US 7,465,365 B1
Method for making materials having artificially dispersed nano-size phases and articles made therewith
Thomas Martin Angeliu, Clifton Park, N.Y. (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Niskayuna, N.Y. (US)
Filed on Jun. 08, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/150,689.
Application 11/150689 is a division of application No. 10/064510, filed on Jul. 23, 2002, granted, now 6,939,388.
Int. Cl. C22C 38/00 (2006.01); C22C 21/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 148—404  [148/320; 148/437] 31 Claims
 
1. An article manufactured by a method, the method comprising
providing a nanocomposite material, wherein providing said nanocomposite material comprises
providing a molten material;
providing a nano-sized material, said nano-sized material being substantially inert with respect to said molten material;
introducing said nano-sized material into said molten material;
dispersing said nano-sized material within said molten material using at least one dispersion technique selected from the group consisting of
agitating said molten material using ultrasonic energy to disperse said nano-sized material within said molten material,
introducing at least one active element into said molten material to enhance wetting of said nano-sized material by said molten material, and
coating said nano-sized material with a wetting agent to promote wetting of said molten metal on said nano-sized material;
solidifying said molten material to form a solid nanocomposite material, said nanocomposite material comprising a dispersion of said nano-sized material within a solid matrix, wherein said solid matrix comprises a directionally solidified material or a single crystal material; and
forming said nanocomposite material into said article.