Articles for use with highly reactive alloys

• US 7,790,101 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gigliotti, Michael Francis Xavier Jr., Bewlay, Bernard Patrick, Kelly, Thomas Joseph, Weimer, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kerns; Kevin P
• Application Number:
  US11/646,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 164/335, 164/72, 164/267, 266/44, 266/282, 266/275, 75/101.8, 432/262, 432/264, 432/265
• US Class Current: 266/275
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 34/1295 Refining, melting, remelting, working up of titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 9/003 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 14/10 Crucibles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

Articles for use with highly reactive alloys that include a graphite crucible having an interior, and at least a first protective layer applied to the interior of the graphite crucible in which the graphite crucible having the first protective layer is used for melting highly reactive alloys.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a graphite crucible having an interior;

a first protective layer comprising a foil liner applied to the interior of the graphite crucible, the foil liner comprising about 100% of at least one of a high melting point alloy element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, tungsten, and molybdenum; and

a second protective layer comprising a carbide coating applied to the first protective layer

wherein the first and second protective layers make the crucible capable of containing a molten titanium aluminide alloy having a melting point of from about 1370°

C. to about 1700°

C.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the carbide coating comprises the at least one high melting point alloy element heat treated in a carborizing atmosphere.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein the foil liner comprises a thickness of from about 0.005 mm to about 2 mm.

4. An article comprising:

a graphite crucible having an interior;

a first protective layer comprising a carbide coating applied to the interior of the graphite crucible; and

a second protective layer comprising a foil liner applied to the first protective layer, the foil liner comprising about 100% of at least one of a high melting point alloy element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, tungsten, and molybdenum

wherein the first and second protective layers make the crucible capable of containing a molten titanium aluminide alloy having a melting point of from about 1370°

C. to about 1700°

C.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the carbide coating comprises the at least one high melting point alloy element heat treated in a carborizing atmosphere.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein the foil liner comprises a thickness of from about 0.005 mm to about 2 mm.