Refractory metal coated metal-working dies
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsHarold C. Sanborn, Frank Carago, John R. Kreeger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Metal-working dies which are typically made of steel are provided with substantially enhanced life by receiving a plasma-sprayed refractory metal coating which is subsequently compacted under conditions of minimum shear stress. The number of working cycles which can be obtained from a die before it is necessary to rework the die can be improved by as much as 3500%.
Claims4
A method for improving the durability of metal-working dies having surfaces with predetermined contours including the steps of:
- a. working at least one article to said predetermined contours using said dies;
- b. plasma spraying at least a portion of the contoured surfaces with a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, columbium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, hafnium, and mixtures thereof;
- c. reforming the article shaped in step a. in said coated dies to densify said sprayed coating without causing substantial metal flow or shear stresses;
- whereby the coated, densified dies exhibit substantially enhanced resistance to wear during use.
A metal-working die having on its surface a compacted plasma sprayed coating of a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, columbium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, hafnium, and mixtures thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.