Crucible and extrinsic facecoat compositions and methods for melting titanium and titanium aluminide alloys
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBernard Patrick Bewlay, Stephen Francis Bancheri, Joan McKiever, Brian Michael Ellis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Crucible compositions and methods of using the crucible compositions to melt titanium and titanium alloys. More specifically, crucible compositions having extrinsic facecoats comprising a rare earth oxide that are effective for melting titanium and titanium alloys for use in casting titanium-containing articles. Further embodiments are titanium-containing articles made from the titanium and titanium alloys melted in the crucible compositions. Another embodiment is a crucible curing device and methods of use thereof.
Claims20
A method for forming a crucible for melting titanium and titanium alloys useful in making a titanium-containing article, said method comprising:
- combining calcium aluminate cement with a liquid to produce a first slurry, wherein the percentage of solids in the first slurry is within the range of about 60% to about 80% and the viscosity of the first slurry is within the range of about 50 centipoise to about 150 centipoise;
- adding large-scale oxide particles greater than 50 microns in size into the first slurry to form a second slurry, wherein the percentage of solids in the second slurry is within the range of about 65% to about 900/%;
- introducing the second slurry into a crucible mold cavity with a removable crucible cavity pattern inserted into the crucible mold cavity;
- and
- allowing the second slurry to cure in the crucible mold cavity and around the removable crucible cavity pattern to form a crucible for use in melting titanium and titanium alloys with a wall that defines a thickness that does not vary by more than 30 percent throughout the crucible.
A method for forming a crucible for melting titanium and titanium alloys, the method comprising:
- introducing a slurry into a crucible mold cavity with a removable crucible cavity pattern inserted into the crucible mold cavity, wherein the slurry is formed by a combination of a) calcium aluminate cement with a liquid, wherein the percentage of solids in the combination is within the range of about 60% to about 80% and the viscosity of the combination is about 50 centipoise to about 150 centipoise, and b) large-scale oxide particles greater than 50 microns in size added to the combination to form the slurry;
- and
- allowing the slurry to cure in the crucible mold cavity and around the removable crucible cavity pattern to form a crucible for use in melting titanium and titanium alloys with a wall that defines a thickness that does not vary by more than 30 percent throughout the crucible.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.