Electrochemical grain refining of a metal
AssigneeNational Research Council of Canada
InventorsBenli Luan, Jianguo Yu
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Abstract
A method for surface and subsurface grain refining of a bulk hydrogen-absorbing metal includes the steps of cathodically charging the bulk hydrogen-absorbing metal with an electric current in the presence of a source of hydrogen to hydride the hydrogen-absorbing metal, and, changing polarity of the electric current to dehydride the hydrogen-absorbing metal. The method results in improvement to hardness and/or wear resistance of the metal, particularly titanium alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V. Metals treated with this method are particularly useful for medical implants and vehicle parts in which improved hardness and/or wear resistance is required.
Claims19
A method for surface and subsurface grain refining of a bulk hydrogen-absorbing metal comprising:
- (a) cathodically charging the bulk hydrogen-absorbing metal with an electric current in the presence of a source of hydrogen to thereby hydride the hydrogen-absorbing metal;
- and,
- (b) changing polarity of the electric current to thereby dehydride the hydrogen-absorbing metal.
A method for surface and subsurface grain refining of a bulk titanium alloy comprising:
- (a) cathodically charging the bulk titanium alloy with an electric current in an aqueous inorganic acid or an aqueous inorganic base to thereby hydride the titanium alloy;
- and,
- (b) changing polarity of the electric current to thereby dehydride the titanium alloy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.