Patent ID: 8490281
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: B22F,B23K,C22C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a metal component from a metal powder, the metal powder comprising metal powder particles, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a metal powder, wherein the metal powder is selected from the group consisting of a nickel alloy powder, a cobalt alloy powder, and a titanium alloy powder, (b) providing gallium on at least a part of a surface of at least some of the metal powder particles, providing less than 100 ppm gallium onto the surface of the metal powder particles, (c) encapsulating the metal powder in a container, (d) evacuating the container to remove gas from the container, (e) sealing the container, (f) heating and applying pressure to the container to consolidate the metal powder particles to produce the metal component, and (g) removing the container from the metal component, wherein: the metal powder particles have metal oxides; step (b) further comprises reacting the gallium with the metal oxides on the metal powder particles to form gallium oxide; and step (d) further comprises removing the gallium oxide from the container.