Method of inspecting a metal alloy part for incipient melting
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsThomas A. Vetere, Stephen M. Kurpaska, Edward R. Szela, John M. Robertson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of inspecting a repaired metal alloy part to analyze a microstructure of the metal part includes placing a replicating material on a surface of the metal part to create an inverted replica of the microstructure. The replicating material is then removed from the surface. An image of the inverted replica on the replicating material is magnified in order to evaluate the microstructure for incipient melting and areas of boride concentration. This inspection method facilitates that evaluation without causing any destruction to the metal part.
Claims26
A method of inspecting a repaired metal part to determine whether further repair is appropriate, the method comprising:
- placing a replicating material on a surface of the metal part to create an inverted replica of a microstructure of the surface;
- removing the replicating material from the surface of the metal part;
- magnifying an image of the inverted replica on the replicating material;
- and
- analyzing the image to determine whether an area of boron concentration is present on the metal part.
A method of analyzing a microstructure of a metal alloy part used in a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- preparing a surface of the metal alloy part;
- placing a replicating material on the surface of the metal alloy part;
- leaving the replicating material on the surface of the metal alloy part for a time sufficient to create an inverted replica of the microstructure of the metal alloy part;
- removing the replicating material from the surface of the metal alloy part;
- and
- evaluating a magnified image of the inverted replica to determine whether an area of boron concentration is present on the metal alloy part.
A method of evaluating a metal alloy of a gas turbine engine airfoil to determine if incipient melting has occurred as a result of a braze alloy repair, the method comprising:
- preparing a surface of the airfoil;
- applying a replicating material to the surface of the airfoil for a time sufficient to create an inverted replica of a microstructure of the airfoil on the replicating material;
- and
- magnifying an image of the inverted replica to determine if incipient melting has occurred in the metal alloy of the airfoil as a result of the braze alloy repair by inspecting the inverted replica for an area of boron concentration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.