US4891059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Phase redistribution processing
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1988-08-29
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Granted: 1990-01-02
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Expires: 2008-08-29
Abstract
Abstract Homogeneous and refined microstructure powders and the method of making them from, for example, liquid metal immiscible systems or very limited solid solubility systems. At least two metals are melted and then rapidly solidified to yield a solid with a segregated, non-uniform microstructure. The resulting rapidly-solidified solid is then reduced to a powder and subjected to high-energy milling for a time sufficient to reduce the segregation to the desired level of uniformity.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney Diamond
- 👤 Aspi N. Patel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:07
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/02; B22F9/04; B22F9/002; B22F9/008; B22F2009/041; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/902; Y10S75/00; Y10S75/956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A process for making composite powder comprising the steps of providing a molten mixture comprising at least two metals which upon rapid solidification form a solid having segregated phases, rapidly solidifying the molten mixture to a solid having segregated phases, reducing the solid to a blendable particle size, and redistributing and refining the segregated phases to produce a homogeneous microstructure by high-energy solid state blending.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process for making composite powder comprising the steps of providing a molten mixture comprising at least two metals which upon rapid solidification form a solid having segregated phases, rapidly solidifying the molten mixture to a solid having segregated phases, reducing the solid to a blendable particle size, and redistributing and refining the segregated phases to produce a homogeneous microstructure by high-energy solid state blending.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 1 for making powder wherein at least two metals are immiscible in the liquid state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 1 for making powder wherein the rate of cooling during solidification is greater than about 10 6 ° C./sec.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 1 for making powder wherein the high-energy solid state blending comprises ball-milling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process according to claim 1 for making powder wherein the phases are segregated to the extent that greater than 1/2% by volume of the solid is a second phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claim 1 for making powder wherein the molten mixture comprises at least about 2% tin, at least about 20% lead, with the balance copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process according to claim 1 for making powder wherein the homogeneous and refined microstructure includes a minor phase within a matrix phase and wherein the minor phase is a softer material than the matrix phase material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 3 for making powder wherein the molten mixture is rapidly solidified by a melt spinning process to a thin ribbon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A process for making composite powder comprising the steps of providing a molten mixture comprising a first soft metal and a substantially larger proportion of a second, relatively harder metal, which mixture upon rapid solidification forms a solid having segregated phases, rapidly solidifying the molten mixture to a solid having a soft, minor phase segregated within a relatively harder matrix phase, reducing the solid to a blendable particle size, and redistributing and refining the segregated phases to produce a homogeneous microstructure by high-energy solid state blending, wherein the minor phase is uniformly distributed within a matrix of the second, harder phase.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
A process for making composite powder comprising the steps of providing a molten mixture comprising a first soft metal and a substantially larger proportion of a second, relatively harder metal, which mixture upon rapid solidification forms a solid having segregated phases, rapidly solidifying the molten mixture to a solid having a soft, minor phase segregated within a relatively harder matrix phase, reducing the solid to a blendable particle size, and redistributing and refining the segregated phases to produce a homogeneous microstructure by high-energy solid state blending, wherein the minor phase is uniformly distributed within a matrix of the second, harder phase.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-01 | 1993-07-03 | 1994-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-01 | 1997-07-03 | 1998-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-01 | 2001-07-03 | 2002-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |