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US 5,704,993 AGranted
High conductivity composite metal
AssigneeThe Regents of the Univerisity of California, Office of Technology Transfer
InventorsRuoyi Zhou, James L. Smith, John David Embury
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Abstract
Electrical conductors and methods of producing them, where the conductors possess both high strength and high conductivity. Conductors are comprised of carbon steel and a material chosen from a group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, and gold. Diffusion barriers are placed between these two materials. The components of a conductor are assembled and then the assembly is subjected to heat treating and mechanical deformation steps.
Claims36
A method for making an electrical conductor comprising:
- a. providing a core element of carbon steel having an elongated generally cylindrical shape and a carbon content of from about 0.3 to about 0.8 weight percent;
- b. covering the elongated surface of said core element with a diffusion barrier;
- c. placing said covered core element inside a hollow cylinder of a highly conductive material to form an assembly, where said material is chosen from a group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, and gold;
- d. evacuating air from said assembly and sealing the ends of the assembly to maintain its interior in the evacuated condition;
- e. annealing the assembly;
- f. mechanically deforming the assembly by reducing its cross-sectional area to form a billet;
- g. heating said billet to a temperature greater than austenization temperature of said carbon steel and maintaining it at that temperature for a time period effective for austenization to take place;
- h. rapidly cooling the billet to a temperature of from about 270.degree. C. to about 310.degree. C.;
- i. heating the billet to a temperature of from about 400.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. and maintaining its temperature within that range for a time period of from about 5 to about 20 minutes;
- j. rapidly cooling the billet to a temperature of less than about 200.degree. C.;
- and
- k. mechanically deforming the billet by reducing the cross-sectional area of the billet to form a conductor.
9 more elements
A method for making an electrical conductor comprising:
- a. providing a core element of a highly conductive material having an elongated generally cylindrical shape, where said material is chosen from a group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, and gold;
- b. covering the elongated surface of said core element with a diffusion barrier;
- c. placing said covered core element inside a hollow cylinder of carbon steel having a carbon content of from about 0.3 to about 0.8 weight percent to form a first assembly;
- d. covering the elongated surface of said first assembly with a diffusion barrier;
- e. placing said covered first assembly in a hollow cylinder of a highly conductive material to form a second assembly, where said material is chosen from a group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, and gold;
- f. evacuating air from said second assembly and sealing the ends of the second assembly to maintain its interior in the evacuated condition;
- g. annealing the second assembly;
- h. mechanically deforming the second assembly by reducing its cross-sectional area to form a billet;
- i. heating said billet to a temperature greater than austenization temperature of said carbon steel and maintaining it at that temperature for a time period effective for austenization to take place;
- j. rapidly cooling the billet to a temperature of from about 270.degree. C. to about 310.degree. C.;
- k. heating the billet to a temperature of from about 400.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. and maintaining its temperature within that range for a time period of from about 5 to about 20 minutes;
- l. rapidly cooling the billet to a temperature of less than about 200.degree. C.;
- and
- m. mechanically deforming the billet by reducing the cross-sectional area of the billet to form a conductor.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.