The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 19, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1996
Morihiro Hasegawa, Sin-Nanyo, JP;
Katsuhisa Miyakusu, Sin-Nanyo, JP;
Naoto Okubo, Sin-Nanyo, JP;
Sadayuki Nakamura, Sin-Nanyo, JP;
Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
Stainless steel is improved in anti-microbial property by the addition of Cu in an amount of 0.4-5.0 wt. % and the precipitation of Cu-rich phase at the ratio of 0.2 vol. % or more. The Cu-rich phase is precipitated as minute particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix not only at the surface layer but also at the interior by heat treatment such as annealing or aging at 500.degree.-900.degree.. Since the anti-microbial property is derived from the material itself, the underlying stainless steel does not lose the excellent anti-microbial property even after it is polished or mechanically worked. Due to the anti-microbial property, the stainless steel is useful as material in various fields requiring sanitary environments, for example, kitchen goods, electric home appliances, devices or tools at hospitals, parts or interiors for building and grips or poles for electric trains or buses.