Aluminum-molybdenum-zirconium-tin master alloys

Abstract

The present invention relates to titanium base alloys, and more particularly to aluminum-molybdenum-zirconium-tin master alloys, which are suitable for further alloying into titanium base alloys. The present invention also relates to methods for producing aluminum-molybdenum-zirconium-tin master alloys, which are useful in providing titanium base alloys containing refractory materials of greater homogeneity. In accordance with the present invention, the tin: zirconium ratio is reduced from about 1:2 to about 1:1, thereby lowering the amount of excess zirconium. After the highest melting point tin: zirconium intermetallic phases have been precipitated, there is little or no excess zirconium to precipitate out with aluminum; therefore, all of the aluminum is available to combine with molybdenum to precipitate the target lower melting point intermetallic phases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aluminum-molybdenum-zirconium-tin master alloy composition formed by a single stage thermite reaction, said composition comprising about 36 weight % aluminum, 36 weight % molybdenum, about 12 weight % zirconium, and about 12 weight % tin, wherein the alloy is in a form of an ingot. 
     
     
         2 . The composition as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ingot has a weight of about 120 pounds. 
     
     
         3 . The composition as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the ingot has a weight of about 100 pounds. 
     
     
         4 . The composition as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy is used for disks, blades and seals of turbine engines. 
     
     
         5 . The composition as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy is used for airframe parts. 
     
     
         6 . The composition as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is produced by melting pure titanium with the alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The composition as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising about 4 weight % titanium.