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US3948650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Composition and methods for preparing liquid-solid alloys for casting and casting methods employing the liquid-solid alloys
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1973-07-17
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1993-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A metal composition characterized by degenerate dendritic or nodular primary discrete solid particles suspended in a secondary phase having a lower melting point than the primary particles and which secondary phase can be solid or liquid. The method involves raising the temperature of a metal alloy to a value at which the alloy is largely or completely in the molten state. The melt then is subjected to vigorous agitation and the temperature is reduced to increase the portion of the mixture in solid degenerate dendrite or nodular form up to about sixty-five percent, but usually up to about fifty percent, while continuing the agitation. At this juncture the temperature of the liquid-solid composition can be reduced to cause solidification thereof or it can be cast. The solidified composition can be stored and later it can be brought again to the liquid-solid mixture state and then recast.
Inventors
- 👤 Merton C. Flemings
- 👤 Robert Mehrabian
- 👤 David B. Spencer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:59
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S164/00; Y10S164/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
The method for forming a metal composition having solid discrete degenerate dendrites homogenously dispersed within a liquid phase of said metal composition which comprises: a. heating a first metal composition to form a liquid-solid mixture of said first metal composition wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid and b. vigorously agitating said liquid-solid mixture to convert the solid therein to discrete degenerate dendrites derived from said first metal composition, said degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the heated metal composition and wherein the remainder of the heated metal composition is liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
The method for forming a metal composition having solid discrete degenerate dendrites homogenously dispersed within a liquid phase of said metal composition which comprises: a. heating a first metal composition to form a liquid-solid mixture of said first metal composition wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid and b. vigorously agitating said liquid-solid mixture to convert the solid therein to discrete degenerate dendrites derived from said first metal composition, said degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the heated metal composition and wherein the remainder of the heated metal composition is liquid.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
114 words
The method for forming a solid metal composition containing discrete degenerate dendrites homogeneously dispersed within a secondary phase of said solid metal composition which comprises: a. heating a first metal composition to form a liquid-solid mixture of said first metal composition wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid. b. vigorously agitating said liquid-solid mixture to convert the solid therein to discrete degenerate dendrites derived from said first metal composition, said degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the heated metal composition and c. cooling said heated composition to solidify the liquid remaining after the degenerate dendrites are formed thereby forming a solid secondary phase of said metal composition.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
114 words
The method for forming a solid metal composition containing discrete degenerate dendrites homogeneously dispersed within a secondary phase of said solid metal composition which comprises: a. heating a first metal composition to form a liquid-solid mixture of said first metal composition wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid. b. vigorously agitating said liquid-solid mixture to convert the solid therein to discrete degenerate dendrites derived from said first metal composition, said degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the heated metal composition and c. cooling said heated composition to solidify the liquid remaining after the degenerate dendrites are formed thereby forming a solid secondary phase of said metal composition.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
104 words
The method for shaping a metal composition which comprises: 1. forming a metal composition having solid discrete degenerate dendrites homogeneously dispersed within a liquid phase of said metal composition by: a. heating a first metal composition to form a liquid-solid mixture of said first metal composition wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid and b. vigorously agitating said mixture to convert the liquid-solid mixture therein to discrete degenerate dendrites derived from said metal composition, said degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the heated metal composition and wherein the remainder of the heated metal composition is liquid and
Claim 6
Independent Claim
104 words
The method for shaping a metal composition which comprises: 1. forming a metal composition having solid discrete degenerate dendrites homogeneously dispersed within a liquid phase of said metal composition by: a. heating a first metal composition to form a liquid-solid mixture of said first metal composition wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid and b. vigorously agitating said mixture to convert the liquid-solid mixture therein to discrete degenerate dendrites derived from said metal composition, said degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the heated metal composition and wherein the remainder of the heated metal composition is liquid and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
casting the heated metal composition comprising degenerate dendrites and liquid metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
casting the heated metal composition comprising degenerate dendrites and liquid metal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
173 words
The method for forming a metal composition comprising a metal alloy matrix and third phase solid particles homogeneously suspended in said matrix, said metal alloy having solid discrete degenerate dendrites homogeneously dispersed within a secondary phase of said metal alloy which comprises: a. heating a first metal alloy to form an initial liquid-solid mixture of said first metal alloy wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid, b. vigorously agitating said liquid-solid mixture to convert the solid therein to discrete degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of said heated alloy and wherein the remainder of said heated metal alloy is a liquid secondary phase, c. adding solid third phase particles, having a surface that is wet by said metal alloy, to said alloy comprising degenerate dendrites and liquid secondary phase, and d. dispersing said third phase particles and said degenerate dendrites homogeneously in said secondary phase, said third phase particles comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the weight of the metal alloy and third phase particles.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
173 words
The method for forming a metal composition comprising a metal alloy matrix and third phase solid particles homogeneously suspended in said matrix, said metal alloy having solid discrete degenerate dendrites homogeneously dispersed within a secondary phase of said metal alloy which comprises: a. heating a first metal alloy to form an initial liquid-solid mixture of said first metal alloy wherein less than about 65 weight percent thereof is solid, b. vigorously agitating said liquid-solid mixture to convert the solid therein to discrete degenerate dendrites comprising up to about 65 weight percent of said heated alloy and wherein the remainder of said heated metal alloy is a liquid secondary phase, c. adding solid third phase particles, having a surface that is wet by said metal alloy, to said alloy comprising degenerate dendrites and liquid secondary phase, and d. dispersing said third phase particles and said degenerate dendrites homogeneously in said secondary phase, said third phase particles comprising up to about 65 weight percent of the weight of the metal alloy and third phase particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) is conducted by heating the first metal composition above its liquidus temperature and thereafter cooling said first metal composition to form said liquid-solid mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) is conducted by heating the first metal composition to a temperature below the liquidus temperature of said first metal composition to form said liquid-solid mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled concomitant with said vigorous agitation to increase the proportion of said degenerate dendrites.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled concomitant with said vigorous agitation to increase the proportion of said degenerate dendrites.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled to form between 10 and 50 weight percent degenerate dendrites.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled to form between 10 and 50 weight percent degenerate dendrites.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 wherein step (a) is conducted by heating the first metal composition above its liquidus temperature and thereafter cooling said first metal composition to form said liquid-solid mixture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein step (a) is conducted by heating the first metal composition to a temperature below the liquidus temperature of said first metal composition to form said liquid-solid mixture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled concomitant with said vigorous agitation to increase the proportion of said degenerate dendrites.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled concomitant with said vigorous agitation to increase the proportion of said degenerate dendrites.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled to form between 10 and 50 weight percent degenerate dendrites.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled to form between 10 and 50 weight percent degenerate dendrites.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 wherein step (a) is conducted by heating the first metal composition above its liquidus temperature and thereafter cooling said first metal composition to form said liquid-solid mixture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein step (a) is conducted by heating the first metal composition to a temperature below the liquidus temperature of said first metal composition to form said liquid-solid mixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled concomitant with said vigorous agitation to increase the proportion of said degenerate dendrites prior to being cast.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled concomitant with said vigorous agitation to increase the proportion of said degenerate dendrites prior to being cast.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled to form between 10 and 50 weight percent degenerate dendrites prior to being cast.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the liquid-solid mixture is cooled to form between 10 and 50 weight percent degenerate dendrites prior to being cast.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 3 wherein, prior to casting, the temperature of the liquid-solid mixture is reduced to increase the fraction of solid discrete degenerate dendrites while continuing to agitate vigorously until a desired ratio of liquid to degenerate dendrites is attained such that the mixture is thixotropic, ceasing said vigorous agitation of the thixotropic composition to gel the thixotropic composition and thereafter casting the thixotropic composition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the initial liquid-solid composition is formed by heating the first metal composition above its liquidus temperature and thereafter cooling said first metal composition.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the initial liquid-solid composition is formed by heating the first metal composition to a temperaure below the liquidus temperature of said first metal composition.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the initial liquid-solid mixture is cooled concomitant with said vigorous agitation to increase the proportion of said degenerate dendrites prior to adding said third phase particles.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the initial liquid-solid mixture is cooled to form between 10 and 50 weight percent degenerate dendrites prior to adding said third phase particles.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 wherein metal alloy is cooled to solidify said secondary phase and form a solid having said degenerate dendrites and said third phase particles homogeneously distributed therein.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said metal alloy is cooled to solidify said secondary phase and form a solid having said degenerate dendrites and said third phase particles homogeneously distributed therein.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said metal alloy is cooled to solidify said secondary phase and to form a solid having said degenerate dendrites and said third phase particles homogeneously distributed therein.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said solid is heated to a temperature at which the solid is thixotropic and casting said thixotropic solid.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said solid is heated to a temperature at which the solid is thixotropic and casting said thixotropic solid.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said solid is heated to a temperature at which the solid is thixotropic and casting said thixotropic solid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |