Increasing The Strength Of Metals And Metal Components

Abstract

A method for increasing the strength of metals or metal components includes selecting a wrought metal or powder metal sample having a mass equal to or greater than a final mass of a component to be formed. If the sample is wrought metal, it is placed in a die cavity and subjected to high velocity adiabatic impact that forms a component having greater mechanical strength than the original wrought metal sample. If the sample is powder metal, it is placed in a die cavity and subjected to high velocity adiabatic impact to form a green preform that is sintered in a substantially oxygen free environment to form a sintered preform. The sintered preform has greater mechanical strength than a conventional wrought metal sample of the same material. The sintered preform may be optionally placed in a final die cavity and subjected to high velocity adiabatic impact to form a component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for increasing the strength of metals or metal components, comprising:
 selecting a wrought metal or powder metal sample;   said sample having a mass equal to or greater than a final mass of a component to be formed;   if said sample is a wrought metal sample:
 placing said wrought metal sample in a die cavity incorporating geometric features of said component to be formed; 
 subjecting said wrought metal sample in said die cavity to high velocity adiabatic impact; 
 said high velocity adiabatic impact forming said wrought metal sample into a component having greater mechanical strength than said wrought metal sample prior to receiving said high velocity adiabatic impact; 
   if said sample is a powder metal sample:
 placing said powder metal sample in a die cavity incorporating geometric features of a green preform to be created; 
 subjecting said powder metal sample in said die cavity to high velocity adiabatic impact to form said green preform; 
 sintering said green preform in a substantially oxygen free environment to form a sintered preform; and 
 said sintered preform having greater mechanical strength than a wrought metal sample of the same material that has not received high velocity adiabatic impact. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said wrought metal or power metal sample comprises titanium. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is a wrought metal sample. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is a wrought metal sample comprising Ti64 titanium alloy and said component has a mechanical strength at least approximately 21% greater than said wrought metal sample prior to receiving said high velocity adiabatic impact. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is a powder metal sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is a powder metal sample and said green preform has a density in excess of 95% of a wrought metal sample of the same material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said powder metal sample comprises Ti64 titanium alloy and said sintered preform has a mechanical strength at least approximately 27-32% greater than a wrought metal sample of the same material that has not received high velocity adiabatic impact. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said powder metal sample comprises Ti-CP2 commercially pure titanium and said sintered preform has a mechanical strength at least approximately 71-94% greater than a wrought metal sample of the same material that has not received high velocity adiabatic impact. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein no isostatic pressing is performed prior to, during or after said sintering. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is a powder metal sample, and wherein said method further includes:
 placing said sintered preform in a die cavity incorporating geometric features of said component to be formed; and   subjecting said sintered preform in said die cavity to high velocity adiabatic impact to form said component.   
     
     
         11 . A method for increasing the strength of metals or metal components, comprising:
 selecting a wrought metal sample;   said wrought metal sample having a mass equal to or greater than a final mass of a component to be formed;   placing said wrought metal sample in a die cavity incorporating geometric features of said component to be formed;   subjecting said wrought metal sample in said die cavity to high velocity adiabatic impact; and   said high velocity adiabatic impact forming said wrought metal sample into a component having greater mechanical strength than said wrought metal sample prior to receiving said high velocity adiabatic impact.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said wrought metal sample comprises titanium. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein wrought metal sample comprises Ti64 titanium alloy and said component has a mechanical strength at least approximately 21% greater than said wrought metal sample prior to receiving said high velocity adiabatic impact. 
     
     
         14 . A method for increasing the strength of metals or metal components, comprising:
 selecting a powder metal sample;   said powder metal sample having a mass equal to or greater than a final mass of a component to be formed;   placing said powder metal sample in a die cavity incorporating geometric features of a green preform to be created;   subjecting said powder metal sample in said die cavity to high velocity adiabatic impact to form said green preform;   sintering said green preform in a substantially oxygen free environment to form a sintered preform; and   said sintered preform having greater mechanical strength than a wrought metal sample of the same material that has not received high velocity adiabatic impact.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said green preform has a density in excess of 95% of a wrought metal sample of the same material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said powder metal sample comprises titanium. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said powder metal sample comprises Ti64 titanium alloy and said sintered preform has a mechanical strength at least approximately 27-32% greater than a wrought metal sample of the same material that has not received high velocity adiabatic impact. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said powder metal sample comprises Ti-CP2 commercially pure titanium and said sintered preform has a mechanical strength at least approximately 71-94% greater than a wrought metal sample of the same material that has not received high velocity adiabatic impact. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein no isostatic pressing is performed prior to, during or after said sintering. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said method further includes:
 placing said sintered preform in a die cavity incorporating geometric features of said component to be formed; and   subjecting said sintered preform in said die cavity to high velocity adiabatic impact to form said component.