IP Library Granted Patent US 12679069
Granted Patent B2
US 12679069 · App. 18/405,681 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Cladded article with clad layer having varying thickness

Inventors: Karsten Guenther (Osnabrück, DE); Curtis Erwin Prothe (Brevard, NC); Steven David Sparkowich (Vancouver, WA); Andrew Ruminski (Natrona Heights, PA)
Assignee: DMC Global Inc.
B32B15/01B23K20/08B23K20/10B23K2103/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679069
App. No.
18/405,681
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cladded article may include a first metallic layer, a clad layer, and a first solid-state welding interface region positioned between the clad layer and the first metallic layer. The clad layer may include a first clad layer region having a first clad layer thickness in a thickness direction of the clad layer and a second clad layer region having a second clad layer thickness in the thickness direction of the clad layer. The second clad layer thickness may be greater than the first clad layer thickness.

Claims (42)

1 . A cladded article comprising:

a first metallic layer;

a clad layer, the clad layer comprising:

a first clad layer region having a first clad layer thickness in a thickness direction of the clad layer; and

a second clad layer region having a second clad layer thickness in the thickness direction of the clad layer, wherein:

the second clad layer thickness is greater than the first clad layer thickness;

a first solid-state welding interface region positioned between the clad layer and the first metallic layer-;

the second clad layer region comprises a projection for forming a joint with another article;

the second clad layer region comprises a plurality of foils; and

a foil of the plurality of foils is formed of a material comprising tantalum or a tantalum alloy.

2 . The cladded article of claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state welding interface region is a first explosion welding interface region.

3 . The cladded article of claim 1 , wherein the second clad layer region is one of a plurality of second clad layer regions.

4 . The cladded article of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second metallic layer; and

a second solid-state welding interface region bonding the second metallic layer to the first metallic layer on a side opposite the clad layer.

5 . The cladded article of claim 4 , wherein the second solid-state welding interface region is a second explosion welding interface region.

6 . The cladded article of claim 1 , wherein the clad layer comprises at least one of zirconium, niobium, palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium, or an alloy including one of zirconium, niobium, palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, or iridium.

7 . The cladded article of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first clad layer thickness and the second clad layer thickness is greater than a thickness manufacturing tolerance of a clad layer having a uniform thickness equal to the first clad layer thickness.

8 . The cladded article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of foils is solid-state welded to the clad layer.

9 . A method of manufacturing a cladded article, the method comprising:

providing a first metallic layer comprising a first material and having a first metallic layer surface;

providing a clad layer comprising a second material and having a substantially uniform first clad layer thickness;

solid-state welding the clad layer to the first metallic layer surface; and

after solid-state welding the clad layer to the first metallic layer surface, creating a modified clad layer region by bonding material to an outer surface of the clad layer opposite the first metallic layer, wherein;

a second clad layer thickness in the modified clad layer region is larger than the first clad layer thickness;

 the second clad layer region comprises a plurality of foils; and

 a foil of the plurality of foils is formed of a material comprising tantalum or a tantalum alloy.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the clad layer comprises one of zirconium, niobium, palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium, or an alloy including one of zirconium, niobium, palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein creating the modified clad layer region comprises creating a plurality of modified clad layer regions.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a difference between the first clad layer thickness and the second clad layer thickness is greater than a predetermined thickness tolerance of a clad layer having a uniform thickness equal to the first clad layer thickness.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein creating a modified clad layer region comprises ultrasonically welding the plurality of foils to the clad layer.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein creating the modified clad layer region by bonding material to the surface of the clad layer comprises one of a group consisting of: a powder bed fusion process, a directed energy deposition process, a sheet lamination process, an ultrasonic welding process, a friction welding process, a friction stir welding process, a cold metal transfer process, a resistance welding process, a cold spray deposition process, and a warm spray deposition process.

15 . A cladded article comprising:

a base layer;

a clad layer;

a first solid-state welding interface region positioned between the clad layer and the base layer;

a clad layer projection bonded to an underlying portion of the clad layer;

 wherein:

the clad layer projection comprises a plurality of layered foils ultrasonically welded to the clad layer;

a foil of the plurality of foils is formed of the material comprising tantalum or the tantalum alloy;

 the clad layer projection is configured to form a joint with another article; and

 the clad layer has a higher melting point than the base layer.