Phase separated composite materials
US5158933A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 1990 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/12104
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of forming a phase-separated composite material which utilizes sputtering in a thermal gradient at relatively high sputtering pressures generally above about 0.1 Torr sufficient to produce nanoscale particles which are embedded in a continuous phase matrix produced by normal sputtering. This method avoids the alloying and/or compound formation which prevents preparation of phase-separated composites by conventional co-sputtering, and the invention thus enables particulate composites to be formed from entirely new classes of materials. Microhardness testing shows that the phase-separated composites produced by the present invention have an increased hardness compared to the pure matrix material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.