Martin Marietta Corporation

Reynolds Metals Company

Inco Alloys International, Inc.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Comalco Aluminium Limited

Ashurst Government Services, Inc.

Joseph R Pickens

Lawrence S Kramer

Frank H Heubaum

Timothy J Langan

Alex Cho

K Sharvan Kumar

Michael A Riley

Juan Valencia

Michael L Tims

William T Tack

David K McNamara

Carl E Cross

A method of producing a 3-dimensional ('3-D') product from metals in the gaseous state includes the steps of providing a substrate of 3-D shape; providing a flow of a gaseous chemical compound(s) around the 3-D substrate, wherein the gaseous chemical compound(s) comprises a metal carbonyl gas; selectively heating the 3-D substrate to decompose the metal carbonyl gasses, wherein metal separated as a result of the decomposition is deposited on the 3-D substrate; selectively controlling the flow rate of one or more metal carbonyl gasses and the temporal and spatial temperature distribution throughout the 3-D substrate to achieve a desired thickness distribution of the metal or metals on the 3-D substrate; and removing the 3-D substrate to produce a resulting 3-D metal product with an complex geometry.

Additive manufacturing using metals from the gaseous state

A shaped charge or explosively formed penetrator liner and a method for producing the liner. The liner is preferably formed from a metal having a fine, uniform grain structure. The liner is preferably produced by an electron beam deposition process.

Shaped charge and explosively formed penetrator liners and process for

Weld filler alloys comprising aluminum, copper, lithium and, optionally, silver are disclosed which possess significantly improved fabricability and weldability. The weld filler alloys are free of magnesium and can be easily drawn into weld wire that is useful for welding aluminum-base alloys. Weldments made with the filler alloys exhibit highly improved mechanical, physical and corrosion resistance properties. The weld filler alloys may be used to weld cryogenic containers for space launch vehicles and the like.

Al-Cu-Li weld filler alloy, process for the preparation thereof and

Aluminum-base alloys containing Cu, Li, Zn and Mg are disclosed which possess highly desirable properties, such as relatively low density, high modulus, high strength/ductility combinations, strong natural aging response with and without prior cold work, and high artificially aged strength with and without prior cold work. In addition, the alloys possess good weldability, cryogenic properties, and elevated temperature properties. The alloys may comprise from about 3.5 to about 7 weight percent Cu, from about 0.1 to about 1.8 eight percent Li, from about 0.01 to about 4 weight percent Zn, from about 0.05 to about 3 weight percent Mg, from about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent grain refiner selected from Zr, Cr, Mn, Ti, Hf, V, Nb, B and TiB.sub.2, and the balance Al along with incidental impurities. Preferred alloys comprise from about 3.5 to 6.5 weight percent Cu, from about 0.5 to 1.8 weight percent Li, from about 0.3 to 2 weight percent Zn, from about 0.1 to 1.5 weight percent Mg, from about 0.05 to 0.5 weight percent grain refiner, and the balance Al and incidental impurities. Additional elements selected from Ge, Sn, Cd, In, Be, Sr, Sc, Y, and Ca may be included in the present alloys.

High strength Al-Cu-Li-Zn-Mg alloys

A method is disclosed for the production of aluminum-copper-lithium alloys that exhibit improved strength and fracture toughness at cryogenic temperatures. Improved cryogenic properties are achieved by controlling the composition of the alloy, along with processing parameters such as the amount of cold-work and artificial aging. The ability to attain substantially equal or greater strength and fracture toughness at cryogenic temperature in comparison to room temperature allows for use of the alloys in cryogenic tanks for space launch vehicles and the like.

Al-Cu-Li alloys with improved cryogenic fracture toughness

A group of ternary alloys of aluminum-lithium and magnesium or copper further including at least one additive element such as zirconium, chromium and/or manganese. These alloys have an improved combination of properties such as strength, ductility and weldability and in some cases improved tensile properties at cryogenic temperatures.

Aluminum-lithium alloys

Aluminum-base alloys which are provided which possess highly desirable properties, such as relatively low density, high modulus, high strength/ductility combinations, strong natural aging response with and without prior cold work, higher artificially-aged strength than existing Al-Li alloys with and without prior cold work, weldability, good cryogenic properties, and good elevated temperature properties. In one embodiment, aluminum-base alloys are provided having Al-Cu-Li-Mg compositions in the following ranges: 5.0-7.0 Cu, 0.1-2.5 Li, 0.05-4 Mg, 0.01-1.5 grain refiner selected from Zr, Cr, Mn, Ti, Hf, V, Nb, B, TiB.sub.2, and mixtures thereof, and the balance essentially Al. In another embodiment, aluminum-base alloys are provided having Al-Cu-Li-Mg compositions in the following ranges: 3.5-5.0 Cu, 0.8-1.8 Li, 0.25-1.0 Mg, 0.01-1.5 grain refiner selected from Zr, Cr, Mn, Ti, Hf, V, Nb, B, TiB.sub.2, and mixtures thereof, and the balance essentially Al.

Ultrahigh strength Al-Cu-Li-Mg alloys

Aluminum-base alloys containing Cu, Li, Zn, Mg and Ag are disclosed which possess highly desirable properties, such as relatively low density, high modulus, high strength/ductility combinations, strong natural aging response with and without prior cold work, and high artificially aged strength with and without prior cold work. In addition, the alloys possess good weldability, corrosion resistance, cryogenic properties, and elevated temperature properties. The alloys may comprise from about 1 to about 7 weight percent Cu, from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent Li, from about 0.01 to about 4 weight percent Zn, from about 0.05 to about 3 weight percent Mg, from about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent Ag, from about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent grain refiner selected from Zr, Cr, Mn, Ti, Hf, V, Nb, B and TiB.sub.2, and the balance Al along with incidental impurities. Preferred alloys comprise from about 3.0-6.5 weight percent Cu, from about 0.5-2.6 weight percent Li, from about 0.05-2 weight percent Zn, from about 0.1-1.5 weight percent Mg, from about 0.05-1 weight percent Ag, from about 0.05-0.5 weight percent grain refiner, and the balance Al and incidental impurities. Additional elements selected from Ge, Sn, Cd, In, Be, Sr, Sc, Y, and Ca may be used in addition to, or in place of, Zn in the present alloys.

Ultra high strength aluminum-base alloys

An aluminum based alloy useful in aircraft and aerospace structures which has low density, high strength and high fracture toughness consists essentially of the following formula:

Low density high strength Al-Li alloy

Welding alloys based upon aluminum, copper, mangesium, silver and lithium have been found to possess exceptional properties such as resistance to hot cracking, high strength and ductility, and an unexpected natural aging response. The aluminum-base alloys may contain 3.5 to 7 weight percent Cu, 0.05 to 1.5 weight percent Mg, 0.01 to 2 weight percent Ag, 0.1 to 4 weight percent Li, and 0.01 to 2 weight percent grain refiner.

Aluminum-lithium welding alloys

A family of alloys based upon aluminum-copper-magnesium-silver alloys to which lithium has been added, within specified ranges, exhibits superior ambient- and elevated-temperature strength, superior ductility at ambient and elevated temperatures, extrudability, forgeability, weldability, and an unexpected natural aging response.

Ultra high strength weldable aluminum-lithium alloys

A dispersion-strengthened aluminum-base alloy system is provided which is prepared by mechanical alloying and is characterized by high strength, high elastic modulus, low density and high corrosion resistance. The alloy system is comprised, by weight, of at least above 1.5% up to about 3% Li, about 0.4% up to about 1.5% O, about 0.25% up to about 1.2% C, and the balance essentially Al.

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Beltsville, MD, United States of America

Joseph R Pickens