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:
Jun. 26, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1998
Roberto J. Rioja, Murrysville, PA (US);
Men G. Chu, Export, PA (US);
Gregory J. Hildeman, Murrysville, PA (US);
David D. Leon, Murrysville, PA (US);
Robert L. Kozarek, Apollo, PA (US);
Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for producing a porous metal. The method broadly includes the steps of first, providing a molten metal and second, introducing a gas into said molten metal. The method then includes spray casting the molten metal containing the gas onto a surface thereby producing the porous metal. The method further provides for controlling the amount and size of the porosity contained within the porous metal by controlling the parameters at which the gas is introduced into the molten metal, as well as, controlling the parameters surrounding the spray casting of the molten metal. Additionally, the method also provides for producing a porous metal having either an isolated or interconnected pore structure. The present invention also provides for a porous metal product, as well as a porous aluminum alloy product, made by the described method. The apparatus includes a means for containing the molten metal wherein the containing means has a discharge end. A means for introducing a gas into the containing means is also provided. The apparatus further includes molten metal discharge means positioned adjacent the discharge end of the containing means for atomizing the molten metal that is discharged from the discharge end into metal droplets, and a substrate on which the metal droplets are deposited in order to form the porous metal.