The invention relates to an apparatus and process for solid-state deposition and consolidation of powder particles entrained in a subsonic or sonic gas jet onto the surface of an object. Under high velocity impact and thermal plastic deformation, the powder particles adhesively bond to the substrate and cohesively bond together to form consolidated materials with metallurgical bonds. The powder particles and optionally the surface of the object are heated to a temperature that reduces yield strength and permits plastic deformation at low flow stress levels during high velocity impact, but which is not so high as to melt the powder particles.

System and process for solid-state deposition and consolidation of high velocity powder particles using thermal plastic deformation

A beverage assembly includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, an inlet portion formed in the housing, a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within the inlet portion and having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size, a grinding mechanism positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet portion, and a piercing assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the piercing assembly selectively pierces the fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism selectively transforms the beverage ingredient from the first size to a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size. The beverage assembly further includes a brewing area disposed beneath the grinding assembly and configured to removably accommodate the beverage container after the beverage container has been pierced by the piercing assembly.

Brewed beverage appliance and method

A method and system to measure misalignment error between two overlying or interlaced periodic structures are proposed. The overlying or interlaced periodic structures are illuminated by incident radiation, and the diffracted radiation of the incident radiation by the overlying or interlaced periodic structures are detected to provide an output signal. The misalignment between the overlying or interlaced periodic structures may then be determined from the output signal.

Periodic patterns and technique to control misalignment between two layers

Contact resistance measurements were made on aluminium alloy sheet with a configuration relevant to electrical resistance spot welding. Previous work has shown that a small amount of sliding is required at the interface to break down contact resistance when the material has a thin, insulating coating. Sliding on a macroscopic scale occurs at the electrode-sheet interface but not at the faying surface. For this reason, the contact resistance at the faying surface is high and its behaviour with applied force is observed to be anomalous. However, local sliding on a microscopic scale can occur at the faying surface, depending on the surface roughness. The effect of surface roughness and oxide film thickness was investigated in the present work. In addition, the degree of sliding required to break down contact resistance was quantified in experiments in which relative rotation was induced at the faying surface. It is estimated that a sliding displacement of only about 10 μm is required to produce a dramatic reduction in contact resistance. The results are interpreted in terms of Holm's constriction resistance theory of microscopic spots of metal-to-metal contact within a mechanical contact area largely insulated by the presence of the surface oxide films.

The effect of surface roughness, oxide film thickness and interfacial sliding on the electrical contact resistance of aluminium.

The invention relates to a sputtering target which has a fine uniform equiaxed grain structure of less than 44 microns, no preferred texture orientation as measured by electron back scattered diffraction ('EBSD') and that displays no grain size banding or texture banding throughout the body of the target. The invention relates a sputtering target with a lenticular or flattened grain structure, no preferred texture orientation as measured by EBSD and that displays no grain size or texture banding throughout the body of the target and where the target has a layered structure incorporating a layer of the sputtering material and at least one additional layer at the backing plate interface, said layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion ('CTE') value between the CTE of the backing plate and the CTE of the layer of sputtering material. The invention also relates to thin films and their use of using the sputtering target and other applications, such as coatings, solar devices, semiconductor devices etc. The invention further relates to a process to repair or rejuvenate a sputtering target.

Fine grained, non banded, refractory metal sputtering targets with a uniformly random crystallographic orientation, method for making such film, and thin film based devices and products made there from

A composite metallurgical product includes a roll cast aluminum alloy core and a filler material bonded on the core. Assemblies joined by filler material are formed from this product by heating to flow the filler material into joints and subsequent solidification of the filler material in the joints. The composite product is made in several ways, including lamination at roll caster rolls, and lamination or thermal spraying at the exit side of a roll caster. The invention additionally provides for an angulation rolling method for varying percent of cladding on the composite, and a high-manganese aluminum alloy useful as core material in brazing sheet clad with aluminum-silicon brazing alloy.

Clad metallurgical products and methods of manufacture

Substantial surface areas can be treated by continuously magnetically moving an electric arc around a general loop direction such as a circle, ellipse or oval and moving the surface so that the arc treats a substantial surface area. The arc treatment can be used to clean or increase surface area, or both, and a reactant or treatment agent can be brought to the arc contact site to alter the surface treated with the arc. Auxiliary treatments for the surface can precede or follow the arc treatment, or both. The invention produces very desirable surface properties including a mild roughness or matte condition suitable even for critical applications such as aluminum lithoplate. Other surface characteristics can include one or more of: capillarity, adhesion, emissivity, stable oxide, paintability, and others. Applications and advantages are believed to include lithoplate, hydrophilic heat exchanger finstock, capacitor foil, can sheet, venetian blind stock, adhesive bonded laminates and other bonded structural materials or structures, welding rod, aluminum brazing sheet, interrogatable strips for optical control instruments, enhanced, high current contacts, improved, controlled or differential friction characteristics for forming and shaping, automotive and other sheet, hot roll bonding, galvanizing and zinc coating of steel, texturing mill rolls, pretreatment for thermal spray treatments, organic coating adhesion, improved paint hiding performance, prosthetics, biohost or catalyst support and others. The process is applicable to aluminum, steel and other metals and other materials capable of carrying current sufficiently to maintain an electric arc.

Method for treating a surface such as a metal surface and producing products embodying such including lithoplate

This invention provides a method for expanding at least a portion of a cylindrical sidewall of a generally cylindrically shaped, electrically responsive, metallic body. This method comprises the steps of retaining at least a first portion of the metallic body, disposing a coil of electrically conductive material inside the metallic body, and energizing the coil to create an electromagnetic force sufficient to expand at least a portion of the generally cylindrical sidewalls of the metallic body outwardly of the original generally cylindrical shape. During such expansion, a fluid is introduced between the coil and the inside surfaces of the container to maintain positive gauge pressure as the sidewalls expand. This invention also provides an apparatus for expanding at least a portion of a cylindrical sidewall of a generally cylindrically shaped, electrically responsive, metallic body. The apparatus comprises a retaining mechanism for holding the metallic body, a coil of electrically conductive material, structure for disposing the coil inside the metallic body, and structure for energizing the coil sufficient to expand at least a portion of the sidewall of the metallic body. Means for maintaining positive gauge pressure during expansion is also included in the apparatus.

Method and apparatus for reforming a container

A method of coating a vehicle wheel (10) to increase wear and corrosion resistance of the vehicle wheel (10), includes the steps of providing a vehicle wheel (10) and applying a wear and corrosion resistant coating (14) onto a surface of the vehicle wheel (10). The coating (14) is applied to at least a tire bead retaining flange (16, 24) of the vehicle wheel (10). The coating (14) is of particular use with vehicle wheels (10) made of forged aluminum. The coating (14) is selected from tungsten carbide, optionally including cobalt or chrome, a nickel-based superalloy, aluminum and silicon carbide, or stainless steel. The coating (14) is typically applied to a thickness of about 0.004 - 0.01 inch. The surface of the vehicle wheel (10) may be prepared by mechanically abrading the surface or chemically etching the surface of the vehicle wheel (10). The coating (14) may be applied by cold spraying, thermal spraying, or triboelectric discharge kinetic spraying and other similar processes.

Edward P. Patrick

Papers

Clad metallurgical products and methods of manufacture

Method for treating a surface such as a metal surface and producing products embodying such including lithoplate

Method and apparatus for reforming a container

Coated vehicle wheel and method

Understanding the Process Mechanisms Is Key to Reliable Resistance Spot Welding Aluminum Auto Body Components