# US 7,745,765 B2 · Thermal and high magnetic field treatment of materials and associated apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,765 B2 - Document ID: US7745765B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/480,683 - Filed: 2006-07-03 - Published: 2006-12-28 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-19 - Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC - Inventors: Roger A. Kisner; John B. Wilgen; Gerard M. Ludtka; Roger A. Jaramillo; Gail Mackiewicz-Ludtka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745765B2 ## CPC - H05B 6/105: {using a susceptor} - C21D 1/04: with simultaneous application of supersonic waves, magnetic or electric fields - H05B 6/101: {for local heating of metal pieces} - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract An apparatus and method for altering characteristics, such as can include structural, magnetic, electrical, optical or acoustical characteristics, of an electrically-conductive workpiece utilizes a magnetic field within which the workpiece is positionable and schemes for thermally treating the workpiece by heating or cooling techniques in conjunction with the generated magnetic field so that the characteristics of the workpiece are effected by both the generated magnetic field and the thermal treatment of the workpiece. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for altering characteristics of a workpiece which includes an electrically-conductive material, the process comprising the steps of: providing a workpiece comprising an electrically conductive material within a bore of a magnet; providing, between the workpiece and the magnet, a means for thermally treating the workpiece; exposing the workpiece to an ultrahigh magnetic field of at least one Telsa generated by the magnet; and thermally treating the workpiece by the means in conjunction with the exposure of the workpiece to the magnetic field so that the characteristics of the workpiece are affected by both the ultrahigh magnetic field and the thermal treatment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of thermally treating includes a step of heating the workpiece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of heating is carried out with induction heating techniques. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of thermally treating includes a step of cooling the workpiece. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process as defined in claim 4 wherein the step of cooling includes a step of introducing a cooling medium into contact with the workpiece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The process as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of introducing includes a step of directing a cooling fluid across the workpiece. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process as defined in claim 6 wherein the cooling fluid directed across the workpiece is one of a gas from a group of gases consisting of argon and helium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of thermally treating includes: a step of heating the workpiece; and a step of cooling the workpiece. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of heating the workpiece and the step of cooling the workpiece are coordinated with one another to impart preselected characteristics to the workpiece. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the bore of the magnet defines a passageway, and further comprising moving the workpiece through the passageway during the exposure to the ultrahigh magnetic field. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the ultrahigh magnetic field is at least as high as 1 Tesla. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process as defined in claim 11 wherein the ultrahigh magnetic field is as high as several tens of Tesla. ### Claim 13 A process for altering characteristics of a workpiece, the process comprising: disposing a workpiece comprising an electrically conductive material within a bore of a magnet; providing a heating medium adjacent to the workpiece; thermally treating the workpiece; exposing the workpiece to an ultrahigh magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla generated by the magnet during the thermal treatment so as to alter characteristics of the workpiece by both the ultrahigh magnetic field and the thermal treatment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein the heating medium is selected from the group consisting of: an induction heating coil, resistance heating elements, a heated gas, a heated liquid, and a heated metal salt. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein thermally treating the workpiece comprises heating the workpiece using the heating medium and cooling the workpiece by contacting the workpiece with a cooling fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15 wherein the cooling occurs after the exposure to the ultrahigh magnetic field. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein the bore of the magnet defines a passageway, and further comprising moving the workpiece through the passageway during the exposure to the ultrahigh magnetic field. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein the magnet comprises an annular core, and the heating medium is disposed between the workpiece and the magnet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein the bore of the magnet has an open end. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein the magnet comprises a superconductor.