US3940262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced foamed metal
Assignee: Ethyl Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-22
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Granted: 1976-02-24
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Expires: 1994-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Foamed metal articles having reinforcing fibers, such as inorganic fibers; for example, fiberglass, refractory fibers, and metal fibers, dispersed in the foamed metal for strength improvement. Processes of manufacturing such fiber reinforced foamed metal articles are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard M. Niebylski
- 👤 Chester P. Jarema
- 👤 Thomas E. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:44
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/08; C22C1/083; C22C47/00; C22C47/08; B; B22; B22F; B22F2998/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12014; Y10T428/12181; Y10T428/12444; Y10T428/12465; Y10T428/12479; Y10T428/12486; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12736; Y10T428/1275; Y10T428/12757; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12778; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12903; Y10T428/1291; Y10T428/12917; Y10T428/12924; Y10T428/12937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A process for producing a fiber reinforced aluminum-based metal foam, said process comprising dispersing with high speed stirring from about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent, based on the weight of said metal foam, of fibers from about 125 to about 1000 mils in length and having a ratio of length to diameter greater than 50 into a molten metal to be foamed which is aluminum or an aluminum alloy; increasing the viscosity of said molten metal by incorporating therein a viscosity-increasing agent selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, water and the inert gases at a temperature of from about 20° to about 90°C above the liquidous point of said molten metal; foaming said molten metal by treating the thickened molten metal with a foaming agent which is a metal hydride selected from the group consisting of titanium hydride, zirconium hydride and hafnium hydride; and cooling the foamed metal to set said foam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A process for producing a fiber reinforced aluminum-based metal foam, said process comprising dispersing with high speed stirring from about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent, based on the weight of said metal foam, of fibers from about 125 to about 1000 mils in length and having a ratio of length to diameter greater than 50 into a molten metal to be foamed which is aluminum or an aluminum alloy; increasing the viscosity of said molten metal by incorporating therein a viscosity-increasing agent selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, water and the inert gases at a temperature of from about 20° to about 90°C above the liquidous point of said molten metal; foaming said molten metal by treating the thickened molten metal with a foaming agent which is a metal hydride selected from the group consisting of titanium hydride, zirconium hydride and hafnium hydride; and cooling the foamed metal to set said foam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said fibers are inorganic fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process of claim 2 wherein said inorganic fibers are selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, metallized fiberglass, mineral fibers, refractory fibers and metal fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said fibers are fiberglass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said fibers are metallized fiberglass, said metallized fiberglass being coated with a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc and alloys of these metals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said fibers are refractory fibers selected from the group consisting of potassium titanate, silicon carbon, alumina, boron nitride, titanium carbide, titanium dioxide, and these fibers when coated with a metal selected from aluminum, zinc, and alloys of these metals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said fibers are metal fibers selected from the group consisting of iron, steel, nickel, titanium, alloys of these metals, nickel-plated iron, nickel-plated steel, nickel-plated copper and aluminum-plated steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said fibers are mineral fibers selected from the group consisting of asbestos, kaolin, alumina-silica, alumina-magnesia and alumina-magnesia-silica.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process of claim 1 further characterized in that the viscosity of the molten metal to be foamed is increased by incorporating therein a viscosity-increasing agent selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, water and the inert gases, and then dispersing said fibers into the thickened molten metal, foaming the molten metal and cooling the foaming molten metal to set the foam producing a reinforced foamed metal article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said molten metal is an aluminum alloy having from 6 to 8 percent magnesium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said fibers are fiberglass in the form of chopped filament, said fiberglass being present in an amount of from about 1 to 25 percent by weight based on the weight of the molten aluminum alloy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said metal foam is a zinc-based foam and said molten metal is a zinc alloy having about 11-13 weight percent aluminum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process of claim 12 wherein said fibers are metallized fiberglass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process of claim 12 wherein said fibers are aluminized fiberglass in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent.
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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) | 1979-02-23 | 1979-08-25 | 1980-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-23 | 1983-08-25 | 1984-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-23 | 1987-08-25 | 1988-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |