Method of making tin-base body solder and product
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorDouglas J. Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In the preferred embodiment, a method is presented for filling depressions in fabricated steel surfaces by applying a metallic body solder consisting of 15 to 20 weight percent copper, 2 to 3 weight percent zinc and the balance tin. The body solder alloy is heated to a temperature above about 210.degree. C. to form a workable thixotropic paste that is applied with spreading onto the steel surface. Upon cooling, the body solder forms a dense, tightly adherent fill that is grindable and paintable in conjunction with the surrounding steel surface.
Claims5
A method of manufacturing a tin-base alloy suitable for use in filling a depression in a fabricated steel surface, said tin-base alloy consisting essentially of about 15 to 20 weight percent copper, about 2 to 3 weight percent zinc and the balance tin, said method comprising
- casting a homogeneous melt of the alloy,
- cooling said casting at a rate sufficient to form in the alloy microstructure a dendrite secondary arm spacing between about 1 to 10 microns, and
- working said casting to an extent equivalent to reducing a cross-sectional diameter by at least 4:1.
A method of manufacturing a tin-base alloy suitable for use in filling a depression in a fabricated steel surface, said tin-base alloy consisting essentially of about 10 to 25 weight percent copper, about 1 to 7.5 weight percent zinc and the balance tin, said method comprising
- casting a homogeneous melt of the alloy into a suitable shape adapted for extrusion,
- cooling said casting at a rate faster than about 1.degree. C. per second, and
- extruding said cast shape to form a bar, said alloy being worked during extrusion such that the alloy readily forms a spreadable paste upon heating to above 210.degree. C.
A method of manufacturing a tin-base alloy suitable for use in filling a depression in a fabricated steel surface, said tin-base alloy consisting essentially of about 15 to 20 weight percent copper, about 2 to 3 weight percent zinc and the balance tin, said method comprising
- casting a homogeneous melt of the alloy into a suitable shape adapted for extrusion,
- cooling said casting at a rate between about 10.degree. to about 100.degree. C. per second, and
- extruding said cast shape at a temperature less than about 150.degree. C. to form a bar, said alloy being worked during extrusion to an extent equivalent to reducing a cross-sectional diameter by at least 4:1.
A cast and extruded bar comprising an alloy suitable for use as a body solder to fill a depression in a steel surface, said alloy consisting essentially of, by weight, about 10 to 25 percent copper, about 1 to 7.5 percent zinc and the balance tin, said bar formed by casting a homogeneous melt of the alloy, rapidly cooling and extruding the cast and cooled alloy such that the product alloy forms a workable thixotropic paste upon heating.
A cast and extruded bar comprising an alloy suitable for use as a body solder to fill a depression in a steel surface, said alloy consisting essentially of, by weight, about 15 to 20 percent copper, about 2 to 3 percent zinc and the balance tin, said alloy bar formed by casting a homogeneous melt of the alloy into a suitable shape for extrusion, cooling the casting at a rate faster than about 1.degree. C. per second and extruding the cast shape at a temperature less than about 150.degree. C. under conditions suitable for working the alloy to an extent equivalent to reducing a cross-sectional diameter by at least 4:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.