US4430295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Articles produced from iron powder compacts containing hypereutectic copper phosphide powder
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1981-11-19
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Granted: 1984-02-07
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Expires: 2001-11-19
Abstract
Abstract In the preferred embodiment, a method is presented for forming an iron-base article by powder metallurgy, which includes compacting a powder mixture comprising a major portion of iron particles and between about 2 to about 5 weight percent of a powder consisting of hypereutectic tricopper phosphide Cu3P compound. The compact is sintered at a temperature between about 970 DEG C. to about 1100 DEG C., whereupon the copper phosphide forms a liquid that flows and wets the iron particle surfaces. During sintering, phosphorus from the copper phosphide diffuses into the iron particles and resulting copper-enriched liquid forms a film coating pore surfaces in the compact. The sintered article displays an improved combination of ductility and strength, particularly in view of the relatively low sintering temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Jandeska, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:08
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C33/00; C22C33/02; C22C33/0207; C22C33/0214; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12014; Y10T428/1216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for forming an article from iron powder comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising plain iron particles and a hypereutectic copper phosphorus sintering agent, and sintering the compact at a temperature between about 950° C. and 1120° C. to cause the copper phosphorus agent to form a liquid capable of wetting the surface of the iron particles, said sintering being carried out for a time sufficient for phosphorus to diffuse into the iron particles and for the remaining copper-enriched liquid to flow and wet iron surfaces in the compact and thereafter form a solidified copper-rich layer on pore surfaces within the product sintered article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for forming an article from iron powder comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising plain iron particles and a hypereutectic copper phosphorus sintering agent, and sintering the compact at a temperature between about 950° C. and 1120° C. to cause the copper phosphorus agent to form a liquid capable of wetting the surface of the iron particles, said sintering being carried out for a time sufficient for phosphorus to diffuse into the iron particles and for the remaining copper-enriched liquid to flow and wet iron surfaces in the compact and thereafter form a solidified copper-rich layer on pore surfaces within the product sintered article.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for forming an article from iron powder metal comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising a major portion of iron particles and up to about 7 weight percent of hypereutectic copper-phosphorus particles containing at least 12 weight percent phosphorus, and sintering the compact at a temperature between about 950° C. and about 1120° C. for a sufficient time to cause phosphorus to diffuse uniformly throughout the iron particles and to form a copper-enriched liquid that coats pore surfaces in the compact and, upon solidification, forms a copper-rich film on pore surfaces within the sintered article, whereby said sintering produces an improved combination of ductility and strength in the product article.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for forming an article from iron powder metal comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising a major portion of iron particles and up to about 7 weight percent of hypereutectic copper-phosphorus particles containing at least 12 weight percent phosphorus, and sintering the compact at a temperature between about 950° C. and about 1120° C. for a sufficient time to cause phosphorus to diffuse uniformly throughout the iron particles and to form a copper-enriched liquid that coats pore surfaces in the compact and, upon solidification, forms a copper-rich film on pore surfaces within the sintered article, whereby said sintering produces an improved combination of ductility and strength in the product article.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for forming an article from powder metal comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising a major portion of low-carbon iron particles and between about 2 to about 5 weight percent of hypereutectic tricopper phosphide Cu 3 P compound powder, and sintering the compact at a temperature between about 970° C. to 1100° C. for a sufficient time to cause the Cu 3 P powder to form a liquid that wets the iron powder surfaces, a major portion of the phosphorus diffusing during said sintering into the iron particles, the remaining copper-enriched liquid forming a coating on pore surfaces in the product article, whereby the sintered article displays an improved combination of ductility and strength.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for forming an article from powder metal comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising a major portion of low-carbon iron particles and between about 2 to about 5 weight percent of hypereutectic tricopper phosphide Cu 3 P compound powder, and sintering the compact at a temperature between about 970° C. to 1100° C. for a sufficient time to cause the Cu 3 P powder to form a liquid that wets the iron powder surfaces, a major portion of the phosphorus diffusing during said sintering into the iron particles, the remaining copper-enriched liquid forming a coating on pore surfaces in the product article, whereby the sintered article displays an improved combination of ductility and strength.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for forming an article from powder metal comprising sintering a compact formed of a powder mixture comprising a major portion of plain iron particles and a hypereutectic copper phosphorus sintering agent, said sintering being carried out at a temperature and for a time suitable for diffusing phosphorus substantially uniformly throughout the iron and for forming a transient copper-base liquid phase that wets iron surfaces in the compact, said sintering continuing for a time sufficient to deplete phosphorus from the liquid phase to a concentration whereat said phase solidifies, thereby forming a copper-rich film that coats pore surfaces in the article.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for forming an article from powder metal comprising sintering a compact formed of a powder mixture comprising a major portion of plain iron particles and a hypereutectic copper phosphorus sintering agent, said sintering being carried out at a temperature and for a time suitable for diffusing phosphorus substantially uniformly throughout the iron and for forming a transient copper-base liquid phase that wets iron surfaces in the compact, said sintering continuing for a time sufficient to deplete phosphorus from the liquid phase to a concentration whereat said phase solidifies, thereby forming a copper-rich film that coats pore surfaces in the article.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for forming an article from powder metal comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising a major portion of plain iron particles and up to about 7 weight percent of tricopper phosphide compound powder, and sintering the compact at a suitable temperature above about 950° C. to diffuse phosphorus from the phosphide powder into the iron and to form a transient copper-rich liquid that wets iron surfaces in the compact, said sintering continuing for a time sufficient to diffuse phosphorus substantially uniformly throughout the iron and to deplete phosphorus from the liquid to a suitably low concentration whereat the liquid solidifies at the sintering temperature to form a copper-rich coating on pore surfaces in the product sintered article.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for forming an article from powder metal comprising compacting a powder mixture comprising a major portion of plain iron particles and up to about 7 weight percent of tricopper phosphide compound powder, and sintering the compact at a suitable temperature above about 950° C. to diffuse phosphorus from the phosphide powder into the iron and to form a transient copper-rich liquid that wets iron surfaces in the compact, said sintering continuing for a time sufficient to diffuse phosphorus substantially uniformly throughout the iron and to deplete phosphorus from the liquid to a suitably low concentration whereat the liquid solidifies at the sintering temperature to form a copper-rich coating on pore surfaces in the product sintered article.
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) | 1987-02-06 | 1987-08-08 | 1988-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-06 | 1991-08-08 | 1992-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-06 | 1995-08-08 | 1996-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |