Patent ID: 7147726

Claim:
A mechanical method for generating nanostructures in order to obtain on a surface of a metal piece a nanostructure layer of defined thickness, comprising: setting a chamber in which is disposed a quantity of perfectly spherical balls into circular motion, the chamber being closed for the size of the balls and containing the metal piece to be treated; imparting a vibrating motion in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the circular motion of the chamber, such that spherical balls are projected to impact on the surface of the metal piece within the chamber; the speed of the circular motion and the frequency and amplitude of the vibrating motion being determined based on the physical properties of the balls so as to communicate to the latter sufficient kinetic energy to create a nanostructure on the surface of the piece to be treated, wherein the diffusion and forming of new phases is done during the formation of the nanostructure.