Apparatus and method for bonding refractory metals
AssigneeICON Medical Corp.
InventorsRaymond W. Buckman, JR., Udayan Patel
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of bonding refractory metal alloys together by use of a modified clamping arrangement.
Claims30
1-37. (canceled)
A clamping arrangement for use compress together two articles so that a welded bond can be formed between the two articles, said two articles formed of refractory metal alloy, said clamping arrangement including a first clamp that is at least partially formed of a tungsten material, said first clamp designed to releasably secure a portion of one of said articles to be bonded and to release from said article after said bond is formed between said two articles, said tungsten material includes a majority weight percent tungsten and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of rhenium, hafnium carbide, an oxide of thorium, an oxide of lanthanum, and mixtures thereof.
A method for forming a bond between first and second articles, said two articles formed of refractory metal alloy, said method comprising:
- a) providing a first clamp, said first clamp including a clamping region designed to releasably secure a portion of said first article, said clamping region at least partially formed of a tungsten material, said tungsten material includes a majority weight percent tungsten and one or more additives selected from the group consisting of rhenium, hafnium carbide, an oxide of thorium and an oxide of lanthanum;
- b) releasably securing said first article by said clamping region of said first clamp;
- c) positioning a portion of said first article into contact with a portion of said second article;
- d) applying heat at or near a region wherein said first and second articles are in contact until a bond is formed between said first and second articles;
- and,
- e) releasing said first article from said clamping region of said first clamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.