Valve seat with embedded structure and related methods
An embodiment of a valve seat for a pumping assembly includes a body having a bore. In addition, the valve seat includes an embedded structure embedded in the body so as to define, at least partially, a strike face of the valve seat. The strike face extends circumferentially about the bore, and the embedded structure includes a gradient material structure having a first material, a second material spaced from the first material, and a compositional transition region between the first material and the second material.
1 . A method of forming a strike face of a body of a valve seat for a pumping system, the method comprising:
inserting a plurality of embedded features into a plurality of recesses in the body, one or more of the plurality of embedded features comprising an elongated feature extending in a radial direction relative to a central axis of a bore of the valve seat, each embedded feature comprising a gradient material structure having a first material, a second material spaced from the first material, and a compositional transition region between the first material and the second material; and
securing the plurality of embedded features within the plurality of recesses such that the plurality of embedded features at least partially defines the strike face.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compositional transition region comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein a concentration of the first material decreases respectively in the plurality of layers from the first material to the second material.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the securing comprises securing the plurality of embedded features within the plurality of recesses by use of a brazing process.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the securing comprises pressure fitting the plurality of embedded features within the plurality of recesses.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting and the securing comprise sintering the plurality of embedded features to the valve seat.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying varying amounts of the first material and the second material onto a substrate via thermal spraying.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the first material decreases respectively from the first material to the second material.
8 . A method of forming a strike face of a body of a valve seat for a pumping system, the method comprising:
inserting a plurality of embedded features into a plurality of recesses in the body, one or more of the plurality of embedded features comprising an elongated feature extending in a circumferential direction relative to a central axis of a bore of the valve seat, each embedded feature comprising a gradient material structure having a first material, a second material spaced from the first material, and a compositional transition region between the first material and the second material; and
securing the plurality of embedded features within the plurality of recesses such that the plurality of embedded features at least partially defines the strike face.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the compositional transition region comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein a concentration of the first material decreases respectively in the plurality of layers from the first material to the second material.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a concentration of the first material decreases respectively from the first material to the second material.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the securing comprises securing the plurality of embedded features within the plurality of recesses by use of a brazing process.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the securing comprises pressure fitting the plurality of embedded features within the plurality of recesses.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the inserting and the securing comprise sintering the plurality of embedded features to the valve seat.
14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising applying varying amounts of the first material and the second material onto a substrate via thermal spraying.
15 . A method of forming a strike face of a body of a valve seat for a pumping system, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of embedded features in a pattern, each embedded feature comprising a gradient material structure having a first material, a second material spaced from the first material, and a compositional transition region between the first material and the second material;
filling, at least partially, gaps between the embedded features with a metallic powder;
sintering the metallic powder and the embedded features so as to form a metallurgically bonded structure including the embedded features and the metallic powder; and
after and separate from the sintering, bonding the metallurgically bonded structure to the valve seat such that the metallurgically bonded structure defines a strike face of the valve seat.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the bonding the metallurgically bonded structure to the valve seat comprises bonding the metallurgically bonded structure to the valve seat during as a result of the sintering.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the compositional transition region comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein a concentration of the first material decreases respectively in the plurality of layers from the first material to the second material.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein positioning the plurality of embedded features comprises positioning one or more of the plurality of embedded features to extend in a radial direction relative to a central axis.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein positioning the plurality of embedded features comprises positioning one or more of the plurality of embedded features in a circumferential direction relative to a central axis.