Sintered Metal Cladding on Complex Metallic Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cladding techniques for metallic substrates are unsuitable for complex geometries and often require substantial deposition times or operating temperatures that can be detrimental to substrate integrity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a sheet with an organic binder and powder metal or alloy, where the powder has a lower solidus temperature than the substrate, is used to create a sintered metal or alloy cladding through heating, achieving full densification and metallurgical bonding, potentially with hard particles for composite claddings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional cladding techniques (weld overlay, plasma transferred arc, thermal spray, laser cladding, infrared cladding, or induction cladding) are used, then cladding can be applied to metallic substrates, but they are unsuitable for complex geometries or require substantial deposition times and/or operating temperatures detrimental to substrate integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuitability for complex geometriesVSAvoiddeposition time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter by using lower heating temperatures (below the solidus temperature of the substrate) compared to conventional cladding techniques. This allows the cladding to be applied to complex geometries without requiring excessive deposition time or causing substrate damage, while still achieving full densification and metallurgical bonding through controlled sintering of the powder coating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical/thermal cladding processes (welding, plasma, laser) with a sintering-based process where powder coating is heated to sinter the metal particles together and bond them to the substrate. This substitution enables application to complex geometries with shorter times and lower temperatures, avoiding substrate integrity issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If conventional cladding techniques are used, then cladding can be applied to metallic substrates, but operating temperatures are detrimental to substrate integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate integrityVSAvoidoperating temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter by conducting the cladding process at temperatures below the solidus temperature of the substrate, rather than using high temperatures typical of conventional techniques. This parameter change protects substrate integrity while still achieving full densification and metallurgical bonding through controlled sintering of the powder coating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If powder metal or alloy with lower solidus temperature is used, then full densification and metallurgical bonding can be achieved at lower temperatures, but the cladding material must be carefully selected to match substrate requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecladding densificationVSAvoidmaterial selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter by using lower heating temperatures (below substrate solidus) and combines this with specific powder material selection having lower solidus temperatures. This enables full densification and metallurgical bonding while protecting substrate integrity, though it does require careful material selection to match substrate requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for flexible cladding on complex geometries with full densification and metallurgical bonding, providing enhanced durability and integrity while avoiding detrimental temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

heating the powder metal or powder alloy to provide a sintered metal or sintered alloy cladding metallurgically bonded to the metallic substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentEP4035801A1Cladded articles and methods of making the same
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 KENNAMETAL INC
  • EP4035801A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4035801A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4035801A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one aspect, methods of making cladded articles are described herein. A method of making a cladded article, in some embodiments, comprises disposing over a surface of a metallic substrate a sheet comprising organic binder and powder metal or powder alloy having a solidus temperature at least 100°C less than the metallic substrate and heating the powder metal or powder alloy to provide a sintered metal or sintered alloy cladding metallurgically bonded to the metallic substrate.