# US 7,608,127 B2 · Particle reinforced noble metal matrix composite and method of making same

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- Number: US 7,608,127 B2
- Document ID: US7608127B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/035,798
- Filed: 2008-02-22
- Published: 2008-07-24
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2004-10-27
- Assignees: University of Cincinnati
- Inventors: Ray Y. Lin; Donald E. Stafford
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608127B2

## CPC

- C22C 5/02: Alloys based on gold
- C22C 1/1036: {starting from a melt}
- C22C 32/0052: {only carbides}
- Y10T 428/256: Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to particle reinforced noble metal matrix composites and a method of making the same. The composites include a noble metal such as silver, gold, and alloys thereof, as a base or matrix, and a particle reinforced filler material, such as a carbide. A pressureless infrared heating, or superheating, process is used to produce the particle reinforced noble metal matrix composites thereby providing a composite with at least sufficient hardness, i.e. wear resistance, and/or low resistivity. The composites may be used in the jewelry industry, such as for making watches, rings, and other jewelry, and/or in the power, automobile, and aircraft industries, such as for making electrical contact materials.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A particle reinforced noble metal matrix composite, consisting of:
a noble metal selected from gold or alloys thereof and a particle material selected from a carbide, wherein the particle reinforced noble metal matrix composite includes a noble metal content between 56% and 75% by weight, a Vickers hardness of at least about 171, and a density value of at least about 97% of a theoretical density value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The particle reinforced noble metal matrix composite of claim 1 wherein the carbide includes tungsten carbide or molybdenum carbide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The particle reinforced noble metal matrix composite of claim 1 wherein the particle reinforced noble metal matrix composite includes a Vickers hardness of at least about 216.