Patent ID: 6630008
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: B22F

Abstract:
The method of consolidating metal powder consisting essentially of a component or components selected from the group A) aluminum, B) aluminum oxide, C) matrices of A) and B), D) matrices of A) and/or B) and/or C) that include silicon carbide encapsulated within aluminum metal coatings, to form an object, that includes:a) pressing said powder into a preform, and preheating the preform to elevated temperature, b) providing a bed of flowable and heated pressure transmitting particles, c) positioning the preform in such relation to the bed that the particles encompass the preform, d) and pressurizing said bed to compress said particles and cause pressure transmission via the particles to the preform, thereby to consolidate the preform into a desired object shape, e) said pressurizing being carried out to maintain or preserve formed nanocrystalline aluminum grain size, f) thereby to develop a substantially texture free microstructure at metallic grain boundaries.