Masco Corporation

Thixomat, Inc.

Jack Huang

Raymond F Decker

Stephen E LeBeau

Scott Kapelanski

Ralph E Vining

Sanjay G Kulkarni

A method of forming a wrought material having a refined grain structure is provided. The method comprises providing a metal alloy material having a depressed solidus temperature and a low temperature eutectic phase transformation. The metal alloy material is molded and rapidly solidified to form a fine grain precursor that has fine grains surrounded by a eutectic phase with fine dendritic arm spacing. The fine grain precursor is plastic deformed at a high strain rate to cause recrystallization without substantial shear banding to form a fine grain structural wrought form. The wrought form is then thermally treated to precipitate the eutectic phase into nanometer sized dispersoids within the fine grains and grain boundaries and to define a thermally treated fine grain structure wrought form having grains finer than the fine grains and the fine dendritic arm spacing of the fine grain precursor.

Method and apparatus of forming a wrought material having a refined grain structure

A shower stall tray includes a plastic shell defining an outer surface and a cavity that is filled with a light weight resinous material and a structural member having a density less than the resinous material. The plastic shell is formed to include a visible surface and a backside surface. The backside of the plastic shell defines an open cavity that is filled with a resinous material. The resinous material provides structural rigidity and the solid substantial feel providing a favorable perception of quality. The structural member not only provides structural support for the shower tray, but also displaces resinous material, thereby reducing the amount of resinous material required to fill the open cavity.

Lightweight shower tray

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Jack Huang