges having different energies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Kazushi Nakamura, Masahiro Okane, Hiroyuki Teramoto
  • Patent number: 7955663
    Abstract: Processes for the simultaneous and selective growth of single walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes in a single set of experiments are disclosed. The processes may include preparing a graphite electrode rod containing catalyst selected from Fe, Co, Ni, and a mixture thereof, acting as an anode. The process may include preparing another graphite electrode rod, each electrode having a distal and a proximal end. The process may include placing the above said two electrodes parallel to each other and their axis being substantially aligned in a chamber. The process may further include creating a DC-arc discharge inside the chamber by applying a DC-current voltage. The process may further include an cooling assembly having a cooling coil that surrounds the two electrodes. The cooling assembly may be used to maintain a temperature gradient that permits the depositing of single walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes simultaneously in one experiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Rakesh Behari Mathur, Chhotey Lal Nil, Tersem Lal Dhami, Bhanu Pratap Singh, Anil Kumar Gupta, Jagdish Ghawana
  • Publication number: 20110129620
    Abstract: Method for thermally spraying a heater onto a substrate, comprising providing a metallic material having a core and an insulator therein and thermally spraying the metallic material and the insulator onto a substrate to form a heater. Method of fabricating a thermally sprayed gas heater, comprising providing a gas flow apparatus that propels a gas through a housing; thermally spraying a material to form a resistive heating layer; bonding the resistive heating layer to a surface of the apparatus, the heating layer being positioned to heat the gas flow in the housing. Method of fabricating a heater system of a turbulent gas flow duct, comprising providing a duct having a gas flow channel, the channel having a shaped surface providing a turbulent gas flow therein; thermally spraying a material to form a resistive heating layer; positioning the resistive heating layer to heat the gas flow in the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: THERMOCERAMIX INC.
    Inventor: Richard C. ABBOTT
  • Publication number: 20110104383
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: JOHN ROGER PETERSON, NARASIMHA-RAO V. BANGARU, ROBERT LEE ANTRAM, CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOWLER, NEERAJ S. THIRUMALAI, CHANGMIN CHUN, EMERY B. LENDVAI-LINTNER
  • Patent number: 7923077
    Abstract: Production of nanotubes of carbon or of other inorganic material by moving a carbon-containing substrate, such as a tape or belt of carbon fibers, within a reaction chamber either though an electric arc in a gap between two electrodes or adjacent an electrode so that an electric arc exists between the electrode and the substrate, to cause the nanotubes to form on the substrate. The method enables the continuous or semi-continuous production of nanotubes. Preferably, the process is carried out at atmospheric pressure and nanotubes of high purity are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canterprise Ltd.
    Inventor: John Abrahamson
  • Publication number: 20110081539
    Abstract: Hard coatings and methods of making the hard coatings comprising aluminum titanium nitride which are usable on cutting tools are disclosed. The coatings include at least one aluminum titanium nitride layer having between about 0 and about 15 weight percent hexagonal phase and a composition of (AlxTi1-x)N, where x is in the range of about 0.53 to about 0.58 moles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Kennametal, Inc.
    Inventors: Wangyang Ni, Ronald M. Penich, Yixiong Liu, Michael F. Beblo
  • Patent number: 7915559
    Abstract: An electrode for electric discharge surface treatment, in which a pulse-like electric discharge is caused between the electrode and a work in a dielectric fluid or an atmosphere, and in which a coat of an electrode material or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the electrode material due to an electric discharge energy is formed on a surface of the work, is a molded powder that is formed by molding a material powder including a metallic powder, a metallic compound powder, and a conductive ceramic powder. A powder solid that is formed as a result of coagulation of the material powder, and that is included in the molded powder has a diameter shorter than a distance between the electrode and the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harma Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7910176
    Abstract: An electrode is used to perform discharge surface treatment of a work piece. The electrode is made of a green compact obtained by compression-molding an electrode material including powder of any of a metal, a metallic compound, and ceramics. The discharge surface treatment includes generating an electric discharge between the electrode and the work piece in an atmosphere of a machining medium and forming a film consisting of a machining material on a surface of a work piece using energy produced by the electric discharge. The powder has an average particle diameter of 5 micrometer to 10 micrometers, and contains 40 volume percent or more of a component not forming or less easily forming carbide as a component for forming the film on the work piece. The electrode has a hardness in a range of B to 8B tested with a pencil scratch test for a coating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7897068
    Abstract: A sputtering target is provided that has a relative density of 80% or more and contains a compound having as its principal component zinc oxide satisfying AXBYO(KaX+KbY)/2(ZnO)m, 1<m, X?m, 0<Y?0.9, X+Y=2, where A and B are respectively different positive elements of trivalence or more, and the valencies thereof are respectively Ka and Kb. A ZnO based sputtering target is obtained which does not contain ZnS and SiO2, and, upon forming a film via sputtering, is capable of reducing the affect of heating the substrate, of performing high speed deposition, of adjusting the film thickness to be thin, of reducing the generation of particles (dust) and nodules during sputtering, of improving the productivity with small variation in quality, and which has fine crystal grains and a high density of 80% or more, particularly 90% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Hosono, Kazushige Ueda, Masataka Yahagi, Hideo Takami
  • Patent number: 7892457
    Abstract: A sputtering target is provided that has a relative density of 80% or more and contains a compound having as its principal component zinc oxide satisfying AXBYO(KaX+KbY)/2(ZnO)m, 1<m, X?m, 0<Y?0.9, X+Y=2, where A and B are respectively different positive elements of trivalence or more, and the valencies thereof are respectively Ka and Kb. A ZnO based sputtering target is obtained which does not contain ZnS and SiO2, and, upon forming a film via sputtering, is capable of reducing the affect of heating the substrate, of performing high speed deposition, of adjusting the film thickness to be thin, of reducing the generation of particles (dust) and nodules during sputtering, of improving the productivity with small variation in quality, and which has fine crystal grains and a high density of 80% or more, particularly 90% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Hosono, Kazushige Ueda, Masataka Yahagi, Hideo Takami
  • Patent number: 7880119
    Abstract: A process whereby a one sided electrode is allowed to discharge to essentially its own potential field is presented. The process may be utilized for joining by discharging particles as well as for spot welding or other heating purposes. Examples of several uses are given and the electrical diagram for such a discharger is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Micropyretics Heaters International, Inc.
    Inventors: GS Reddy, JA Sekhar
  • Patent number: 7879203
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a coating material on a surface of a substrate by an ion plasma deposition process using a hollow cathode is disclosed. The cathode may be a substantially cylindrical hollow cathode. A plasma arc is formed on the outer circumference of the cathode to remove coating material from the cathode, which is then deposited on a surface of a substrate. An internal arc drive magnet is contained within the hollow bore of the cathode and cooling is provided to the magnet during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Weaver, William Thomas Carter, Paul Mario Marruso
  • Patent number: 7871679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coating comprising a getter metal alloy and to an arrangement and method for the production thereof. The coating therein consists of a non-vaporizing getter metal alloy (2) for an inner wall (3) of a high-vacuum vessel (4). The arrangement basically consists of a metal plasma generator (7), which in turn comprises an insulator member (8), which carries an ignition electrode (9) and a cathode wire (10) comprising a getter metal alloy (2). Those three components are surrounded by a cage-like anode member (13), which together with the insulation member (8) projects into the high vacuum vessel (5) to be coated and is supplied with cathode potential (12), high-voltage ignition pulse (19) and anode potential (14) by a voltage supply device (16), the anode member (13) together with the high-vacuum vessel (4) being held at ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung mbH
    Inventor: Hartmut Reich-Sprenger
  • Publication number: 20100330800
    Abstract: A method of forming a layer of alpha-tantalum on a substrate including the steps of depositing a layer of titanium nitride on a substrate; and depositing a layer of alpha-tantalum on the layer of titanium nitride, wherein the deposition of the alpha-tantalum is carried out at temperatures below about 300° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Petrov Ivanov, Wei Tian, Mallika Kamarajugadda, Paul E. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20100330302
    Abstract: Employing a compact molded from powder of metal or the like as an electrode 11, generating pulsed discharges between the electrode 11 and a treating portion Wa of work W in working oil L as a mixture with powder of semiconductor or conductor mixed therein, using discharge energy thereof for locally fusing surface regions of the treating portion Wa of work W, showering molten pieces of electrode material or reactants of the electrode material onto the treating portion Wa of work W, forming a covering film C on the treating portion Wa of work W.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Hiroki Yoshizawa, Yukihiro Shimoda, Masayoshi Shiino
  • Publication number: 20100313946
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module which has a PCTFE film as the light-transmitting surface layer and/or back side protective sheet and is excellent in interlayer adhesion. The invention consists in a solar cell module comprising a light-transmitting surface layer, a solar cell element embedded in a filler and a back side protective sheet, wherein at least one of the light-transmitting surface layer and back side protective sheet is a polychlorotrifluoroethylene film (A) having a treated surface layer obtained by electric discharge treatment in an inert gas containing a reactive organic compound and the treated surface layer is disposed on the solar cell element side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Tatsuya Higuchi, Kenji Kawasaki, Masaji Komori, Takayuki Araki
  • Publication number: 20100307553
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a means to use light manipulation in engineered or structured coatings for thermal or photothermal effects and/or refractive and reflective index management. Such metallic, nonmetallic, organic or inorganic metamaterials or nanostructures could be used to manipulate light or energy for thermal or photothermal effects and/or refractive and reflective index management on or in any material or substrate on or in any material or substrate. The light scattering properties of metallic particles and film can be used to tune such coatings, structures or films over a broad spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: ANTHONY DEFRIES, MARK BRONGERSMA
  • Patent number: 7842353
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing electrodes for electrolysis, including steps of forming an arc ion plating (AIP) undercoating layer including valve metal or valve metal alloy containing a crystalline tantalum component and a crystalline titanium component on a surface of the electrode substrate comprising valve metal or valve metal alloy, by an arc ion plating method; heat sintering, including the steps of coating a metal compound solution, which includes valve metal as a chief element, onto the surface of the AIP undercoating layer, followed by heat sintering to transform only the tantalum component of the AIP undercoating layer into an amorphous substance, and to form an oxide interlayer, which includes a valve metal oxides component as a chief element, on the surface of the AIP undercoating layer containing the transformed amorphous tantalum component and the crystalline titanium component; and forming an electrode catalyst layer on the surface of the oxide interlayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Cao, Hajime Wada, Masashi Hosonuma
  • Patent number: 7834291
    Abstract: An electrode for electric discharge surface treatment is a green compact formed by molding a metal powder, a metal compound powder, or a ceramic powder, and is used for electric discharge surface treatment in which an electric discharge is generated between the electrode and a work in dielectric fluid or air to form by the electric discharge energy on a surface of the work a coat of a material of the electrode or of a substance resulting from reaction of the material due to the electric discharge energy. The material of the electrode includes a material not desired to be carbonized and a material desired to be melted, and a particle diameter of the material not desired to be carbonized is larger than a particle diameter of the material desired to be melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20100284793
    Abstract: A method of repairing a variable vane for a gas turbine engine includes the steps of positioning a trunnion of a variable vane within an electrical discharge machine environment, and connecting the trunnion as a first electrode through an electrical discharge machine power generator to a second electrode. The second electrode is formed of a hard metal coating. A spark is created between the trunnion and the second electrode such that material from the second electrode is deposited on an outer surface of said trunnion. Further, a variable vane having a trunnion reconditioned by this method is disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Glenn Hong Guan Lee, Mohamed Salleh Najib, Siew Anna Tan, Kelvin Hon Kit Kuan
  • Patent number: 7824159
    Abstract: What disclosed is to form an abrasive coating having abrasiveness at a blade pressure side of a deposition layer using a second electrode composed of a second molded body molded from a mixed powder including a powder of a metal and a powder of a ceramic or the second electrode processed with a heat treatment, generating pulsing electric discharges between the blade pressure side of the deposition layer and the second electrode in an electrically insulating liquid or gas, and welding a material of the second electrode or a reacting substance of the material of the second electrode on the blade pressure side of the deposition layer by means of energy of the electric discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20100258452
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode for an electrochemical measurement apparatus that is less susceptible to influence from interference substances as compared to conventional technology and an electrochemical measurement apparatus using such an electrode. A working electrode 9 (an electrode 1 for an electrochemical measurement apparatus) used in an electrochemical measurement apparatus 3 of the present invention uses an alloy containing iridium and rhenium with such a composition that selectivity for hydrogen peroxide can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Toru Matsumoto, Naoaki Sata, Yoko Mitarai
  • Publication number: 20100247883
    Abstract: A protecting coating for a copper substrate is disclosed. The coating comprises seed layer comprising titanium ions that forms an “alloy-like” structure with the copper substrate. The coating further comprises a first layer of carbon disposed on the seed layer comprising titanium ions. A second layer comprising titanium is disposed on the first layer of carbon, and a second layer of carbon is disposed on the second layer comprising titanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Yongping Gong, Kristoffer Steven Scheponik
  • Patent number: 7776409
    Abstract: A method of evaluating an electrode for discharge surface treatment for generating a discharge between the electrode and a workpiece in a treatment liquid or in the air using a green compact obtained by molding a metal, metal compound, or ceramic powder or other green compact obtained by heating the green compact as the electrode, and forming a coat consisting of an electrode material or a substance obtained by a reaction of the electrode material by a discharge energy on a surface of the workpiece, includes evaluating a capability of the electrode to deposit the coat based on an amount of deposition of the electrode material on the surface of the workpiece by a single discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7771797
    Abstract: This invention provides a new photocatalyst material producing apparatus and photocatalyst material producing method that can produce a large quantity of photocatalyst material of high quality by a chemical reaction in light high-field plasma in a highly oxidative high-concentration ozone medium state, instead of systems to produce a photocatalyst material by PVD and CVD, which are conventional dry deposition methods. In a photocatalyst material producing method and photocatalyst material producing apparatus according to this invention, a pair of facing electrodes are provided via a dielectric material in a discharge gap where gas mainly containing oxygen gas is supplied, and an AC voltage is applied between the electrodes to generate dielectric barrier discharge (silent discharge or creeping discharge) in the discharge gap. Thus, oxygen gas containing ozone gas is created and a metal or metal compound is modified to a photocatalyst material by the dielectric barrier discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Tetsuya Saitsu, Yujiro Okihara, Ryohei Ueda
  • Patent number: 7767275
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for depositing self-aligned carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanoflake, carbon nanotube, carbon nanorod and carbon nanosphere), by inducing a gas chemistry for the carbon nanomaterials, on a substrate having a large area of several inches in diameter, under the conventional CVD diamond deposition conditions. The well-aligned carbon nanomaterials on the large area are applicable for sensitive base materials in the fields including biochemistry and electrochemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jae-Kap Lee, Phillip John
  • Patent number: 7767269
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for coating a support (10) comprising a first material with a coating layer comprising a second material, including at least a phase (A, A?) for deposition of a layer of given thickness of coherent material (11, 13) on the support surface during which the interaction between an ion source and a plasma is used. The invention is characterized in that each phase (A, A?) of material deposition is followed by a phase (B, B?) for exposure of the support and the deposited layer of material (11, 13) to a pulse of limited duration of an ionic bombardment with high energy density of selected energy density level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: EPPRA
    Inventor: Peter Choi