Abstract:
Articles for automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and defence industry applications including shafts or tubes used, for example, as golf club shafts, ski and hiking poles, fishing rods or bicycle frames, skate blades and snowboards are at least partially coated with an electrodeposited metal, metal alloy or metal matrix composite coating layer. The coating layer having a quasi-isotropic microstructure, a thickness of higher than 30µm and an average grain size between 0.004µm and 10µm. The coating layer provides articles of high resilience, high yield strength, scratch and wear resistance and hardness, and appealing appearance.
Abstract:
Free standing articles or articles at least partially coated with substantially porosity free, fine-grained and/or amorphous Co-bearing metallic materials optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The electrodeposited metallic layers and/or patches comprising Co provide, enhance or restore strength, wear and/or lubricity of substrates without reducing the fatigue performance compared to either uncoated or equivalent thickness Cr coated substrate. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings comprising Co are particularly suited for articles exposed to thermal cycling, fatigue and other stresses and/or in applications requiring anti-microbial and hydrophobic properties.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for forming coatings or free-standing deposits of nanocrystalline metals, metal alloys or metal matrix composites. The process employs drum plating or selective plating processes involving pulse electrodeposition and a non-stationary anode or cathode. Novel nanocrystalline metal matrix composites and micro components are disclosed as well. Also described is a process for forming micro components with grain sizes below 1,000nm.
Abstract:
An article of manufacture includes a substrate having an outer surface clad with a metal construct including one or more continuous metal layers, at least one of which is an amorphous layer or a microcrystalline layer having a grain size below 5000 nm. A bonding layer is provided between the substrate and the layered metallic construct so that the bonding layer is in direct contact with the substrate and with the layered metallic construct. The bonding layer is made of a substantially fully cured resin including at least 10% of a rubber. The layered metallic construct has peel strength greater than 10N/cm. Also provided is a process for making the article including coating an article outer surface with a bonding layer and a layered metallic construct. The bonding layer is substantially fully cured before the layered metal construct is bonded to the article. The coated article is annealed.
Abstract:
Metal-clad polymer articles containing structural fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling although the coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of the metallic layer and the substrate are mismatched. The interface between the metallic layer and the polymer is suitably pretreated to withstand thermal cycling without failure.
Abstract:
Lightweight articles comprising a polymeric material at least partially coated with a fine-grained metallic material are disclosed. The fine-grained metallic material has an average grain size of 2nm to 5,000nm, a thickness between 25 micron and 5cm, and a hardness between 200VHN and 3,000 VHN. The lightweight articles are strong and ductile and exhibit high coefficients of restitution and a high stiffness and are particularly suitable for a variety of applications including aerospace and automotive parts, sporting goods, and the like.
Abstract:
Articles for automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and defence industry applications including shafts or tubes used, for example, as golf club shafts, ski and hiking poles, fishing rods or bicycle frames, skate blades and snowboards are at least partially coated with an electrodeposited metal, metal alloy or metal matrix composite coating layer. The coating layer having a quasi-isotropic microstructure, a thickness of higher than 30µm and an average grain size between 0.004µm and 10µm. The coating layer provides articles of high resilience, high yield strength, scratch and wear resistance and hardness, and appealing appearance.
Abstract:
Fine-grained (average grain size 1nm to 1,000nm) metallic coatings optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein are disclosed. The fine-grained metallic materials are significantly harder and stronger than conventional coatings of the same chemical composition due to Hall-Petch strengthening and have low linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). The invention provides means for matching the CTE of the fine-grained metallic coating to the one of the substrate by adjusting the composition of the alloy and/or by varying the chemistry and volume fraction of particulates embedded in the coating. The fine-grained metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling. The low CTEs and the ability to match the CTEs of the fine-grained metallic coatings with the CTEs of the substrate minimize dimensional changes during thermal cycling and prevent premature failure.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for forming coatings or free-standing deposits of nanocrystalline metals, metal alloys or metal matrix composites. The process employs drum plating or selective plating processes involving pulse electrodeposition and a non-stationary anode or cathode. Novel nanocrystalline metal matrix composites and micro components are disclosed as well. Also described is a process for forming micro components with grain sizes below 1,000nm.
Abstract:
A novel activation/etch method is disclosed for conductive polymer substrates and conductive polymer composite substrates to achieve good adhesion to subsequently applied coatings. The method in a preferred case involves anodically polarizing conductive polymers/polymer composites in aqueous etching solutions.