Integran Technologies Inc.

Ontario Hydro

Francisco Gonzalez

Gino Palumbo

Klaus Tomantschger

Jonathan McCrea

Diana Facchini

Nandakumar Nagarajan

Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos

Herath Katugaha

Mike Uetz

John Kratochwil

Alexander M Brennenstuhl

Philip C Lichtenberger

Uwe Erb

Iain Brooks

Peter Lin

Jared J Victor

Mioara Neacsu

Mary Pasquantonio

Rich Emrich

Karl Aust

Dan Woloshyn

Yusuf Bismilla

Jonathan Mccrea

Glenn D Hibbard

Polycrystalline materials are prepared by electrodeposition of a precursor material that is subsequently heat-treated to induce at least a threefold increase in the grain size of the material to yield a relatively high fraction of 'special' low &#x3a3; grain boundaries and a randomized crystallographic texture. The precursor metallic material has sufficient purity and a fine-grained microstructure (e.g., an average grain size of 4 nm to 5 &#x3bc;m). The resulting metallic material is suited to the fabrication of articles requiring high mechanical or physical isotropy and/or resistance to grain boundary-mediated deformation or degradation mechanisms.

Electrodeposition method for preparing polycrystalline copper having improved mechanical and physical properties

A method for electrodepositing a coating/free-standing layer on a workpiece in an electrolytic cell includes moving the workpiece and an anode applicator tool having a consumable anode insert relative to each other; anodically dissolving a metal from the insert and cathodically depositing the metal on the workpiece; providing flow of electrolyte solution through the insert to ensure that greater than 90% of the anodic reaction is represented by dissolution of the metal; recirculating collected electrolyte solution exiting the electrolytic cell through the insert; applying an electric current to the electrolytic cell; maintaining a concentration of the anodically dissolved metal within &#xb1;25% of each Ampere-hour per liter of electroplating solution; and creating a cathodic electrodeposit on the workpiece which includes the anodically dissolved metal, the chemical composition of the deposit varying by less than 25% in the deposition direction over a selected thickness of up to 25 microns of the deposit.

Porous, flow-through consumable anodes for use in selective electroplating

Method for preparing polycrystalline structures having improved mechanical and physical properties

Anode applicators include consumable anodes, that can be operated in a non-stationary mode and are insensitive to orientation, are used in selective plating/brush electrodeposition of coatings or free-standing components. The flow-through dimensionally-stable, consumable anodes employed are perforated/porous to provide relatively unimpeded electrolyte flow and operate at low enough electrochemical potentials to provide for anodic metal/alloy dissolution avoiding undesired anodic reactions. The consumable anodes include consumable anode material(s) in high surface area to reduce the local anodic current density. During electroplating, sufficient electrolyte is pumped through the consumable anodes at sufficient flow rates to minimize concentration gradient and/or avoid the generation of chlorine and/or oxygen gas and/or undesired reaction such as the anodic oxidation of P-bearing ions in the electrolyte. The active consumable anode material(s) can have a microstructure which is fine-grained and/or amorphous to ensure a uniform anodic dissolution.

Flow-through consumable anodes

Metal-coated polymer articles containing structural substantially porosity-free, fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein on polymer substrates, are disclosed. The substantially porosity-free metallic coatings/layers/patches are applied to polymer or polymer composite substrates to provide, enhance or restore vacuum/pressure integrity and fluid sealing functions. Due to the excellent adhesion between the metallic coating and the polymer article satisfactory thermal cycling performance is achieved. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, aerospace and automotive parts and other components exposed to thermal cycling and stress created by erosion and impact damage.

Metal-coated polymer article

Metal-clad polymer articles containing structural fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling although the CLTE of the metallic layer and the one of the substrate is mismatched. The interface between the metallic layer and the polymer is suitably pretreated to withstand thermal cycling without failure.

Structural metal-clad polymer article

Metal-clad polymer articles containing structural fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling although the coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of the metallic layer and the substrate are mismatched. The interface between the metallic layer and the polymer is suitably pretreated to withstand thermal cycling without failure.

Metal-clad polymer article

Free standing articles or articles at least partially coated with substantially porosity free, fine-grained and/or amorphous Co-bearing metallic materials optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The electrodeposited metallic layers and/or patches comprising Co provide, enhance or restore strength, wear and/or lubricity of substrates without reducing the fatigue performance. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings comprising Co are particularly suited for articles exposed to thermal cycling, fatigue and other stresses and/or in applications requiring anti-microbial properties.

Biocidal metallic layers comprising cobalt

Free standing articles or articles at least partially coated with substantially porosity free, fine-grained and/or amorphous Co-bearing metallic materials optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The electrodeposited metallic layers and/or patches comprising Co provide, enhance or restore strength, wear and/or lubricity of substrates without reducing the fatigue performance compared to either uncoated or equivalent thickness chromium coated substrate. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings comprising Co are particularly suited for articles exposed to thermal cycling, fatigue and other stresses and/or in applications requiring anti-microbial properties.

Electrodeposited metallic coatings comprising cobalt with enhanced fatigue properties

An article includes an electrodeposited metallic material including Co with a minimum content of 75% by weight. The metallic material has a microstructure which is fine-grained with an average grain size between 2 and 5,000 nm and/or an amorphous microstructure. The metallic material forms at least part of an exposed surface of the article. The metallic material has an inherent contact angle for water of less than 90 degrees at room temperature when measured on a smooth exposed surface portion of the metallic material which has a maximum surface roughness Ra of 0.25 microns. The metallic material has an exposed patterned surface portion having surface structures having a height of between at least 5 microns to about 100 microns incorporated therein to increase the contact angle for water at room temperature of the exposed patterned surface portion to over 100 degrees.

Electrodeposited metallic materials comprising cobalt

Metal-clad polymer articles containing structural fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling although the CLTE of the metallic layer and the one of the substrate is mismatched. The interface between the metallic layer and the polymer is suitably pretreated to withstand thermal cycling without failure.

Metal-coated polymer articles containing structural substantially porosity-free, fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein on polymer substrates, are disclosed. The substantially porosity-free metallic coatings/layers/patches are applied to polymer or polymer composite substrates to provide, enhance or restore vacuum/pressure integrity and fluid sealing functions. Due to the excellent adhesion between the metallic coating and the polymer article satisfactory thermal cycling performance is achieved. The invention can also be employed as a repair/refurbishment technique. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, aerospace and automotive parts and other components exposed to thermal cycling and stress created by erosion and impact damage.

Metal-coated polymer article of high durability and vacuum and/or pressure integrity

Electrodeposited metallic-materials comprising cobalt on iron-alloy substrates with enhanced fatigue performance

Electrodeposited metallic-materials comprising cobalt on ferrous-alloy substrates

The invention is a metal tube such as a heat exchanger tube which has been treated by in situ electrodeposition to repair one or more degraded sections. The repaired metal tube section has an electroformed structural layer which has an ultrafine grain microstructure of sufficient thickness to restore the degraded section at least to its original mechanical specifications.

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Francisco Gonzalez