# US 12,000,057 B2 · Method for improving mechanical properties by changing gradient nanotwinned structure of metallic material

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,000,057 B2
- Document ID: US12000057B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/044,617
- Filed: 2018-09-20
- Published: 2021-05-20
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-31
- Assignees: Institute of Metal Research Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Applicants: Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Inventors: Lei Lu; Zhao Cheng; Shuai Jin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000057B2

## CPC

- C25C 1/12: of copper
- C25C 7/06: Operating or servicing
- C25D 5/617: {Crystalline layers}
- C25D 21/12: Process control or regulation (controlling or regulating in general G05)
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- C25D 3/38: of copper
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- C25C: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method for improving mechanical properties by changing a gradient nanotwinned structure of metallic materials is the technical field of nanostructured metallic materials. The method uses the inherent principles of microstructure and mechanical properties of metallic materials to improve materials mechanical properties. The metallic materials has a gradient nanotwinned structure. The principles of microstructure and mechanical properties of the metallic materials mean that the mechanical properties of the metallic materials are adjusted by changing the structural gradient scale of the nanotwinned structure. The method combines two strengthening methods of nanotwins and gradient structure, and can obviously improve the mechanical properties of the metallic materials. For pure copper materials of the gradient nanotwinned structure prepared by an electrodeposition technology: the yield strength is 481±15 MPa, the tensile strength is 520±12 MPa, the uniform elongation can be 7±0.5%, and the elongation to failure can be 11.7±1.3%.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for preparing a metallic material having a gradient nanotwinned structure, comprising:
placing a cathode and an anode in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises metal cations;
carrying out electrodeposition by applying a direct current to the cathode and the anode;
changing a temperature of the electrolyte during the electrodeposition; and
obtaining the metallic material having the gradient nanotwinned structure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the electrolyte is in a range of 5° C. to 60° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises copper cations and the metallic material is a gradient nanotwinned copper.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein a structural gradient of the nanotwinned copper is 1-50 GPa/mm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein, at room temperature and a tensile rate of 5×10−3 s−1, the nanotwinned copper has a yield strength of 300-500 MPa, a tensile strength of 350-600 MPa, and a uniform elongation of 5-15%.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein, when a true strain is 1%, the nanotwinned copper has a work hardening rate of 1-3 GPa.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the temperature of the electrolyte increases a grain size of the metallic material having the gradient nanotwinned structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing a rate of temperature change to changing a scale of a structural gradient of the metallic material having the gradient nanotwinned structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein decreasing the temperature of the electrolyte decreases a grain size of the metallic material having the gradient nanotwinned structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the temperature of the electrolyte decreases a grain size of the metallic material having the gradient nanotwinned structure.