Method for diffusion bonding of alloys having low solubility oxides

Abstract

Diffusion bonding of surface layers of an alloy, such as an aluminum alloy, having surface oxides of low solubility in the alloy includes treating the surface layers to be bonded to remove existing surface oxide coatings, and diffusion bonding the surface layers to one another by placing the alloy to be bonded under sufficient pressure to cause disruption of the oxide coatings by localized surface deformation of the alloy, enhanced by a superplastic microstructure, without substantial deformation of the alloy, i.e., macroscopic deformation approaching zero percent, while heating the alloy in a non-oxidizing atmosphere for a time sufficient for diffusion bonding to occur. The alloy may be treated so that at least the surface layers thereof have a fine grain structure of the type associated with superplastic forming properties. Components may be formed by diffusion bonding and superplastic forming.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.