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US 6,712,916 B2Granted
Metal superplasticity enhancement and forming process
AssigneesThe Curators of the University of Missouri, Murray W. Mahoney
InventorsRajiv S. Mishra, Murray W. Mahoney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shaped metallic component is formed by friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from the single piece of bulk metal. The metal blank is then deformed by a metal deformation process such as forging, rolling, drawing, bending, extruding, gas forming, punching, and stamping.
Claims30
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank by a process selected from the group of metallic deformation processes consisting of forging, rolling, drawing, bending, extruding, gas forming, punching, and stamping to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
A method for producing a shaped aluminum alloy component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk aluminum alloy to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic aluminum alloy blank from said single piece of bulk aluminum alloy;
- and
- deforming the superplastic aluminum alloy blank to form a shaped aluminum alloy component from said single superplastic aluminum alloy blank.
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- treating a single piece of bulk metal by friction stirring a first segment of the single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and avoiding friction stirring a second segment of the single piece of bulk metal to thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal having a first superplastic segment and a second non-superplastic segment;
- and
- deforming the first superplastic segment of the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto by inserting a probe into the bulk metal and rotating the probe thereby generating frictional heat between the bulk metal and the probe to impart the superplasticity and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto by inserting a probe into the bulk metal and rotating the probe thereby generating frictional heat between the bulk metal and the probe to impart the superplasticity and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- wherein a shoulder carried by the probe and rotating therewith is contacted with a surface of the bulk metal thereby generating frictional heat between the bulk metal and the shoulder;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank;
- wherein said deforming is accomplished at least in part by mechanical forces applied by, and metal containment achieved by, the shoulder of the probe.
2 more elements
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal having an average grain size of at least about 20 microns to reduce the average grain size to less than about 10 microns and impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal having a ductility of less than about 20% to increase said ductility to at least about 100% and impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- wherein the friction stirring reduces flow stress in the bulk metal such that the segment of the bulk metal has a flow stress prior to friction stirring which is relatively greater than a flow stress of the corresponding segment of the superplastic metal blank;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
1 more element
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal having a thickness of at least about 1 inch to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank having a thickness of at least about 1 inch from said single piece of bulk metal;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- wherein the average grain size of any 150 micron by 150 micron cross section of a segment of the superplastic metal blank corresponding to the segment of the bulk metal subjected to friction stirring differs by no more than 20% from the grain size of any other 150 micron by 150 micron cross section of said segment of the superplastic metal blank;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
1 more element
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to reduce the average grain size and impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- wherein more than 90% of grain boundaries of the superplastic metal blank are characterized by a grain boundary misorientation of more than about 15 degrees;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
1 more element
A method for producing a shaped metallic component comprising:
- friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal having an average grain size of at least about 20 microns and a ductility of less than about 20% by inserting a probe into the bulk metal and rotating the probe thereby generating frictional heat between the bulk metal and the probe to reduce the average grain size to less than about 10 microns, increase the ductility to at least about 100%, impart superplasticity thereto, and reduce flow stress thereof, and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from said single piece of bulk metal;
- and
- deforming the superplastic metal blank by a process selected from the group of metallic deformation processes consisting of forging, rolling, drawing, bending, extruding, gas forming, punching, and stamping to form a shaped metallic component from said single superplastic metal blank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.