Powder mixtures containing uniform dispersions of ceramic particles in superalloy particles and related methods

Abstract

Embodiments of a method for producing powder mixtures having uniform dispersion of ceramic particles within larger superalloy particles are provided, as are embodiments of superalloy powder mixtures. In one embodiment, the method includes producing an initial powder mixture comprising ceramic particles mixed with superalloy mother particles having an average diameter larger than the average diameter of the ceramic particles. The initial powder mixture is formed into a consumable solid body. At least a portion of the consumable solid body is gradually melted, while the consumable solid body is rotated at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture in which the ceramic particles are embedded within the superalloy mother particles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 producing an initial powder mixture comprising ceramic particles mixed with superalloy mother particles having an average diameter larger than the average diameter of the ceramic particles;   forming the initial powder mixture into a consumable solid body; and   gradually melting at least a portion of the consumable solid body, while rotating the consumable solid body at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture in which the ceramic particles are embedded within the superalloy mother particles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein gradually melting comprises gradually melting at least a portion of the consumable solid body, while rotating the consumable solid body at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture in which substantially all of the ceramic particles are embedded within the superalloy mother particles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein gradually melting at least a portion of the consumable solid body, while rotating the consumable solid body at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture is carried-out utilizing a plasma rotating electrode process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the superalloy mother particles have an average diameter between about 10 and 50 microns when contained within the initial powder mixture. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the superalloy mother particles have an average diameter between about 5 and about 40 microns after gradually melting at least a portion of the consumable solid body, while rotating the consumable solid body at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the superalloy mother particles contained in the initial power mixture are at least 100 times the size of the ceramic particles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ceramic particles comprise at least one of the group consisting of carbide, nitride, boride, silicide, and oxide particles. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ceramic particles comprise non-oxide ceramic particles, and wherein the initial powder mixture contains between about 5% to about 10% of the non-oxide ceramic particles, by weight. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further producing the rings of a rolling element bearing utilizing the uniformly dispersed powder mixture. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ceramic particles comprise oxide particles. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the initial powder mixture contains between about 0.5% to about 1% of the oxide particles, by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, during the process of gradually melting at least a portion of the consumable solid body, while rotating the consumable solid body at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture, the consumable solid body is heated utilizing at least one of the group consisting of a laser heat source and a plasma torch. 
     
     
         13 . A superalloy powder mixture, comprising:
 a particle-infiltrated superalloy powder, comprising:
 a plurality of superalloy mother particles; and 
 ceramic particles embedded into the plurality of superalloy mother particles and having an average diameter less than an average diameter of the superalloy mother particles. 
   
     
     
         14 . The superalloy powder mixture of  claim 13  wherein the ceramic particles comprise oxide particles. 
     
     
         15 . The superalloy powder mixture of  claim 14  wherein the oxide particles are selected from the group consisting of alumina particles and zirconia particles. 
     
     
         16 . The superalloy powder mixture of  claim 13  wherein the ceramic particles comprise non-oxide particles selected from the group consisting of carbide particles, boride particles, nitride particles, and silicide particles. 
     
     
         17 . The superalloy powder mixture of  claim 13  wherein the ceramic particles have an average diameter between about 10 and about 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         18 . The superalloy powder mixture of  claim 17  wherein the superalloy mother particles have an average diameter between about 5 and about 40 microns. 
     
     
         19 . An article of manufacture formed from a superalloy powder mixture, wherein the superalloy powder mixture comprises a particle-infiltrated superalloy powder, comprising:
 a plurality of superalloy mother particles;   ceramic particles embedded into the plurality of superalloy mother particles and having an average diameter less than an average diameter of the superalloy mother particles; and   hard wear mixed with the superalloy powder, the hard wear particles having an average diameter greater than that of the ceramic particles and less than that of the superalloy mother particles, and   wherein the article of manufacture comprises a superalloy matrix in which the ceramic particles and the hard wear particles are suspended.   
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 19  selected from the group consisting of an inner ring or an outer ring of a ball bearing, a turbine blade, a turbine vane, a turbine nozzle ring, and combinations thereof.