Patent US4627959A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4627959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production of mechanically alloyed powder
Assignee: Huntington Alloys Corp
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Filing: 1985-06-18
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Granted: 1986-12-09
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Expires: 2005-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An improved method is provided for producing mechanically alloyed powders on a commercial scale comprising milling the components of the powder product in a gravity-dependent-type ball mill to produce a powder having a characteristic apparent density. Powder so produced will have reached an acceptable processing level and will meet one criterion for determining whether it will be suitable for further processing to the end product.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. Gilman
- 👤 Walter E. Mattson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:07
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/02; B22F9/04; B22F2009/041; B22F2009/043; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method comprising determining the duration of time to produce a powder product having an apparent density of at least about 25% of the fully compacted density of the powder as compacted and extruded, the apparent density being determined according to ASTM Test No. B 212-48 (for flowable powder) or No. B 417-64 (for non-free-flowing powder), using said determination of the duration of time to obtain said apparent density in determining the duration of time for impact milling of the particulate components; whereby the mill throughput is maximized and an acceptable processing level is obtained for the powder product, said acceptable processing level being one criterion for determining whether the powder product is suitable for producing an end product capable of having the predetermined properties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method comprising determining the duration of time to produce a powder product having an apparent density of at least about 25% of the fully compacted density of the powder as compacted and extruded, the apparent density being determined according to ASTM Test No. B 212-48 (for flowable powder) or No. B 417-64 (for non-free-flowing powder), using said determination of the duration of time to obtain said apparent density in determining the duration of time for impact milling of the particulate components; whereby the mill throughput is maximized and an acceptable processing level is obtained for the powder product, said acceptable processing level being one criterion for determining whether the powder product is suitable for producing an end product capable of having the predetermined properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the impact milling is carried out in an impact mill selected from an impeller-type or a gravity-dependent-type ball mill.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the milling is carried out to produce a powder product having an apparent density of above 30% of the fully compacted density of the powder product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the milling is carried out to produce a powder product having an apparent density of at least 35% of the fully compacted density of the powder product.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the milling is carried out to produce a powder product having an apparent density of no greater than 65% of the fully compacted density of the powder product.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the milling is carried out to produce a powder product having an apparent density in the range of about 30% to about 60% of the fully compacted density of the powder product.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the milling is carried out to produce a powder product having an apparent density in the range of above 30% up to about 50% of the fully compacted density of the powder product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanically alloyed powder is an aluminum-base alloy containing nominally, by weight, about 4% magnesium, about 1% to about 1.3% carbon and oxygen is present in an amount ranging up to less than 1% and having a fully compacted density of about 2.7 g/cm 3 , and the milling is continued to produce a powder product having an apparent density of at least about 0.8 g/cm 3 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the apparent density of the powder product is at least about 0.9 g/cm 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the apparent density of the powder product is in the range of about 1 g/cm 3 to about 1.3 g/cm 3 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the process control agent present comprises a weld-controlling amount.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the process control agent provides components of the powder product.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said process control agent is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01% to about 5% based on the weight of the particulate components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the process control agent comprises stearic acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the process control agent comprises stearic acid and the stearic acid is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5% to about 1.5% based on the weight of the particulate components.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanically alloyed powder product is comprised of readily mechanically weldable components.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the mechanically alloyed powder product is comprised of a member selected from the group aluminum, magnesium, titanium, copper, and lithium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanically alloyed powder product is selected from the group nickel-, cobalt- and iron-base alloys.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the mechanically alloyed powder product comprises aluminum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 19. wherein the mechanically alloyed powder product viewed at a magnification of 200X is predominantly globular.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the process control agent comprises a predetermined amount of non-gaseous additive.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined amount of non-gaseous process control agent is added at the initial stage of milling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined amount of non-gaseous component of the process control agent is added sequentially during milling.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the stearic acid is present in an amount of about 1.5% of the particulate components and the carbon content of the powder product is at least about 1.1%.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the oxygen level of the powder product is less than 1%.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in a gravity-dependent type ball mill in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method determining the duration of time to produce a powder product having an apparent density of at least about 25% of the fully compacted density of the powder as compacted and extruded, the apparent density being determined according to ASTM Test No. B 212-48 (for flowable powder) or No. B 417-64 (for non-free-flowing powder), using said determination of the duration of time to obtain said apparent density in determining the duration of time for impact milling of the particulate components; whereby the mill throughput is maximized and an acceptable processing level is obtained for the powder product, said acceptable processing level being one criterion for determining whether the powder product is suitable for producing an end product capable of having the predetermined properties.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in a gravity-dependent type ball mill in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method determining the duration of time to produce a powder product having an apparent density of at least about 25% of the fully compacted density of the powder as compacted and extruded, the apparent density being determined according to ASTM Test No. B 212-48 (for flowable powder) or No. B 417-64 (for non-free-flowing powder), using said determination of the duration of time to obtain said apparent density in determining the duration of time for impact milling of the particulate components; whereby the mill throughput is maximized and an acceptable processing level is obtained for the powder product, said acceptable processing level being one criterion for determining whether the powder product is suitable for producing an end product capable of having the predetermined properties.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein the milling is carried out at a mill speed below critical and at least at about 65% Nc.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein said apparent density of the powdered product is determined by periodic sampling the powder being milled, and impact milling is terminated when the apparent density of the milled product is at least about 25% of said fully compacted density.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method comprising impact milling said particulate components in the presence of the process control agent, sampling the mill product to ascertain its apparent density the apparent density being determined according to ASTM Test No. B 212-48 (for flowable powder) or No. B 417-64 (for non-free-flowing powder) and terminating the impact milling when the apparent density of the milled product is at least about 25% of the fully compacted density of the powder as compacted and extruded; whereby the mill throughput is maximized and an acceptable processing level is obtained for the powder product, said acceptable processing level being one criterion for determining whether the powder product is suitable for producing an end product capable of having the predetermined properties.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method comprising impact milling said particulate components in the presence of the process control agent, sampling the mill product to ascertain its apparent density the apparent density being determined according to ASTM Test No. B 212-48 (for flowable powder) or No. B 417-64 (for non-free-flowing powder) and terminating the impact milling when the apparent density of the milled product is at least about 25% of the fully compacted density of the powder as compacted and extruded; whereby the mill throughput is maximized and an acceptable processing level is obtained for the powder product, said acceptable processing level being one criterion for determining whether the powder product is suitable for producing an end product capable of having the predetermined properties.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method comprising using apparent density of the powder product for determining whether the powder has been suitably processed in the mill for conversion into said desired end product, to determine thereby at the powder stage that the powder has been suitably processed.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for the production on a commercial scale of a mechanically alloyed powder product, said powder product being characterized in that it has or can be converted on heating to a substantially uniform chemical composition and microstructure, said powder product being convertible to an end product having predetermined properties and said powder being produced by dry, impact milling particulate components for the powder product in the presence of a predetermined amount of process control agent, said method comprising using apparent density of the powder product for determining whether the powder has been suitably processed in the mill for conversion into said desired end product, to determine thereby at the powder stage that the powder has been suitably processed.
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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) | 1989-12-08 | 1990-06-09 | 1990-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-08 | 1994-06-09 | 1994-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-08 | 1998-06-09 | 1998-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |