US4842821A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Producing titanium carbide
Assignee: Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-29
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Granted: 1989-06-27
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Expires: 2008-03-29
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a method of producing an alloy containing titanium carbide particles, the method comprising thoroughly dispersing carbon powder particles into a metal melt, and causing the dispersed carbon particles to react with titanium within the metal melt so as to produce a dispersion of fine particles comprising titanium carbide within the melt. A preferred use for alloys produced by the invention is as a grain refiner for aluminium-based metals, especially those containing zirconium, chromium and/or manganese, which tend to poison current titanium-boron-aluminium grain refiners.
Inventors
- 👤 Abinash Banerji
- 👤 Winfried Reif
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:56
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/02; C22C1/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of producing an alloy containing titanium carbide particles, the method comprising thoroughly dispersing carbon powder particles into a metal melt, causing the dispersed carbon particles to react with titanium within the metal melt so as to produce a dispersion of fine particles comprising titanium carbide within the melt, and holding the melt at a suitable degree of superheating above 1000 degrees Centigrade to produce decontamination of contaminated titanium carbide particles which may be present in the melt.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of producing an alloy containing titanium carbide particles, the method comprising thoroughly dispersing carbon powder particles into a metal melt, causing the dispersed carbon particles to react with titanium within the metal melt so as to produce a dispersion of fine particles comprising titanium carbide within the melt, and holding the melt at a suitable degree of superheating above 1000 degrees Centigrade to produce decontamination of contaminated titanium carbide particles which may be present in the melt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder is introduced into the metal melt under such conditions that the carbon powder particles are wetted by the metal melt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder is held substantially above ambient temperature for at least 0.5 hours before introduction into the melt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the melt is subjected to vigorous stirring during introduction of the carbon powder into the melt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein sufficient stirring is provided to generate one or more vortices in the melt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the metal melt is stirred at least until substantially no free carbon remains in the metal melt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder is introduced into the melt through a clean metal melt surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder is introduced into the melt in the form of graphite powder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder introduced into the metal melt has an average particle size less than 50 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the carbon powder introduced into the metal melt has an average particle size of about 20 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder is introduced into the metal melt over an extended period of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon powder is introduced into the metal melt wrapped in a foil of a metal which is not deleterious to the metal melt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of carbon introduced by means of the carbon powder and chemically combined into the alloy is greater than 1000 ppm, by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the said total amount of carbon is at least 1 weight %.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the said total amount of carbon is at least 3 weight %.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the metal melt is aluminium-based.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the alloy produced comprises 3 to 15 weight % titanium (including that which has reacted with the carbon powder), and 0.3 to 3 weight % reacted carbon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the alloy produced comprises 3 to 15 weight % titanium (including that which has reacted with the carbon powder), 0.3 to 3 weight % reacted carbon, balance aluminium and incidental impurities.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the alloy produced comprises about 6 weight % titanium (including that which has reacted with the carbon powder), about 1 weight % reacted carbon, balance aluminium and incidental impurities.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the particles formed as a result of reaction of the carbon powder particles are substantially of sub-micron size.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein at least 95% by weight of the carbon in the alloy has reacted with the titanium in the melt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein holding to produce decontamination is at a temperature of from 1300 to 1400 degrees C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of grain refining an aluminium-based metal, by treating a melt of the metal with an alloy produced by a method in accordance with claim 1, and allowing the treated melt to solidify so that carbide particles from the alloy cause refinement of the structure of the thus-treated metal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein the aluminium-based metal contains one or more constituents which tend to poison Al-Ti-B grain refiners.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the aluminium-based metal contains at least one of: zirconium, chromium or manganese.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4748001A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-26 | 1992-12-26 | 1993-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-26 | 1996-12-26 | 1997-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-26 | 2000-12-26 | 2001-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |