Granted Patent B2

US 12,358,035 · App. 17/957,207 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Inventors: Scott A. Whalen (West Richland, WA); Darrell R. Herling (Kennewick, WA); Xiao Li (Richland, WA); Md. Reza-E-Rabby (Richland, WA); Brandon Scott Taysom (West Richland, WA); Glenn J. Grant (Benton City, WA); Vineet V. Joshi (Richland, WA); Rajib Kalsar (Richland, WA); Tianhao Wang (Richland, WA)

Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute

B21C23/218B21D37/16B23K20/001C22F1/04C22F1/06B23K2103/10B23K2103/15

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A method for preparing an extruded product from a solid billet, the method comprising:

providing a metallic as-cast billet for extrusion;

applying a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the metallic as-cast billet to plasticize the metallic as-cast billet using a scroll face of a die tool, wherein:

the scroll face of the die tool comprises at least a portion that is generally perpendicular to the axial extrusion force; and

the portion that is generally perpendicular to the axial extrusion force comprises at least one spiral groove; and

extruding the plasticized metallic as-cast billet with the die tool to form an extruded product.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the metallic as-cast billet for less than 11 hours between 200° C. and 490° C. prior to applying the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the heat is applied in steps at predefined temperatures for predefined durations of time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a difference in temperature between two of the steps is 260° C.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein a difference in temperature between two of the steps is 30° C.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic as-cast billet is maintained below 200° C. prior to extrusion.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic as-cast billet is maintained at or below room temperature prior to extrusion.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic as-cast billet is not homogenized prior to applying the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the metallic as-cast billet.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the extruded product is homogenized.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic as-cast billet is not stress relieved or phase converted prior to extrusion.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic as-cast billet includes intermetallic and distinct microstructures.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallic as-cast billet has not had microfissures removed prior to applying the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the metallic as-cast billet.

13. A method for preparing an extruded product from a solid billet, the method comprising:

providing a metallic as-cast billet for extrusion;

establishing, using at least one actuator a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force between a scroll face of a die tool and the metallic as-cast billet in contact with the scroll face of the die tool to plasticize the metallic as-cast billet, wherein:

the face of the die tool comprises at least a portion that is generally perpendicular to the axial extrusion force;

the scroll face of the die tool defines an aperture and the portion comprises at least one spiral groove; and

the metallic as-cast billet is not homogenized prior to applying the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the metallic as-cast billet; and

extruding the plasticized metallic as-cast billet through the aperture with the die tool to form an extruded product, wherein the applying of the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force causes the extruded product to be homogenized.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the metallic as-cast billet did not undergo pre-heating prior to applying the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the metallic as-cast billet is comprised of at least one of Mg, Cu, or Al.

16. A method for preparing an extruded product from a solid billet, the method comprising:

providing a metallic as-cast billet for extrusion, wherein the metallic as-cast billet includes intermetallic microstructures;

applying a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the metallic as-cast billet using a scroll face of a die tool to plasticize the metallic as-cast billet, wherein:

the scroll face of the die tool comprises at least a portion that is generally perpendicular to the axial extrusion force; and

the scroll face defines an aperture and the portion comprises at least one spiral groove; and

extruding the plasticized metallic as-cast billet through the aperture with the die tool to form an extruded product, wherein the intermetallic microstructures have been reduced in the extruded product.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the intermetallic microstructures have been removed from the extruded product.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the metallic as-cast billet is non-homogeneous.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least a portion of the metallic as-cast billet that is extruded as the extruded product is homogeneous.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the metallic as-cast billet did not undergo homogenization or pre-heating prior to applying the simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force.

Continuity (12)

References Cited (283)