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:
Dec. 21, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:
Hanshan Dong, Birmingham, GB;
Peter Harlow Morton, Solihull, GB;
Andrew Bloyce, Worcestershire, GB;
Thomas Bell, Merseyside, GB;
Assignee:
The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, GB;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C23C 8/10 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
C23C 8/10 ;
Abstract
A method of case hardening an article formed of titanium, zirconium or an alloy of titanium and/or zirconium is disclosed. First, the article is heat-treated in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to form an oxide layer on the article. Then, the article is further heat-treated in a vacuum or in a neutral or inert atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to cause oxygen from the oxide layer to diffuse into the article.