Metal treatment – Process of modifying or maintaining internal physical... – Heating or cooling of solid metal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-06-19
King, Roy (Department: 1742)
Metal treatment
Process of modifying or maintaining internal physical...
Heating or cooling of solid metal
C420S590000, C148S519000, C428S680000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06248192
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a method of preparing alloys. More specifically, the method involves cladding a number of different types of metallic wires in a tubing, drawing the tubing/wires to reduce the diameter thereof, removing the tubing, and heating the remainder so as to form an alloy.
2. Background of the Invention
Various alloys have been studied and utilized in structural materials over pure metals due to the high melting temperature, hardness, and chemical stability of certain alloys. Numerous alloys hold great promise, but are limited by low ductility and low-temperature brittleness. Obtaining these low ductility alloys in wire form is a costly proposition, as once the alloy is formed, is can not we drawn down to wire form.
Alloys are typically formed by powder metallurgy methods or by melt processing of stoichiometric single crystals. Neither of these methods allows for the easy formation of alloy wire, especially where the alloy in demand is of low ductility.
This invention provides a new process for forming wire alloy products from wire precursors. The process involves cladding a number of metallic wires with a tubing to form a composite. At least two types of metal wires are used. The composite is then drawn, stripped of its tubing, and heated so that an alloy forms from the metal precursors. The alloy composition will depend on the composition of the wire precursors.
The present invention is especially useful in that it allows the formation of alloys with normally low ductility into wire form with unexpectedly high ductility.
Nickel aluminides are one type of alloy which can be made by the present invention. Nickel aluminides are intermetallic materials that have long been considered potentially useful due to their strength, hardness, and high melting points. Nickel aluminides are very strong, namely five times as strong as stainless steel. At the same time, alloys are relatively light metals. Standard alloys have a disordered structure that becomes even more random and weaker with increasing temperatures. Nickel aluminides on the other hand, with an ordered structure, becomes stronger with increasing temperature to about 800° C. At high temperatures, they are resistant to wear, deformation, fatigue, and therefore cracking. But nickel aluminides are generally too brittle to be shaped into wire components.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process for making an alloy in wire form from wire precursors.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process for making an alloy in a fine fiber form.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a process for making a wire alloys with unexpectedly high ductilities.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a process for making an alloy that is economical to manufacture.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the invention. Accordingly other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description setting forth the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosed is a process for making an alloy. The process comprises cladding with a tube a plurality of metal members to form a metal composite. The metal members include a first and second metal. The metal composite is then drawn to reduce its diameter, and the tubing is then removed from the composite to leave a remainder. The remainder is then heated to convert the metals in the remainder to alloy.
One embodiment involves providing a plurality of first and second metal members comprised of first and second metals respectively and twisting the plurality of metal members into a twisted assembly. A plurality of these assemblies are then jacketed with a composite tube so as to form the metal composite.
In another embodiment, the plurality of metal members is comprised of nickel and aluminum, and each individual metal member is comprised of either nickel or aluminum. The nickel to aluminum weight percentage ration may be 75:25.
The plurality of metal members can be comprised of at least three metals, each individual member being comprised of a single metal. In this embodiment, the plurality of metal members is comprised of aluminum and nickel, and the third metal is selected from the group of metals consisting of boron, chromium, titanium, platinum, and iron.
In a preferred embodiment, the tube cladding the plurality of metal members is comprised of stainless steel.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a process for making an alloy wherein the first step involves cladding a plurality of metal wires with a plurality of tubings to form a plurality of metal members. The wires are comprised of a first metal, and the tubings of a second. The plurality of metal members are then jacketed with a second tubing to provide a metal composite. The composite is drawn to reduce its diameter, and the second tubing is removed to leave a remainder. The remainder is then heated so as to convert the remainder to an alloy of the first and second metal. Either the metal wires or the metal member first tubings can be comprised of Ni and the other of Al; further the second tubing can be comprised of carbon steel.
Another embodiment provides for a process for making an alloy comprising cladding a plurality of metal wires comprised of a first metal with a plurality of first tubings. The plurality of first tubings comprise a second metal to form a plurality of metal members. Each of the metal member is clad with a second tubing to form a plurality of coated metal members. The coated metal members were drawn to reduce the diameter thereof. The plurality of coated metal members are clad with a third tubing to provide a metal composite. The metal composite is drawn to reduce the diameter thereof. The second and third tubings are removed to provide a metallic remainder comprising the metallic first tubing cladding material with the metallic wire material. The metallic remainder is heated to convert the metallic remainder to alloy. In this embodiment, the alloy product can be fibrous.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
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Liberman Michael
Quick Nathaniel R.
Sobolevsky Alexander
Coy Nicole
Frijouf Rust & Pyle P.A.
King Roy
USF Filtration and Separations Group, Inc
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