US 12,214,420 B2
Spheroidal titanium metallic powders with custom microstructures
Kamal Hadidi, Somerville, MA (US); Gregory M. Wrobel, North Andover, MA (US); and Makhlouf Redjdal, Melrose, MA (US)
Assigned to 6K Inc., North Andover, MA (US)
Filed by 6K Inc., North Andover, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/061,250.
Application 18/061,250 is a continuation of application No. 17/301,880, filed on Apr. 16, 2021, granted, now 11,577,314.
Application 17/301,880 is a continuation of application No. 16/012,370, filed on Jun. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,987,735, issued on Apr. 27, 2021.
Application 16/012,370 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/381,336, filed on Dec. 16, 2016, granted, now 11,148,202, issued on Oct. 19, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/268,186, filed on Dec. 16, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0211407 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B22F 9/14 (2006.01); B22F 1/00 (2022.01); B22F 1/065 (2022.01); B22F 1/142 (2022.01); B22F 9/08 (2006.01); B22F 9/30 (2006.01); H01J 37/32 (2006.01); H05H 1/26 (2006.01); H05H 1/30 (2006.01); H05H 1/42 (2006.01)
CPC B22F 1/00 (2013.01) [B22F 1/065 (2022.01); B22F 1/142 (2022.01); B22F 9/08 (2013.01); B22F 9/14 (2013.01); B22F 9/30 (2013.01); H01J 37/32192 (2013.01); H05H 1/26 (2013.01); H05H 1/30 (2013.01); H05H 1/42 (2013.01); B22F 2207/11 (2013.01); B22F 2998/10 (2013.01); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of modifying a particle shape and a microstructure of a feedstock, the method comprising:
melting at least a surface portion of particles of feedstock comprising titanium in a plasma to spheroidize the particles; and
setting and applying cooling processing parameters to create spheroidized particles with a microstructure,
wherein the cooling process parameters comprise one or more of a cooling gas flow rate, a residence time of the feedstock, and a cooling gas composition, and
wherein the cooling processing parameters are selected to create at least two regions in the spheroidized particles, each region having a different microstructure or crystal structure, wherein the cooling processing parameters are selected to create an equiaxed microstructure in the spheroidized particles.