US4532149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for producing hard-surfaced tools and machine components
Assignee: United States, DOE THE, Secretary of
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Filing: 1983-07-27
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Granted: 1985-07-30
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Expires: 2003-07-27
Abstract
Abstract In one aspect, the invention comprises a method for producing tools and machine components having superhard crystalline-ceramic work surfaces. Broadly, the method comprises two steps: A tool or machine component having a ceramic near-surface region is mounted in ion-implantation apparatus. The region then is implanted with metal ions to form, in the region, a metastable alloy of the ions and said ceramic. The region containing the alloy is characterized by a significant increase in hardness properties, such as microhardness, fracture-toughness, and/or scratch-resistance. The resulting improved article has good thermal stability at temperatures characteristic of typical tool and machine-component uses. The method is relatively simple and reproducible.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl J. McHargue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:32
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B41/00; C04B41/009; C04B41/0027; C04B41/80; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a near-surface region of an article, comprising: mounting in an ion-implantation system an article having a near-surface region of a refractory material selected from the group consisting of ceramic and diamond, producing an increase in the hardness of said region by ion-implanting the same with metal ions to effect formation of a metastable alloy in which the implanted ions are distributed between substitutional and interstitial lattice sites, and terminating said ion-implanting when the implanted-ion fluence reaches a value corresponding to a preselected increased hardness value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a near-surface region of an article, comprising: mounting in an ion-implantation system an article having a near-surface region of a refractory material selected from the group consisting of ceramic and diamond, producing an increase in the hardness of said region by ion-implanting the same with metal ions to effect formation of a metastable alloy in which the implanted ions are distributed between substitutional and interstitial lattice sites, and terminating said ion-implanting when the implanted-ion fluence reaches a value corresponding to a preselected increased hardness value.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a ceramic surface, comprising: ion-implanting said surface with metal ions in vacuum to form therein a binary metastable alloy wherein from about 35% to 100% of the implanted ions are in interstitial lattice sites, and terminating said ion-implanting when the implanted-ion fluence reaches a value corresponding to a preselected increased hardness value defined by about 35% to 100% of the interstitial lattice sites in said surface containing the implanted ions.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a ceramic surface, comprising: ion-implanting said surface with metal ions in vacuum to form therein a binary metastable alloy wherein from about 35% to 100% of the implanted ions are in interstitial lattice sites, and terminating said ion-implanting when the implanted-ion fluence reaches a value corresponding to a preselected increased hardness value defined by about 35% to 100% of the interstitial lattice sites in said surface containing the implanted ions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a ceramic surface, comprising: ion-implanting said surface with metal ions in vacuum and at an implantation energy from about 95 keV to 10 3 keV to form in said surface a metastable alloy in which from about 35% to 100% of the implanted ions are in interstitial lattice positions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a ceramic surface, comprising: ion-implanting said surface with metal ions in vacuum and at an implantation energy from about 95 keV to 10 3 keV to form in said surface a metastable alloy in which from about 35% to 100% of the implanted ions are in interstitial lattice positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said ion-implanting is effected at room temperature.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a work surface of a machine component, comprising: providing an article in the form of a machine component and a tool, said article having a ceramic work surface, and ion-implanting said surface with a selected metal ion at a temperature effecting formation therein of a binary alloy of said ceramic and ions selected in which from about 35% to 100% of the implanted ions are in interstitial lattice sites.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for increasing the hardness of a work surface of a machine component, comprising: providing an article in the form of a machine component and a tool, said article having a ceramic work surface, and ion-implanting said surface with a selected metal ion at a temperature effecting formation therein of a binary alloy of said ceramic and ions selected in which from about 35% to 100% of the implanted ions are in interstitial lattice sites.
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) | 1988-07-29 | 1989-01-28 | 1989-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-29 | 1993-01-28 | 1993-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-29 | 1997-01-28 | 1997-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |