US5075130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface modification of boron carbide to form pockets of solid lubricant
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1990-11-19
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Granted: 1991-12-24
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Expires: 2010-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming solid lubricant pockets in boron based and boron containing ceramic materials (i.e. boron carbide) by nitrogen ion implantation and laser annealing. By employing the present method said solid lubricant pockets may be formed in approximately the first 750 Angstroms of the surface and near surface regions of, for example, a polycrystalline boron carbide sample. Moreover, the present invention enables one to direct the formation of solid lubricants to specific areas on the boron based or boron containing ceramics to meet a specific need. The product of the present invention is a ceramic having a reduced coefficient of friction, greater durability, and reduced chipping and fracture.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Reeber
- 👤 Wei K. Chu
- 👤 Ning Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:24
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/0635; C04; C04B; C04B41/00; C04B41/009; C04B41/45; C04B41/50; C04B41/5053; C04B41/5062; C04B41/5064; C04B41/80; C04B41/81; C04B41/85; C04B41/87; C23C14/22; C23C14/48; C23C14/58; C23C14/5806; C23C14/5813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of forming a solid lubricant in a boron based or boron containing ceramic material comprising implanting nitrogen ions into said boron based or boron containing ceramic material; and laser annealing said nitrogen ion implanted ceramic material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of forming a solid lubricant in a boron based or boron containing ceramic material comprising implanting nitrogen ions into said boron based or boron containing ceramic material; and laser annealing said nitrogen ion implanted ceramic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said nitrogen ion implantation is performed at 100 KeV with a total dose of 4×10 17 nitrogen ions/cm 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said laser annealing of said nitrogen ion implanted boron based or boron containing ceramic material is performed using a xenon chloride laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the laser density of the xenon chloride laser ranges from about 1.5 joules/cm 2 to about 2.0 joules/cm 2 , at 45 nanosecond dwell time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said boron based or boron containing ceramic material is boron carbide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid lubricant formed is boron nitride.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of forming pockets of a solid lubricant on a boron based or boron containing ceramic material comprising covering a predetermined portion of said ceramic material designated to not receive the formation of said solid lubricant with a nitrogen ion implantation blocking material; implanting nitrogen ions into said boron based or boron containing ceramic material; and laser annealing said nitrogen ion implanted ceramic material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of forming pockets of a solid lubricant on a boron based or boron containing ceramic material comprising covering a predetermined portion of said ceramic material designated to not receive the formation of said solid lubricant with a nitrogen ion implantation blocking material; implanting nitrogen ions into said boron based or boron containing ceramic material; and laser annealing said nitrogen ion implanted ceramic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said nitrogen ion implantation is performed at 100 keV with a total dose of 4×10 17 nitrogen ions/cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said laser annealing of said nitrogen ion implanted boron based or boron containing ceramic material is performed using a xenon chloride laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the laser density of the xenon chloride laser ranges from about 1.5 joules/cm 2 to about 2.0 joules/cm 2 , at 45 nanosecond dwell time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said boron based or boron containing ceramic material is boron carbide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said solid lubricant formed is boron nitride.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said ion implantation blocking material is selected from the group consisting of silicon, carbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said nitrogen ion implantation blocking materials may be in the form of a stencil.
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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) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-06-24 | 1995-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-23 | 1999-06-24 | 1999-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-23 | 2003-06-24 | 2003-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |