US2013156633A1PendingUtilityA1

Aluminum composite and method of making same

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 15, 2000Filed: Jul 5, 2012Published: Jun 20, 2013
Est. expiryMar 15, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Matthew E. BlankenhornWilliam F. Clifford, Sr.
C22B 21/06C22B 9/16C22B 4/02C22C 21/00
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention includes a method of making aluminum composite compositions and to an aluminum composite composition for creating a heat-treatable material that is harder, tougher, and lighter per volume than standard aluminum.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: Molten Aluminum Precursor Based Upon Carbon Homogeneously Dispersed Throughout Using Organic Compounds Or Carbonaceous Materials and No Specified Atmosphere With Change In Grain Structure 
     
         1 . A molten aluminum composite precursor comprising:
 (a) molten aluminum and   (b) carbon present in said molten aluminum in an amount in the range of about 0.08% and %10.0 by weight and homogeneously dispersed in solution throughout said molten aluminum;   and wherein an electric current is being passed through said molten aluminum so as to cause a change in grain structure as compared to aluminum.   
     
     
         2 . A molten aluminum composite precursor according to  claim 1  wherein said electric current is sufficient to cause a change in the grain structure of said aluminum once solidified. 
       Method Based Upon Carbon Homogeneously Dispersed Throughout Using Organic Compounds Or Carbonaceous Materials and No Specified Atmosphere With Change in grain structure 
     
     
         3 . A method for incorporating carbon homogeneously into an aluminum feedstock for forming a hardened aluminum product, which comprises the steps of:
 (a) providing a molten aluminum feedstock;   (b) mixing a material selected from the group consisting of organic compounds and carbonaceous materials with said molten aluminum while running electric current through said molten aluminum; and   (c) recovering said hardened aluminum product with carbon homogeneously dispersed in solution throughout whereby said aluminum product has a grain structure altered as compared to aluminum.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of powdered carbon, charcoal, activated carbon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, thermally decomposable organic polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said mixing is carried out under an inert atmosphere. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said carbon is present in an amount in the range of between about 0.08 and about 10.0 weight-percent. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said hardened aluminum product has a density less than that of 99.5% pure aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said hardened aluminum product has a hardness greater than that of 99.5% pure aluminum. 
       Method Based Upon Carbon Homogeneously Dispersed Throughout Using Organic Compounds Or Carbonaceous Materials and No Specified Atmosphere With Formation of Carbon Ions 
     
     
         9 . A method for incorporating carbon homogeneously into an aluminum feedstock for forming a hardened aluminum product, which comprises the steps of:
 (a) providing a molten aluminum feedstock;   (b) mixing a material selected from the group consisting of organic compounds and carbonaceous materials with said molten aluminum while running electric current through said molten aluminum so as to generate carbon ions ; and   (c) recovering said hardened aluminum product with carbon homogeneously dispersed throughout.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of powdered carbon, charcoal, activated carbon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, thermally decomposable organic polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said mixing is carried out under an inert atmosphere. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said carbon is present in an amount in the range of between about 0.08 and about 10.0 weight-percent. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said hardened aluminum product has a density less than that of 99.5% pure aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said hardened aluminum product has a hardness greater than that of 99.5% pure aluminum. 
       Method Based Upon Carbon Homogeneously Dispersed Throughout Using Organic Compounds Or Carbonaceous Materials and No Specified Atmosphere With Formation of Carbides 
     
     
         15 . A method for incorporating carbon homogeneously into an aluminum feedstock for forming a hardened aluminum product, which comprises the steps of:
 (a) providing a molten aluminum feedstock;   (b) mixing a material selected from the group consisting of organic compounds and carbonaceous materials with said molten aluminum while running electric current through said molten aluminum so as to form carbides; and   (c) recovering said hardened aluminum product with carbon homogeneously dispersed throughout.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein said material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of powdered carbon, charcoal, activated carbon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, thermally decomposable organic polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein said mixing is carried out under an inert atmosphere. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein said carbon is present in an amount in the range of between about 0.08 and about 10.0 weight-percent. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein said hardened aluminum product has a density less than that of 99.5% pure aluminum. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein said hardened aluminum product has a hardness greater than that of 99.5% pure aluminum.

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