Alloys and processes for making and using same

Abstract

Alloys and processes for making and using same. In some examples, an alloy can include greater than 50 wt % to less than 65 wt % bismuth; greater than 35 wt % to less than 50 wt % tin; about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % indium; and at least one of: about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % antimony, about 0.01 wt % to about 0.5 wt % gallium, about 0.01 wt % to about 4 wt % zinc, and about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % chromium, with all weight percent values based on a total weight of the alloy. In other examples, an alloy can include greater than 50 wt % to less than 65 wt % bismuth; greater than 35 wt % to less than 50 wt % tin; about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % indium, and less than 1 wt % of lead, with all weight percent values based on a total weight of the alloy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alloy, comprising:
 greater than 50 wt % to less than 65 wt % bismuth;   greater than 35 wt % to less than 50 wt % tin;   about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % indium; and   at least one of:
 about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % antimony, 
 about 0.01 wt % to about 0.5 wt % gallium, 
 about 0.01 wt % to about 4 wt % zinc, and 
 about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % chromium, 
   wherein all weight percent values are based on a total weight of the alloy.   
     
     
         2 . The alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % copper, and   about 0.01 wt % to about 1 wt % nickel, based on the total weight of the alloy.   
     
     
         3 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises about 1.5 wt % to about 6.5 wt % of a combined amount of antimony, gallium, zinc, and chromium, based on the total weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises at least 90 wt % of a combined amount of bismuth and tin, based on the total weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt % gallium, about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt % zinc, and about 0.1 wt % to about 1.5 wt % chromium, based on the total weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         6 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises about 0.1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % antimony, about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt % gallium, about 0.1 wt % to about 4 wt % zinc, and about 0.1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % chromium, based on the total weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises about 0.1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % antimony and about 0.1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % chromium, based on the total weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy has a melting point of about 115° C. to about 137° C., as measured according to ASTM E794-06 (2012). 
     
     
         9 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy has a melting point of about 115° C. to about 130° C., as measured according to ASTM E794-06 (2012). 
     
     
         10 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy has a Vickers Hardness number of greater than 16, as measured according to ASTM E384-17 with a 50 gram indentation load applied for 60 seconds. 
     
     
         11 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy has a Vickers hardness number of greater than 20, as measured according to ASTM E384-17 with a 50 gram indentation load applied for 60 seconds. 
     
     
         12 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy has a latent heat of fusion of greater than 45 J/g, as measured according to ASTM E793-06 (2012). 
     
     
         13 . A process for sealing a void in a downhole environment, comprising:
 introducing an alloy into a wellbore, wherein the alloy comprises greater than 50 wt % to less than 65 wt % bismuth, greater than 35 wt % to less than 50 wt % tin, and about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % indium, and wherein all weight percent values are based on a total weight of the alloy;   melting the alloy to produce a liquid alloy;   flowing the liquid alloy into a void; and   solidifying the liquid alloy to produce a sealed void.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the void is the wellbore, is located within a subterranean formation, is a fluid passage located in a downhole tool, or is an annular cavity between a pair of co-axial well tubulars. 
     
     
         15 . An alloy, comprising:
 greater than 50 wt % to less than 65 wt % bismuth;   greater than 35 wt % to less than 50 wt % tin;   about 0.01 wt % to about 2.5 wt % indium, and   less than 1 wt % of lead, wherein all weight percent values are based on a total weight of the alloy.   
     
     
         16 . The alloy of  claim 15 , wherein the alloy comprises about 0.1 wt % to less than 2 wt % indium, based on the total weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         17 . The alloy of  claim 15 , wherein the alloy is free of lead. 
     
     
         18 . The alloy of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of:
 about 0.1 wt % to about 3 wt % antimony,   about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt % gallium,   about 0.1 wt % to about 4 wt % zinc,   about 0.1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % chromium,   about 0.1 wt % to about 3 wt % copper, and   about 0.1 wt % to about 1 wt % nickel,   wherein all weight percent values are based on the total weight of the alloy.   
     
     
         19 . The alloy of  claim 15 , further comprising about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt % gallium, about 0.1 wt % to about 4 wt % zinc, and about 0.1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % chromium, wherein all weight percent values are based on the total weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The alloy of  claim 15 , further comprising about 0.1 wt % to about 3 wt % antimony, about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt % gallium, about 0.1 wt % to about 4 wt % zinc, and about 0.1 wt % to about 2.5 wt % chromium, wherein all weight percent values are based on the total weight of the alloy.