Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for producing a consolidated article having increased toughness, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a rapidly solidified alloy, which has been solidified at a quench rate of at least about 10 5 ° C./sec and has a substantially homogeneous, optically featureless alloy structure; (b) forming said rapidly solidified alloy into a plurality of separate alloy bodies; (c) heating said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to a temperature ranging from about 0.90-0.99 Tm (melting temperature measured in ° C.) for a time period ranging from about 1 min. to about 24 hrs; and (d) compacting said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to produce a consolidated article composed of a crystalline alloy, which has an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and contains a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles having an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for producing a consolidated article having increased toughness, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a rapidly solidified alloy, which has been solidified at a quench rate of at least about 10 5 ° C./sec and has a substantially homogeneous, optically featureless alloy structure; (b) forming said rapidly solidified alloy into a plurality of separate alloy bodies; (c) heating said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to a temperature ranging from about 0.90-0.99 Tm (melting temperature measured in ° C.) for a time period ranging from about 1 min. to about 24 hrs; and (d) compacting said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to produce a consolidated article composed of a crystalline alloy, which has an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and contains a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles having an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
145 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rapidly solidified alloy consisting essentially of the formula M bal T a R b Cr c X d Y e , wherein "M" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni, "T" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of W, Mo, Nb and Ta, "R" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al and Ti, "X" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B and C, "Y" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and P, "a" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "b" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "c" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "d" ranges from about 5-25 at %, and "e" ranges from about 0-15 at %.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said heating step (c) is performed prior to said compacting step (d).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said heating step (c) is performed during said compacting step (d).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said heating step (c) is performed after said compacting step (d).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rapidly solidified alloy is heated to said temperature for a time period ranging from 0.5-12 hr.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rapidly solidified alloy is heated to a temperature ranging from about 0.96-0.99 Tm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said compacting step (d) is comprised of extrusion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said compacting step (d) is comprised of forging.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rapidly solidified alloy consists essentially of the formula M bal 'B 5-25 X 0-20 ', wherein M' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, W, Mo and Ni, X' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of C and Si, and the subscripts are in at %.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said rapidly solidified alloy is heated to said temperature for a time period ranging from 0.5-12 hr.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said rapidly solidified alloy is heated to a temperature ranging from about 0.96-0.99 Tm.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for producing a consolidated article having increased toughness, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a rapidly solidified alloy, which has been solidified at a quench rate of at least about 10 5 ° C./sec and has a substantially homogeneous, optically featureless alloy structure; (b) forming said rapidly solidified alloy into a plurality of separate alloy bodies; (c) heating said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to a temperature ranging from about 0.96-0.99 Tm (melting temperature measured in °C.) for a time period ranging from about 1 min. to about 24 hrs; and (d) compacting said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to produce a consolidated article composed of crystalline alloy, which has an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and contains a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles having an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for producing a consolidated article having increased toughness, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a rapidly solidified alloy, which has been solidified at a quench rate of at least about 10 5 ° C./sec and has a substantially homogeneous, optically featureless alloy structure; (b) forming said rapidly solidified alloy into a plurality of separate alloy bodies; (c) heating said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to a temperature ranging from about 0.96-0.99 Tm (melting temperature measured in °C.) for a time period ranging from about 1 min. to about 24 hrs; and (d) compacting said rapidly solidified alloy bodies to produce a consolidated article composed of crystalline alloy, which has an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and contains a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles having an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
173 words
A consolidated article composed of a crystalline alloy consisting essentially of the formula M bal T a R b Cr c X d Y e , wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, and Ni, T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of W, Mo, Nb and Ta, R is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al and Ti, X. is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B and C, Y is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and P, "a" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "b" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "c" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "d" ranges from about 5-25 at % and "e" ranges from about 0-15 at %, said alloy having an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and containing a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles that have an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
A consolidated article composed of a crystalline alloy consisting essentially of the formula M bal T a R b Cr c X d Y e , wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, and Ni, T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of W, Mo, Nb and Ta, R is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al and Ti, X. is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B and C, Y is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and P, "a" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "b" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "c" ranges from about 0-40 at %, "d" ranges from about 5-25 at % and "e" ranges from about 0-15 at %, said alloy having an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and containing a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles that have an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A consolidated article as recited in claim 14, wherein said alloy has an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 1200 MPa and an impact resistance of at least about 10 Joules (unnotched charpy test).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A consolidated article as recited in claim 14, wherein said separate precipitate particles have an average size ranging from about 3-15 micrometers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A consolidated article as recited in claim 14, wherein said average grain size ranges from about 6-10 micrometers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
A consolidated article composed of a crystalline alloy consisting essentially of the formula M bal 'B 5-25 X 0-20 ', wherein M' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, W, Mo and Ni, X' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of C and Si, and the subscripts are in atom percent; said alloy having an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and containing a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles that have an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
A consolidated article composed of a crystalline alloy consisting essentially of the formula M bal 'B 5-25 X 0-20 ', wherein M' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, W, Mo and Ni, X' is at least one element selected from the group consisting of C and Si, and the subscripts are in atom percent; said alloy having an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and containing a substantially uniform dispersion of separate precipitate particles that have an average size ranging from about 3-25 micrometers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A consolidated article as recited in claim 18, wherein said alloy has an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 1200 MPa and an impact resistance of at least about 10 Joules (unnotched charpy test).