BULK IRON-NICKEL GLASSES BEARING PHOSPHORUS-BORON AND GERMANIUM

• US 20140130942A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Glassimetal Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Floyd, Michael, Na, Jong Hyun, Demetriou, Marios D., Johnson, William L., Garrett, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 9,365,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 148/538
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/11 Making amorphous alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 45/008 with Fe, Co or Ni as the major constituent C22C45/02, C22C45/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 45/04 with nickel or cobalt as the major constituent

Abstract

An alloy comprising Fe, Ni, P, B and Ge is disclosed, having a composition according to the formula [Fe_1-yNi_y]_(100-a-b-c)P_aB_bGe_c, where a, b, c subscripts denote atomic percent; y subscript denotes atomic fraction, a is between 9 and 12, b is between 5.5 and 7.5, c is between 2 and 6, and y is between 0.45 and 0.55. Metallic glass rods with diameter of at least 1 mm can be formed from the alloy by rapid quenching from the molten state.

Claims

1. An alloy comprising

[Fe_1-yNi_y]_(100-a-b-c)P_aB_bGe_c

wherein:

the atomic percent of P a is between 9 and 12

the atomic percent of B b is between 5.5 and 7.5

the atomic percent of Ge c is between 2 and 6

the atomic fraction y is between 0.45 and 0.55.

and wherein the alloy is capable of forming a metallic glass rod having a diameter of at least 1 mm.

2. The alloy of claim 1, wherein a+b+c is between 21 and 23, and wherein the alloy is capable of forming a metallic glass rod having a diameter of at least 2 mm.

3. The alloy of claim 1, wherein y is between 0.475 and 0.525, and wherein the alloy is capable of forming a metallic glass rod having a diameter of at least 2 mm.

4. The alloy of claim 1, wherein a is between 10 and 11.5, and wherein the alloy is capable of forming a metallic glass rod having a diameter of at least 2 mm.

5. The alloy of claim 1, wherein b is between 6 and 7, and wherein the alloy is capable of forming a metallic glass rod having a diameter of at least 2 mm.

6. The alloy of claim 1, wherein c is between 4 and 5.5, and wherein the alloy is capable of forming a metallic glass rod having a diameter of at least 1 mm.

7. The alloy of claim 1, further comprising up to 5 atomic percent of Co in substitution of a species selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, or both.

8. The alloy of claim 1, further comprising up to 2.5 atomic percent of Cr, Ru, Pd, or combinations in substitution of a species selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, or both.

9. The alloy of claim 1, further comprising up to 2.5 atomic percent of Sn, Si, Sb, or combinations in substitution of a species selected from the group consisting of P, Ge, or both.

10. The alloy of claim 1, further comprising up to 2.5 atomic percent of C in substitution of B.

11. A metallic glass comprising the alloy of claim 1.

13. An alloy or metallic glass comprising a composition selected from a group consisting of Fe₃₉Ni₃₉P₁₁B_6.6Ge_4.4, Fe_38.9Ni_39.1P₁₁B_6.6Ge_4.4, Fe_38.8Ni_39.2P₁₁B_6.6Ge_4.4, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P₁₁B_6.6Ge_4.4, Fe_38.6Ni_39.4P₁₁B_6.6Ge_4.4, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P_11.2B_6.6Ge_4.2, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P_10.8B_6.6Ge_4.6, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P_10.4B_6.6Ge₅, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P_10.3B_6.6Ge_5.1, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P_10.6B_6.6Ge_5.4, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P_10.3B_6.7Ge₅, Fe_38.7Ni_39.3P_10.5B_6.5Ge₅, Fe_38.8Ni_39.4P_10.2B_6.7Ge₅, and Ge_38.6Ni_39.2P_10.6B_6.7Ge₅.

12. A product comprising the metallic glass of claim 13, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of inductors, transformers, clutches, and DC/AC converters.

14. A method for processing an alloy to form a metallic glass object, the method comprising:

melting an alloy comprising [Fe_1-yN_y]_(100-a-b-c)P_aB_bGe_c, wherein the atomic percent of P a is between 9 and 12, the atomic percent of B b is between 5.5 and 7.5, the atomic percent of Ge c is between 2 and 6, and the atomic fraction y is between 0.45 and 0.55, into a molten state; and

quenching the molten alloy at a cooling rate sufficiently rapid to prevent crystallization of the alloy to form the metallic glass object, and wherein the object has a lateral dimension of at least 1 mm.

15. The method of claim 15, further comprising fluxing the melt with a reducing agent prior to rapid quenching.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein fluxing is performed at temperature of at least 1100°

C. and for a duration of at least 500 s.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the temperature of the alloy melt prior to quenching is at least 100 degrees above the liquidus temperature of the alloy.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the temperature of the alloy melt prior to quenching is at least 1100°

C.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a product comprises the metallic glasses, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of inductors, transformers, clutches, and DC/AC converters.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein the reducing agent is boron oxide (B₂O₃).