Tantalum and niobium billets and methods of producing the same
First Claim
1. A process for making an extruded tantalum billet, comprising extruding a tantalum ingot having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the tantalum billet during extrusion and form said extruded tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet from said extruding, and said extruded tantalum billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded tantalum billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Extruded tantalum billets and niobium billets are described having a substantially uniform grain size and preferably an average grain size of about 150 microns or less and more preferably an average grain size of about 100 microns or less. The extruded billet can then be forged or processed by other conventional techniques to form end use products such as sputtering targets. A process for making the extruded tantalum billets or niobium billets is also described and involves extruding a starting billet at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the billet and form the extruded billet of the present invention.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A process for making an extruded tantalum billet, comprising extruding a tantalum ingot having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the tantalum billet during extrusion and form said extruded tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet from said extruding, and said extruded tantalum billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded tantalum billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 41, 42)
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6. A process for making an extruded tantalum billet, comprising extruding a starting tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the tantalum billet to form said extruded tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet from said extruding, and said extruded tantalum billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded tantalum billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 43, 44, 45)
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11. A process for making an extruded tantalum billet comprising cutting an ingot into at least one starting billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% and either applying a protective coating on said starting billet or placing said starting billet in a can;
extruding the starting billet at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the tantalum billet and to form said extruded tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet from said extruding, and said extruded tantalum billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded tantalum billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 46, 47, 48)
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19. A process for making an extruded tantalum billet comprising extruding a tantalum ingot having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% to form an extruded tantalum billet and then annealing said extruded tantalum billet at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the extruded tantalum billet and form said extruded tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet from said extruding, and said extruded tantalum billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded tantalum billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
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20. A process for making an extruded tantalum billet comprising extruding a starting tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% to form said extruded tantalum billet and then annealing said extruded tantalum billet for a sufficient time and for a sufficient temperature to at least partially recrystallize the extruded tantalum billet and form said extruded tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet from said extruding, and said extruded tantalum billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded tantalum billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
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21. A process for making an extruded tantalum billet comprising cutting an ingot into at least one starting billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% and either applying a protective coating on said starting billet or placing said starting billet in a can;
extruding the starting billet to form said extruded tantalum billet and then annealing said extruded tantalum billet at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the extruded tantalum billet and form said extruded tantalum billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet from said extruding, and said extruded tantalum billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded tantalum billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded tantalum billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
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22. A process for making an extruded niobium billet, comprising extruding a niobium ingot having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% to form said extruded niobium billet, wherein said extruding is at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the niobium billet during extrusion and said extruding forms said extruded niobium billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet from said extruding, and said extruded niobium billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded niobium billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 49, 50, 51)
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27. A process for making an extruded niobium billet, comprising extruding a starting niobium billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the niobium billet and form said extruded niobium billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet from said extruding, and said extruded niobium billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded niobium billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
- View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 52, 53, 54)
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32. A process for making an extruded niobium billet, comprising cutting an ingot into at least one starting billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% and either applying a protective coating on said starting billet or placing said starting billet in a can;
extruding the starting billet at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the niobium billet and form said extruded niobium billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet from said extruding, and said extruded niobium billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded niobium billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.- View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A process for making an extruded niobium billet, comprising extruding a niobium ingot having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% to form an extruded niobium billet and then annealing said extruded niobium billet at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the extruded niobium billet and form said extruded niobium billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet from said extruding, and said extruded niobium billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded niobium billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
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59. A process for making an extruded niobium billet, comprising extruding a starting niobium billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% to form said extruded niobium billet and then annealing said extruded niobium billet for a sufficient time and for a sufficient temperature to at least partially recrystallize the extruded niobium billet and form said extruded niobium billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
- inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet from said extruding, and said extruded niobium billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded niobium billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
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60. A process for making an extruded niobium billet, comprising cutting an ingot into at least one starting billet having a cylindrical shape having a cross section with a diameter of 6 inches to about 14 inches and having a metal purity of at least 99.99% and either applying a protective coating on said starting billet or placing said starting billet in a can;
extruding the starting billet to form said extruded niobium billet and then annealing said extruded niobium billet at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to at least partially recrystallize the extruded niobium billet and form said extruded niobium billet having a cylindrical shape with an aspect ratio L/D greater than 0.5 with a reduced diameter of 3½
inches or greater and a substantially uniform grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet from said extruding, and said extruded niobium billet has an average grain size throughout the cross section of the extruded niobium billet of about 150 microns or less, and said extruded niobium billet is about 98% or more recrystallized.
Specification