Tungsten heavy metal alloy powders and methods of forming them
AssigneeH.C. Stark Inc.
InventorsMichael T. Stawovy, Scott D. Ohm, Fahrron C. Fill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various embodiments, metallic alloy powders are formed at least in part by spray drying to form agglomerate particles and/or plasma densification to form composite particles.
Claims22
A powder for additive manufacturing of a part comprising a refractory metal alloy, wherein the refractory metal alloy (i) comprises (a) one or more refractory metals selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, rhenium, tungsten, and molybdenum, and (b) one or more additional metals each having a melting point lower than a melting point of each said one or more refractory metals, and (ii) has a theoretical density corresponding to a weighted average of the densities of the one or more refractory metals and the one or more additional metals, the powder comprising a plurality of substantially spherical and dry composite particles, wherein:
- each composite particle comprises a plurality of grains (i) comprising at least one said one or more refractory metals and (ii) surrounded by a matrix comprising the one or more additional metals, and
- the powder is disposed within a powder bed of an additive manufacturing apparatus.
A wire preform for fabricating a refractory metal alloy, wherein the refractory metal alloy (i) comprises (a) one or more refractory metals selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, rhenium, tungsten, and molybdenum, and (b) one or more additional metals each having a melting point lower than a melting point of each said one or more refractory metals, and (ii) has a theoretical density corresponding to a weighted average of the densities of the one or more refractory metals and the one or more additional metals, the wire preform comprising:
- a cylindrical tube;
- and
- a powder disposed within the tube, the powder comprising a plurality of substantially spherical and dry composite particles,
- wherein each composite particle comprises a plurality of grains (i) comprising at least one said one or more refractory metals and (ii) surrounded by a matrix comprising the one or more additional metals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.