Patent ID: 7553382
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: C22C

Abstract:
1. A method for increasing the hardness of an iron alloy composition comprising: a) supplying an iron based glass alloy comprising about 40-65 atomic % iron and about 5.0-55 atomic percent of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Ni or mixtures thereof; b) adding 0.01 to 6 atomic % Niobium to said iron based glass alloy; and c) increasing said hardness by adding said Niobium to said iron based glass alloy, wherein said Niobium modified alloy is cooled at a rate sufficient to indicate a backscattered electron micrograph containing only microstructural scale structure with phases defined by x-ray diffraction as 1. α-Fe and/or γ-Fe, and 2. boro carbide phases comprising M