US4387073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gold based electrical contact materials
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1981-09-08
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-09-08
Abstract
Abstract Gold based contact materials fabricated by directional solidification and exhibiting increased strength, hardness, wear resistance and undegraded electrical conductivity, are presented. An eutectic structure comprises a matrix metal consisting essentially of gold and a second phase rich in an alloying material. The second phase rich in an alloying material is disposed within the matrix metal in a plurality of elongated zones formed by directional solidification of the alloy with each zone having an elongated axis generally normal to a contact boundary surface of the solid. The second phase is rich in an alloying material selected from a group of alloying elements consisting of Be, Ca, Sr, La, Na, Th, Zr, Hf, Sb, Ge, Mo, Si and the rare earth elements. Selected ones of the alloying elements can be subjected to internal oxidation for forming hard, oxide particles of the second phase material.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack H. Westbrook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:53
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C5/00; C22C5/02; H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; H01H1/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
An electrical contact having as a contact material an alloy comprising: an eutectic structure comprising a matrix metal and a second phase rich in an alloying material, the second phase rich in an alloying material being disposed in a plurality of elongated zones within the matrix metal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrical contact having as a contact material an alloy comprising: an eutectic structure comprising a matrix metal and a second phase rich in an alloying material, the second phase rich in an alloying material being disposed in a plurality of elongated zones within the matrix metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The alloy of claim 1 wherein the eutectic structure has a boundary surface and the elongated zones are disposed generally parallel to each other with each zone having an elongated axis terminating at the boundary surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The alloy of claim 2 wherein the matrix metal consists essentially of gold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The alloy of claim 3 wherein the alloying material is selected from a group of elements consisting of Be, Ca, Sr, La, Na, Th, Zr, Hf, Sb, Ge, Mo, Si and the rare earth elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The alloy of claim 3 wherein the alloying material is selected from a group consisting of the oxides of Ge, Si, and Mo.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The alloy of claim 5 wherein the oxides of Ge, Si, and Mo are respectively produced by internal oxidation of at least a portion of the elements Ge, Si and Mo within the second phase rich in an alloying material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The alloy of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated zones of the second phase rich in an alloying material within the matrix material is produced by directional solidification.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for producing materials suitable as an electrical contact material comprising the steps of: providing an eutectic structure comprising a matrix material and a second phase rich in an alloying material, and directionally solidifying the eutectic structure to form elongated zones of the second phase rich in an alloying material within the matrix material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for producing materials suitable as an electrical contact material comprising the steps of: providing an eutectic structure comprising a matrix material and a second phase rich in an alloying material, and directionally solidifying the eutectic structure to form elongated zones of the second phase rich in an alloying material within the matrix material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the matrix material consists essentially of gold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the alloying material is selected from a group of elements consisting of Be, Ca, Sr, La, Na, Th, Zr, Hf, Sb, Ge, Mo, Si, and the rare earth elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of internal oxidization of at least a portion of the elements Ge, Si, and Mo for respectively forming hard second phase oxide particles of Ge, Si, and Mo.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrical contact having as a contact material an alloy comprising: an eutectic structure comprising a matrix metal consisting essentially of gold and a second phase rich in an alloying material, the eutectic structure having a contact boundary surface, the second phase rich in an alloying material being generally disposed in a plurality of elongated zones oriented generally parallel to each other with each zone having an elongated axis generally normal to the contact boundary surface, the elongated zones having been formed by directional solidification of the alloy, the second phase rich in an alloying material comprising hard second phase oxide particles formed by internal oxidation within the matrix metal by subjecting the matrix metal to an oxidizing atmosphere containing oxygen for a predetermined period of time at a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
An electrical contact having as a contact material an alloy comprising: an eutectic structure comprising a matrix metal consisting essentially of gold and a second phase rich in an alloying material, the eutectic structure having a contact boundary surface, the second phase rich in an alloying material being generally disposed in a plurality of elongated zones oriented generally parallel to each other with each zone having an elongated axis generally normal to the contact boundary surface, the elongated zones having been formed by directional solidification of the alloy, the second phase rich in an alloying material comprising hard second phase oxide particles formed by internal oxidation within the matrix metal by subjecting the matrix metal to an oxidizing atmosphere containing oxygen for a predetermined period of time at a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
A gold based electrical contact material comprising: an eutectic structure comprising a matric metal consisting essentially of gold, a second phase rich in an alloying element consisting of one of the elements Ge, Si, and Mo, and the oxide of the alloying element, the eutectic structure having a contact boundary surface, the second phase rich in an alloying material being generally disposed in a plurality of elongated zones oriented generally parallel to each other with each zone having an elongated axis generally normal to the contact boundary surface, the elongated zones having been formed by directional solidification of the alloy, the oxide of the element having been formed by internal oxidation by subjecting the matrix metal to an oxidizing atmosphere containing oxygen at a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
133 words
A gold based electrical contact material comprising: an eutectic structure comprising a matric metal consisting essentially of gold, a second phase rich in an alloying element consisting of one of the elements Ge, Si, and Mo, and the oxide of the alloying element, the eutectic structure having a contact boundary surface, the second phase rich in an alloying material being generally disposed in a plurality of elongated zones oriented generally parallel to each other with each zone having an elongated axis generally normal to the contact boundary surface, the elongated zones having been formed by directional solidification of the alloy, the oxide of the element having been formed by internal oxidation by subjecting the matrix metal to an oxidizing atmosphere containing oxygen at a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
A gold based electrical contact material produced by a process comprising the steps of: providing an eutectic structure comprising a matrix metal consisting essentially of gold and a second phase rich in an alloying element selected from a group of elements consisting of Ge, Si, and Mo, the second phase rich in an alloying material being generally disposed in a plurality of elongated zones oriented generally parallel to each other, the elongated zones having been formed by directional solidification of the alloy and subjecting the matrix metal to an oxidizing atmosphere containing oxygen for a predetermined period of time for oxidizing at least a portion of the alloying element by internal oxidation to form hard, second phase oxide particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
A gold based electrical contact material produced by a process comprising the steps of: providing an eutectic structure comprising a matrix metal consisting essentially of gold and a second phase rich in an alloying element selected from a group of elements consisting of Ge, Si, and Mo, the second phase rich in an alloying material being generally disposed in a plurality of elongated zones oriented generally parallel to each other, the elongated zones having been formed by directional solidification of the alloy and subjecting the matrix metal to an oxidizing atmosphere containing oxygen for a predetermined period of time for oxidizing at least a portion of the alloying element by internal oxidation to form hard, second phase oxide particles.
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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) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |