Intermetallic articles of manufacture having high room temperature ductility

Abstract

Article of manufacture fabricated by plastic deformation of an intermetallic compound comprising R and M, such as an RM intermetallic compound and a higher order compound thereof, having a CsCl-type ordered crystal structure wherein R is one or more rare earth elements and M is one or more non-rare earth metals. The article of manufacture has a tensile elongation of at least about 5% prior to fracture when tensile tested at room temperature in ambient air. The article of manufacture also can be fabricated by plastic deformation of an intermetallic compound comprising a M′M compound and a higher order compound thereof having a CsCl-type ordered crystal structure wherein M′ and M are one or more different non-rare earth metals.

1 . Article of manufacture fabricated of an intermetallic compound comprising R and M having a CsCl-type ordered crystal structure wherein R is one or more rare earth elements and M is one or more non-rare earth metals and having a tensile elongation of at least about 5% prior to fracture when tensile tested at room temperature in ambient air.  
     
     
         2 . The article of manufacture selected from a compound represented by RM and a higher order compound thereof selected from (R,R′)M, R(M,M′), (R,R′) (M,M′) and (R,R′ . . . R n ) (M,M′ . . . M n ), where the prime designates a different R or M element from the non-prime R or M and where n can be 3, 4 or more and designates a different R or M element from the other R or M elements of the compound.  
     
     
         3 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein said R element is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.  
     
     
         4 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  wherein said M metal is selected from at least one late transition metal and Group I, II, or III metal of the Periodic Table.  
     
     
         5 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2  wherein said M element is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, and Ti.  
     
     
         6 . The article of manufacture of  claim 5  where said M element is selected from a metal or non-metal not included in  claim 4  and whose concentration is limited to the maximum solid solubility of said metal or non-metal in said compound such that said compound retains said crystal structure.  
     
     
         7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  having a tensile elongation of at least about 10% prior to fracture when tensile tested at room temperature in ambient air.  
     
     
         8 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising an engine component for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.  
     
     
         9 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a component for a gas turbine engine.  
     
     
         10 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a load-bearing structural component for a vehicle.  
     
     
         11 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a die.  
     
     
         12 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a component of mining or petroleum recovery equipment.  
     
     
         13 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a damping component to reduce vibrations.  
     
     
         14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a clad component.  
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a dental component.  
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising jewelry.  
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a catalyst.  
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a getter.  
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a diffusion barrier component.  
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising an electrical component.  
     
     
         21 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a magnetic component.  
     
     
         22 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a valve.  
     
     
         23 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a nozzle.  
     
     
         24 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a separator.  
     
     
         25 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a component of a pump.  
     
     
         26 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a boiler tube.  
     
     
         27 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a component of a component of a medical device.  
     
     
         28 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a large neutron absorption cross-section material.  
     
     
         29 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a hydrogen storage member.  
     
     
         30 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a membrane for hydrogen separation or purification.  
     
     
         31 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a coating.  
     
     
         32 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a superconductor.  
     
     
         33 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising a metallic mirror.  
     
     
         34 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising an antibacterial agent.  
     
     
         35 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1  comprising black gold jewelry having an oxide layer on the RM material where M is Au.  
     
     
         36 . Article of manufacture fabricated of an intermetallic compound comprising M′ and M having a CsCl-type ordered crystal structure wherein M′ and M are one or more different non-rare earth metals having a tensile elongation of at least about 5%. prior to fracture when tensile tested at room temperature in ambient air.  
     
     
         37 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising an engine component for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.  
     
     
         38 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a component for a gas turbine engine.  
     
     
         39 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a load-bearing structural component for a vehicle.  
     
     
         40 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a die.  
     
     
         41 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a component of mining or petroleum recovery equipment.  
     
     
         42 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a damping component to reduce vibrations.  
     
     
         43 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a clad component.  
     
     
         44 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a dental component.  
     
     
         45 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising jewelry.  
     
     
         46 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a catalyst.  
     
     
         47 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a getter.  
     
     
         48 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a diffusion barrier component.  
     
     
         49 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising an electrical component.  
     
     
         50 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a magnetic component.  
     
     
         51 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a valve.  
     
     
         52 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a nozzle.  
     
     
         53 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a separator.  
     
     
         54 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a component of a pump.  
     
     
         55 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a boiler tube.  
     
     
         56 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a component of a component of a medical device.  
     
     
         57 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a large neutron absorption cross-section material.  
     
     
         58 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a hydrogen storage member.  
     
     
         59 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a membrane for hydrogen separation or purification.  
     
     
         60 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a coating.  
     
     
         61 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a superconductor.  
     
     
         62 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising a metallic mirror.  
     
     
         63 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising an antibacterial agent.  
     
     
         64 . The article of manufacture of  claim 36  comprising black gold jewelry having an oxide layer on the M′M material where M′ or M is Au.  
     
     
         65 . A method of making an article of manufacture, comprising plastically deforming a body comprising an intermetallic compound comprising R and M having a CsCl-type ordered crystal structure wherein R is one or more rare earth elements and M is one or more non-rare earth metals.  
     
     
         66 . A method of making an article of manufacture, comprising plastically deforming a body comprising an intermetallic compound comprising M′ and M having a CsCl-type ordered crystal structure wherein M′ and M are one or more different non-rare earth metals.