Production of increased ductility in articles consolidated from a rapidly solidified alloy.

摘要

The present invention provides a method for consolidating rapidly solidified, transition metal alloys which includes the step of compacting a plurality of alloy bodies at a temperature ranging from about 0.90-0.99 Tm (melting temperature in °C) for a time period ranging from about 1 min to 24 hours. The alloy bodies contain at least two transition metal elements and consist essentially of the formula (Fe,Co and/or Ni) <Sub>bal</Sub>(W, Mo, Nb and/orTa)<Sub>a</Sub>(Al and/or Ti)<Sub>b</Sub>(Cr)<Sub>c</Sub>(B and/or C)<Sub>d</Sub>(Si and/or P)<Sub>e</Sub>, wherein "a" ranges from about 0-40 at.%, "b" ranges from about 0-40 at.%, "c" ranges from about 0-40 at.%, "d" ranges from about 5-25 at.%, and "e" ranges from about 0-15 at.%. The alloy bodies also have a substantially homogeneous and optically featureless structure.

A consolidated article produced in accordance with the present invention has increased ductility and toughness; with a tensile strength of at least about 1200 MPa and an impact resistance of at least 10 Joules (unnotched charpy test). The article is composed of a crystalline, transition metal alloy, which has an average grain size of greater than 3 micrometers and contains separated precipitate particles ranging from about 3-25 micrometers in average size.