Gettering structure

Claim 2

A GETTING STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A. A SINTERED PARTICULE NON-EVAPORABLE GETTER METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ZR, TA, HF, NB, TI, TH AND U, B. A PARTICULATE ZIRCONIUM-ALUMINUM ALLOY COMPRISING 5 TO 30 WEIGHT PERCENT ALUMINUM BALANCE ZIRCONIUM WHEREIN THE PARTICLES OF THE ZIRCONIUM-ALUMINUM ALLOY ARE LARGER THAN THE PARTICLES OF THE NON-EVAPORABLE GETTER METAL AND ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE NON-EVAPORABLE GETTER METAL WHEREIN THE WEIGHT RATION A:B IS FROM 19:1 TO 2:3 AND WHEREIN SAID PARTICLES OF ZIRCONIUM-ALUMINUM ALLOY ARE GENERALLY SPACED OUT OF CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.

Claim 3

A gettering structure comprising: A. a sintered particulate non-evaporable getter metal, selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ta, Hf, Nb, Ti, Th and U, B. a particulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percent aluminum balance zirconium wherein the particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of the non-evaporable getter metal and are distributed throughout the non-evaporable getter metal, wherein the sintered non-evaporable getter metal has a surface area after sintering substantially equal to its surface area prior to sintering wherein the weight ratio A:B is from 19:1 to 2:3 and wherein said particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are generally spaced out of contact with each other.

Claim 4

A gettering structure comprising: A. a sintered particulate non-evaporable getter metal, selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ta, Hf, Nb, Ti, Th and U, B. a particulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percent aluminum balance zirconium wherein the particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of the non-evaporable getter metal and are distributed throughout the non-evaporable getter metal, wherein the sintered non-evaporable getter metal has a surface area after sintering substantially equal to its surface area prior to sintering wherein the weight ratio A:B is from 19:1 to 2:3 and wherein said particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are generally spaced out of contact with each other.

Claim 5

the composition exhibits a compressive strength of at least 300 kg/cm2,

Claim 6

the composition exhibits a compressive strength of at least 300 kg/cm2,

Claim 7

A gettering structure comprising: A. particulate zirconium, the particles of which pass through a U.S. standard screen of 200 mesh per inch, B. a particulate alloy of 84 weight percent zirconium and 16 weight percent aluminum, the particles of which pass through a U.S. standard screen of 60 mesh per inch and are retained on a U.S. standard screen of 100 mesh per inch with the provisos that:

Claim 8

A gettering structure comprising: A. particulate zirconium, the particles of which pass through a U.S. standard screen of 200 mesh per inch, B. a particulate alloy of 84 weight percent zirconium and 16 weight percent aluminum, the particles of which pass through a U.S. standard screen of 60 mesh per inch and are retained on a U.S. standard screen of 100 mesh per inch with the provisos that:

Claim 9

the total surface area of the zirconium particles after sintering is equal to at least 95% of their surface area before sintering;

Claim 10

the total surface area of the zirconium particles after sintering is equal to at least 95% of their surface area before sintering;

Claim 11

the particles of zirconium are in contact with one another,

Claim 12

the particles of zirconium are in contact with one another,

Claim 13

A gettering structure comprising: A. sintered particulate zirconium, B. A particulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percent aluminum balance zirconium wherein the particles of the zirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of zirconium and are distributed throughout the particles of zirconium in an amount such that the particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are generally spaced out of contact with each other.

Claim 14

A gettering structure comprising: A. sintered particulate zirconium, B. A particulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percent aluminum balance zirconium wherein the particles of the zirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of zirconium and are distributed throughout the particles of zirconium in an amount such that the particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are generally spaced out of contact with each other.

Claim 15

A gettering structure comprising: A. sintered particulate zirconium, B. a particulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percent aluminum, balance zirconium wherein the particles of the zirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of zirconium and are distributed throughout the particles of zirconium wherein the weight ratio A:B is from 19: 1 to 2:3 and wherein said particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are generally spaced out of contact with each other.

Claim 16

A gettering structure comprising: A. sintered particulate zirconium, B. a particulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percent aluminum, balance zirconium wherein the particles of the zirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of zirconium and are distributed throughout the particles of zirconium wherein the weight ratio A:B is from 19: 1 to 2:3 and wherein said particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy are generally spaced out of contact with each other.

Claim 17

the particles of the alloy are distributed evenly throughout the particles of zirconium,

Claim 18

the particles of the alloy are distributed evenly throughout the particles of zirconium,

Claim 19

the particles of the alloy are generally spaced out of contact with one another,

Claim 20

the particles of the alloy are generally spaced out of contact with one another,

Claim 21

the weight ratio of A:B is 10:1 to 1:1.

Claim 22

the weight ratio of A:B is 10:1 to 1:1.