Compositionally graded amorphous metal alloys and process for the synthesis of same

• US 4,859,413 A
• Filed: 12/04/1987
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Standard Oil Company Cleveland Oh
• Original Assignee: Standard Oil Company (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Henderson, Richard S., Harris, Jonathan H., Tenhover, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/129,029
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 419/32, 419/33, 419/46, 420/590
• US Class Current: 419/32
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2009/041 by mechanical alloying, e.g. blending, milling
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/023 Hydrogen absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/04 starting from solid material, e.g. by crushing, grinding or milling C22C1/1084 takes precedence; crushing, grinding or milling, in general, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B02C
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0031 Intermetallic compounds; Metal alloys; Treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0047 containing a rare earth metal; Treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0052 also containing titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0057 also containing nickel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0078 Composite solid storage mediums, i.e. coherent or loose mixtures of different solid constituents, chemically or structurally heterogeneous solid masses, coated solids or solids having a chemically modified surface region
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/383 Hydrogen absorbing alloys
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a process for the synthesis of a compositionally graded substantially amorphous metal alloy comprising:

(a) combining a bulk hydrogen storage material with an A-containing material to obtain a mixture thereof;

(b) sealing the mixture in a mechanical milling device under an inert atmosphere; and

(c) milling the mixture.

Alloys produced by this process are useful for the efficient cyclic storage and release of hydrogen in large quantities without becoming embrittled, inactivated or corroded.

Claims

1. A process for the synthesis of a compositionally graded substantially amorphous metal alloy of the formula

View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)

2. The process as in claim 1 wherein said bulk hydrogen storage material is an amorphous polycrystalline, multi-phase polycrystalline or crystalline material.

3. The process as in claim 1 wherein said A-containing material is a crystalline element, crystalline alloy or amorphous alloy.

4. The process as in claim 1 wherein said mixture is obtained by physically mixing said bulk hydrogen storage material and said A-containing material.

5. The process as in claim 1 wherein said mixture is obtained by electroless deposition of said A-containing material onto said bulk hydrogen storage material.

6. The process as in claim 1 wherein said mixture has a particle size of up to about 250μ

.

7. The process as in claim 1 wherein said inert atmosphere is nitrogen, argon, helium or hydrogen.

8. The process as in claim 7 wherein said atmosphere is nitrogen.

9. The process as in claim 1 wherein said milling is accomplished by vibratory ball milling.

10. The process as in claim 9 wherein said milling is carried out for up to about 5 hours.

11. The process as in claim 9 wherein a milling additive is used to decrease particle size of said alloy.

12. The process as in claim 11 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of organic solvents, inorganic materials and polymeric materials.

13. The process as in claim 12 wherein said additive is heptane.

14. The process as in claim 1 wherein said milling results in said alloy having at least fifty percent of said A component disposed on or near the surface of said alloy.

15. The process as in claim 1 wherein said milling results in said alloy having at least seventy-five percent of said A component disposed on or near the surface of said alloy.

16. The process as in claim 1 wherein said milling results in said alloy having at least one hundred percent of said A component disposed on or near the surface of said alloy.