Method for producing ultrafine-grained crystalline materials via electron beam processing
US10577684B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 2017 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/25
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process is disclosed for restructuring crystalline grain structure and grain size of a material to produce an ultrafine-grain structure. An electron beam source is configured in relation to specific properties of a material forming a solid body to selectively irradiate a surface and a subsurface of that body with electrons at desired locations on the body and to create at least one selectively localized molten pool of defined size in the body. Heat is generated sufficiently rapidly by the beam source to create thermal gradients of sufficient magnitude to permit the body outside of the pool to act as a heat sink and rapidly cool the at least one molten pool, whereby an ultrafine-grain structure and grain size is produced by freezing grain growth upon occurrence of crystal nucleation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.