Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of making a high melting point alloy having an overall desired composition, said high melting point alloy being comprised of a combination of a base element selected from the iron group of the Periodic Table and a plurality of metallic elements other than said base element, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one first initial alloy, said first initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements other than said base element in said first initial alloys being relatively non-reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; providing at least one second initial alloy, said second initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements in said second initial alloys being relatively reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; selecting amounts of said first and second initial alloys that will yield said overall desired composition of said high melting point alloy upon melting; melting said selected amounts of said first and second initial alloys to form a molten mixture having said overall desired composition; and solidifying said mixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of making a high melting point alloy having an overall desired composition, said high melting point alloy being comprised of a combination of a base element selected from the iron group of the Periodic Table and a plurality of metallic elements other than said base element, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one first initial alloy, said first initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements other than said base element in said first initial alloys being relatively non-reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; providing at least one second initial alloy, said second initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements in said second initial alloys being relatively reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; selecting amounts of said first and second initial alloys that will yield said overall desired composition of said high melting point alloy upon melting; melting said selected amounts of said first and second initial alloys to form a molten mixture having said overall desired composition; and solidifying said mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said base element is nickel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein one of said second initial alloys is a Ni-Ta alloy, and the amount of tantalum is limited to reduce the oxygen content of said alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the amount of tantalum contained in said alloy is below about 40 wt. %.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein one of said second intial alloys is a Ni-V alloy, and the amount of vanadium is limited to reduce the oxygen content of said alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the amount of vanadium contained in said alloy is approximately 40 wt. %.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the levels of oxygen and nitrogen contained in said second initial alloys are each approximately 20 ppm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein one of said second initial alloys is a Ni-Al-Ti alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said Ni-Al-Ti alloy is selected from the group consisting of 15 wt. % Ni 76 wt. % Al-5 wt. % Ti, 38 wt. % Ni-57 wt. % Al-5 wt. % Ti,17.3 wt. % Ni-72.7 wt. % Al-10 wt. % Ti, and 35.5 wt. % Ni-54-5 wt. % Al-10 wt. % Ti.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of making a high melting point alloy having an overall desired composition, said high melting point alloy being comprised of a combination of a base element selected from the group consisting of iron and nickel and a plurality of metallic elements other than said base element, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one first initial alloy, said first initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements other than said base element in said first initial alloys being relatively non-reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; providing at least one second initial alloy, said second initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements in said second initial alloys being relatively reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; selecting amounts of said first and second initial alloys that will yield said overall desired composition of said high melting point alloy upon melting; melting said selected amounts of said first and second initial alloys to form a molten mixture having said overall desired composition; and solidifying said mixture.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of making a high melting point alloy having an overall desired composition, said high melting point alloy being comprised of a combination of a base element selected from the group consisting of iron and nickel and a plurality of metallic elements other than said base element, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one first initial alloy, said first initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements other than said base element in said first initial alloys being relatively non-reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; providing at least one second initial alloy, said second initial alloy consisting essentially of said base element and at least one of said metallic elements, said metallic elements in said second initial alloys being relatively reactive with oxygen and nitrogen in the molten state; selecting amounts of said first and second initial alloys that will yield said overall desired composition of said high melting point alloy upon melting; melting said selected amounts of said first and second initial alloys to form a molten mixture having said overall desired composition; and solidifying said mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein one of said second initial alloys is a Ni-Cb alloy, and the amount of columbium is limited to reduce the oxygen content of said alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the amount of columbium contained in said alloy is below about 60 wt. %.