Si(Ge)(-) Cu(-)V Universal alloy steel

• US 6,187,261 B1
• Filed: 01/07/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Modern Alloy Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Modern Alloy Company LLC
• Inventors: Fedchun, Vladimir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, NGOCLAN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/003,923
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 420/8, 420/90-91, 420/104, 420/49, 420/55, 420/58, 420/60, 420/112, 420/119
• US Class Current: 420/8
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/002 containing In, Mg, or other elements not provided for in one single group C22C38/001 - C22C38/60
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/20 with copper
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/24 with vanadium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/20 Carburising
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/24 Nitriding

Abstract

A composition and method for reducing cost and improving the mechanical properties of alloy steels. The invention resides in the ability of certain combinations of carbon-subgroup surfactants and d-transition metals to modify and control diffusion mechanisms of interstitial elements; to reduce or prevent the formation of non-equilibrium segregations of harmful admixtures and brittle phases on free metal surfaces and grain and phase boundaries; and to alter and control phase transformation kinetics in steel during heating and cooling.

Claims

1. An alloy steel composition comprising by weight percent:

0.60-1.50% germanium;

0.40-0.80% copper;

0.10-0.35% vanadium; and

the remainder, iron, manganese, silicon, chromium, carbon and incidental impurities.

2. (Reproduced anew as submitted in the Response (Paper No. 17) to the Final Office action) A general purpose construction carburizing or nitriding steel composition comprising by weight percent:

0.75-1.50% of silicon;

0.40-0.80% of copper;

0.10-0.35 of vanadium;

0.35-0.75% of manganese;

0.60-3.0% of chromium;

0.08 to less than 0.30% of carbon;

iron and the remainder incidental impurities, whereby improved mechanical properties, reduced complexity, and reduced costs of steel compositions are attained.