| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090057159 | Method for producing alloy deposits and controlling the nanostructure thereof using negative current pulsing electro-deposition - Bipolar current electrodeposits a nanocrystalline grain size. Polarity Ratio relates the absolute value of time integrated amplitude of negative polarity and positive polarity current. Grain size can be controlled in alloys of two or more components, one of which being a metal, and one of which being most electro-active. Typically the more electro-active material is preferentially lessened in the deposit during negative current. The deposit is relatively crack and void free. Grain size is typically a function of deposit composition, which is typically a function of Polarity Ratio. Specified grain size can be achieved by selecting a corresponding Polarity Ratio. Coatings can be in layers, each having a grain size, which can vary layer to layer and also in a graded fashion. A finished article may be built upon a substrate of electro-conductive plastic, or metal, including steels, aluminum, brass. The substrate may remain, or be removed. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090130479 | Articles incorporating alloy deposits having conrolled, varying, nanostructure - Bipolar wave current, is used to electrodeposit a nanocrystalline grain size. Polarity Ratio is the ratio of absolute value of time integrated amplitude of negative and positive polarity current. Grain size can be controlled in alloys of two or more components, at least one of which is a metal, and at least one of which is most electro-active. Typically, the more electro-active material is preferentially lessened during negative current. Current density, duration of pulse portions, and bath composition are determined with reference to relations showing grain size as a function of deposit composition, and deposit composition as a function of Polarity Ratio, or a single relation showing grain size as a function of Polarity ratio. A specified size can be achieved by selecting a corresponding Polarity Ratio. Coatings can be layered, each having an average grain size, which can vary layer to layer and also graded through a region. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090229984 | METHODS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NANOCRYSTALLINE AND AMORPHOUS METALS AND ALLOYS AS COATINGS - Methods for the use of nanocrystalline or amorphous metals or alloys as coatings with industrial processes are provided. Three, specific, such methods have been detailed. One of the preferred embodiments provides a method for the high volume electrodeposition of many components with a nanocrystalline or amorphous metal or alloy, and the components produced thereby. Another preferred embodiment provides a method for application of a nanocrystalline or amorphous coatings in a continuous electrodeposition process and the product produced thereby. Another of the preferred embodiments of the present invention provides a method for reworking and/or rebuilding components and the components produced thereby. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20100096850 | Nanostructured alloy coated threaded metal surfaces and methods of producing same - A method for protecting a threaded metal joint from galling and corrosion includes providing a nanocrystalline coating on the metal surface. The nanocrystalline coating can include a solid or liquid lubricant to protect against wear. Threaded metal joint surfaces coated with the nanocrystalline coating can resist galling under high pressure and high torque, even after several fastening and unfastening operations and also over a long period of time. Protection from corrosion is also provided by the nanocrystalline coating. The method and nanocrystalline coating provide metal surfaces with both lubrication and protection against corrosion. Problems such as removal or leakage, which are associated with protective compounds that use oils, are avoided. The nanocrystalline coatings may be layers of the same material, or layers of differing materials, such as layers with lubricating particles dispersed throughout, and layers without lubricating particles. Such coatings may provide reduced wear, friction, corrosion and galling. Such coated threaded articles are very useful in messy and dirty environments, such as oil production and oil handling industries. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100140439 | Superelastic Alloy Structural Geometry for Ultrahigh Mechanical Damping - A mechanical structure is provided with a crystalline superelastic alloy that is characterized by an average grain size and that is characterized by a martensitic phase transformation resulting from a mechanical stress input greater than a characteristic first critical stress. A configuration of the superelastic alloy is provided with a geometric structural feature of the alloy that has an extent that is no greater than about 200 micrometers and that is no larger than the average grain size of the alloy. This geometric feature is configured to accept a mechanical stress input. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100282613 | Methods for tailoring the surface topography of a nanocrystalline or amorphous metal or alloy and articles formed by such methods - Electrochemical etching tailors topography of a nanocrystalline or amorphous metal or alloy, which may be produced by any method including, by electrochemical deposition. Common etching methods can be used. Topography can be controlled by varying parameters that produce the item or the etching parameters or both. The nanocrystalline article has a surface comprising at least two elements, at least one of which is metal, and one of which is more electrochemically active than the others. The active element has a definite spatial distribution in the workpiece, which bears a predecessor spatial relationship to the specified topography. Etching removes a portion of the active element preferentially, to achieve the specified topography. Control is possible regarding: roughness, color, particularly along a spectrum from silver through grey to black, reflectivity and the presence, distribution and number density of pits and channels, as well as their depth, width, size. Processing parameters that have been correlated in the Ni—W system to topography features include, for both the deposition phase and the etching phase of a nanocrystalline surface: duty cycle, current density, deposition duration, plating chemistry, polarity ratio. The relative influence of the processing parameters can be noted and correlated to establish a relationship between values for processing parameters and degree of topography feature. Control can be established over the topography features. Correlation can be made for any such system that exhibits a definite spatial distribution of an active element that bears a predecessor spatial relationship to a desired topography feature. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110083967 | ELECTRODEPOSITED ALLOYS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME USING POWER PULSES - Power pulsing, such as current pulsing, is used to control the structures of metals and alloys electrodeposited in non-aqueous electrolytes. Using waveforms containing different types of pulses: cathodic, off-time and anodic, internal microstructure, such as grain size, phase composition, phase domain size, phase arrangement or distribution and surface morphologies of the as-deposited alloys can be tailored. Additionally, these alloys exhibit superior macroscopic mechanical properties, such as strength, hardness, ductility and density. Waveform shape methods can produce aluminum alloys that are comparably hard (about 5 GPa and as ductile (about 13% elongation at fracture) as steel yet nearly as light as aluminum; or, stated differently, harder than aluminum alloys, yet lighter than steel, at a similar ductility. Al—Mn alloys have been made with such strength to weight ratios. Additional properties can be controlled, using the shape of the current waveform. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110220511 | ELECTRODEPOSITION BATHS AND SYSTEMS - Electrodeposition baths and systems. The baths and systems are useful for forming coated articles. The articles may include a base material and a coating comprising silver formed thereon. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a silver-based alloy, such as a silver-tungsten alloy. The coating may, in some instances, include at least two layers. For example, the coating may include a first layer comprising a silver-based alloy and a second layer comprising a precious metal. The coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability (e.g., wear), hardness, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, which may be beneficial, for example, in electrical and/or electronic applications. In some cases, the coating may be applied using an electrodeposition process. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110223442 | COATED ARTICLES AND METHODS - Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. The article may include a base material and a coating comprising silver formed thereon. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a silver-based alloy, such as a silver-tungsten alloy. The coating may, in some instances, include at least two layers. For example, the coating may include a first layer comprising a silver-based alloy and a second layer comprising a precious metal. The coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability (e.g., wear), hardness, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, which may be beneficial, for example, in electrical and/or electronic applications. In some cases, the coating may be applied using an electrodeposition process. | 09-15-2011 |
