Method for making small diameter nickel-titanium metal alloy balls
US11517962B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 2021 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB22F2998/10
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for making small diameter NiTi metal alloy components, including balls, comprising providing a metal powder comprising nickel, titanium, and a transition metal, consolidating the metal powder into cylindrical rods, and cutting the cylindrical rods into segments. The segments are then machined into spheres slightly larger than the finished ball size diameter. The spheres are heat treated to solutionize and dissolve all phases and subsequently cooled without the need for rapid quenching due to the influence of the transition metal to suppresses the formation of soft phases in the spheres, wherein such soft phases prevent hardening, to achieve a Rockwell hardness of HRC 58-62. Finally, the hardened spheres are polished until the desired finished ball size diameter and surface finish is achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.