Method for adhering reinforcing patches during superplastic forming
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsPaul Edward Krajewski, Georg M. Barton
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for temporarily bonding reinforcing sheet metal pieces or other metal pieces to a sheet metal blank for forming at an elevated temperature such as is employed in superplastic forming of suitable aluminum, magnesium, stainless steel or titanium alloys. The pieces are bonded to the blank in locations in which the piece will acquire a desired shape from co-formation with the blank. Suitable water suspendible sodium silicate compositions, such as water glass bond the piece to the blank during high temperature forming and permit removal after forming.
Claims10
A method of temporarily bonding reinforcing sheet metal pieces to a metal blank for simultaneous forming of the reinforcing pieces and blank in an elevated temperature sheet metal forming operation, said method comprising
- preparing one or more reinforcing sheet metal pieces for location on, and co-formation with, a larger, superplastic formable, sheet metal blank;
- determining a location for each said piece on a region of said blank that will acquire a formed shape during said forming operation;
- bonding said piece to said blank prior to said forming operation using a water dispersed alkali silicate containing adhesive and, thereafter
- forming said piece and said blank.
A method of heating a superplastic formable sheet metal bland to its superplastic forming temperature and stretching the sheet metal blank against a forming tool so that at least a portion of the sheet takes the shape of the forming tool, said method comprising:
- temporarily bonding a second metal object to a predetermined location on the sheet prior to said stretching using an aqueous suspension comprising sodium silicate, and thereafter
- stretching said sheet such that metal object is carried on the sheet location as the sheet undergoes deformation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.