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US 9,327,342 B2Granted
Lubrication processes for enhanced forgeability
AssigneeATI Properties, Inc.
InventorsScott Oppenheimer, Robin M. Forbes Jones, John V. Mantione, Ramesh S. Minisandram, Jean-Philippe Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Forge lubrication processes are disclosed. A solid lubricant sheet is placed between a workpiece and a die in a forging apparatus. Force is applied to the workpiece with the die to plastically deform the workpiece. The solid lubricant sheet decreases the shear friction factor for the forging system and reduces the incidence of die-locking.
Claims28
A forge lubrication process comprising:
- positioning a solid graphite sheet into a formed die cavity, in contact with a working surface of a die, and between a workpiece and the die in a closed-die forging apparatus, the solid graphite sheet comprising a pre-formed non-planar shape that matches a non-planar contour of at least a region of the die, and the workpiece comprising one of titanium, a titanium alloy, zirconium, and a zirconium alloy, wherein the solid graphite sheet comprises the pre-formed non-planar shape before contacting the working surface of the die;
- and
- applying force to the workpiece to plastically deform the workpiece;
- wherein the workpiece is at a temperature greater than 1000° F. during the deformation, and a shear friction factor between the die and the workpiece during deformation is less than 0.50.
1 more element
A forge lubrication process comprising:
- positioning a solid lubricant sheet into a formed die cavity, in contact with a working surface of a die, and between a workpiece and the die in a closed-die forging apparatus, the solid lubricant sheet comprising a pre-formed non-planar shape that matches a non-planar contour of at least a region of the die, wherein the solid lubricant sheet comprises the pre-formed non-planar shape before contacting the working surface of the die;
- and
- applying force to the workpiece with the die to plastically deform the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.