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Alloy Surface Activation by Immersion in Aqueous Acid Solution

Detailed Technology Description

Technology-based Value Proposition: In the traditional approach to case hardening of metal surfaces through gas carburization, surface activation with HCl gas does not always properly activate the

*Abstract

Technology-based Value Proposition: In the traditional approach to case hardening of metal surfaces through gas carburization, surface activation with HCl gas does not always properly activate the surface of the article. For this reason, Dr. Frank Ernst and his team at Case Western Reserve University have experimented with immersing the sample materials into aqueous acid solutions at room temperature prior to the conventional process. Results indicate that this bath dramatically improves success of the process.Corrosive damage typically caused by HCl gas is avoided, with substantial benefits realized in safety and environmental improvements. The activation time is significantly less, resulting in reductions in production costs that are currently being studied to understand the magnitude of these advantages.Addressable Market Opportunities: A wide array of metal surface treatment applications may be addressed that currently utilize traditional thermal processing methods. Such products require case hardening for improved utility, such as in aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, general industrial, and hot isostatic pressing markets. In general, surface treatments are employed to significantly improve resistance to corrosion, galling, fatigue and wear.Stage of Development and Next Steps: Preliminary analytical validation has been observed through optical metallography and x-ray diffractometry studies, which show the depth of case hardening and surface concentration of atomic carbon to be similar to state-of-the-art gas carburization processes, with significantly less processing times; i.e., on the order of half or more.Next steps will be towards further verification of these features, identification of other activation solutions, and additional process refinements.Intellectual Property Protection: Provisional patent application 61/989,228 has been filed for this technology.

Country/Region

USA