US 11,920,223 B2
Tungsten tetraboride composite matrix and uses thereof
Richard B. Kaner, Pacific Palisades, CA (US); Christopher L. Turner, Lancaster, CA (US); Madapusi K. Keshavan, Oceanside, CA (US); and Jack Kavanaugh, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US); and SuperMetalix, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US); and SuperMetalix, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/082,378.
Application 18/082,378 is a continuation of application No. 17/526,726, filed on Nov. 15, 2021, abandoned.
Application 17/526,726 is a continuation of application No. 15/888,826, filed on Feb. 5, 2018, granted, now 11,174,538, issued on Nov. 16, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/455,340, filed on Feb. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0123864 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. C22C 29/14 (2006.01); B24D 18/00 (2006.01); C22C 1/051 (2023.01); C22C 29/08 (2006.01); C22C 1/10 (2023.01); C22C 32/00 (2006.01); C22C 33/02 (2006.01)
CPC C22C 29/14 (2013.01) [B24D 18/0009 (2013.01); C22C 1/051 (2013.01); C22C 1/1084 (2013.01); C22C 29/08 (2013.01); C22C 32/0005 (2013.01); C22C 33/0292 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of preparing a composite matrix, comprising:
a) blending together a first composition having a formula (W1-xMxXy)n, a tungsten carbide composition of formula (WC0.99-1.05)p, and a second composition of formula Tq for a time sufficient to produce a powder mixture;
wherein:
X is one of B, Be and Si;
M is at least one of titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), ruthenium (Ru), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), rhenium (Re), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), lithium (Li), yttrium (Y) and aluminum (Al);
T is an alloy comprising at least one Group 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 element in a Periodic Table of Elements;
x is from 0 to 0.999;
y is at least 4.0;
p, q, and n are each independently from 0.01 to 0.99;
p, q, and n have a sum of 1; and
wherein p, q and n are weight percentage ranges;
b) pressing the powder mixture under a pressure sufficient to generate a pellet; and
c) sintering the pellet at a temperature sufficient to produce a densified composite matrix;
wherein the composite matrix has a fracture toughness of at least about 1 to 25 MPa m1/2 as determined using the Palmquist method; and
wherein the composite matrix has a hardness of at least about 1 to 40 GPa as determined by Vickers hardness under a force of 294N (HV30).