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US 6,332,906 B1Granted
Aluminum-silicon alloy formed from a metal powder
AssigneeCalifornia Consolidated Technology, Inc.
InventorsTom Haynes, Kevin Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aluminum-silicon alloys having high stiffness are used in forming computer memory disks and actuator arms. Disks formed with the alloy have low flutter and can be spun at 12,000 RPM or greater with a flutter of 10 Å or less.
Claims26
An extruded article formed by a process comprising the steps of
- (a) forming atomized particulates consisting essentially of from about 20 to about 40% by weight magnesium and the balance aluminum, the particulates having a particle size of from about 8 to about 35 microns and comprising a microstructure of silicon particles of from about 1 to about 10 microns in an aluminum matrix;
- (b) compacting the particulates in a mold;
- (c) subjecting the compacted particulates to a vacuum of less than about 10 torr absolute pressure to remove air and other gaseous materials from between the particulates and the mold;
- (d) isostatically compressing the particulates to a pressure of at least about 30,000 psi and at a temperature of less than about 100° C., thereby forming a green billet;
- (e) vacuum sintering the green billet under a vacuum of less than about 100 torr absolute pressure and/or an inert as environment at a temperature less than that which substantially affects the particulate microstructure, thereby forming a sintered billet;
- and
- (f) extruding the sintered billet and forming metal to metal bonds between the sintered particulates of the billet, thereby forming the extruded article.
4 more elements
An actuator arm for a computer disk drive, comprising a metal alloy formed by a process comprising the steps of
- (a) forming atomized particulates consisting essentially of from about 20 to about 40% by weight silicon, up to 4% by weight magnesium and the balance aluminum, the particulates having a particle size of from about 8 to about 35 microns and comprising a microstructure of silicon particles of from about 1 to about 10 microns in an aluminum matrix;
- (b) compacting the particulates in a mold;
- (c) subjecting the compacted particulates to a vacuum of less than about 10 torr absolute pressure to remove air and other gaseous materials from between the particulates and the mold;
- (d) isostatically compressing the particulates to a pressure of at least about 30,000 psi and at a temperature of less than about 100° C., thereby forming a green billet;
- (e) vacuum sintering the green billet under a vacuum of less than about 100 torr absolute pressure and at a temperature less than that which substantially affects the particulate microstructure, thereby forming a sintered billet;
- and
- (f) working the sintered billet into the actuator arm.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.