Systems and methods for ultrasonic additive manufacturing of metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12551970-B2
Application number	US-202318326310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2023
Priority date	May 31, 2022
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

Provided are methods and apparatus for bonding metals. In an example, a provided method includes (i) disposing a layer of Vanadium onto a first Titanium surface of a first tangible object, (ii) placing a second Titanium surface of a second tangible object in direct contact with the layer of Vanadium, and (iii) imparting, using a sonotrode, compressive and shear forces to the first Titanium surface, the layer of Vanadium, and the second Titanium surface, to cause plastic deformation that bonds the first Titanium surface to the second Titanium surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for bonding metals, comprising:
diffusing a metallic interlayer into a first metallic surface of a first tangible object to stabilize a crystal structure in the first metallic surface, wherein the first metallic surface has a hexagonal close packed crystal structure prior to the diffusing; placing, following the diffusing step, a second metallic surface of a second tangible object in direct contact with the metallic interlayer, wherein the second metallic surface is comprised of a metal different than that of the first metallic surface; and imparting, using a sonotrode, compressive and shear forces to the first metallic surface and the second metallic surface, to cause plastic deformation that bonds the first metallic surface to the second metallic surface via the metallic interlayer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second metallic surface comprises Ti-6Al-4V.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first metallic surface is a titanium surface; and the metallic interlayer comprises vanadium.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the titanium surface comprises an alloy of titanium.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic interlayer is comprised of vanadium.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first metallic surface has a body centered cubic crystal structure after the diffusing; and the diffusing reduces a thermodynamic phase transition temperature of the first metallic surface to stabilize the body centered cubic crystal structure.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic interlayer has a deformation-induced lattice defect vacancy concentration above an equilibrium value.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising processor-executable instructions stored thereon configured to cause a processor to control:
diffusing a metallic interlayer into a first metallic surface of a first tangible object to stabilize a crystal structure in the first metallic surface, wherein the first metallic surface has a hexagonal close packed crystal structure prior to the diffusing; placing, following the diffusing step, a second metallic surface of a second tangible object in direct contact with the metallic interlayer, wherein the second metallic surface is comprised of a metal different than that of the first metallic surface; and imparting, using a sonotrode, compressive and shear forces to the first metallic surface and the second metallic surface, to cause plastic deformation that bonds the first metallic surface to the second metallic surface via the metallic interlayer.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein:
the first metallic surface has a body centered cubic crystal structure after the diffusing; and the diffusing reduces a thermodynamic phase transition temperature of the first metallic surface to stabilize the body centered cubic crystal structure.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the metallic interlayer has a deformation-induced lattice defect vacancy concentration above an equilibrium value.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the diffusing comprises diffusing the metallic interlayer into the first metallic surface of the first tangible object by sputtering.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the diffusing comprises diffusing the metallic interlayer into the first metallic surface of the first tangible object by ultrasonic additive manufacturing bonding.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first metallic surface is a titanium surface.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the second metallic surface comprises Ti-6Al-4V.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein:
the first metallic surface is a titanium surface; and the metallic interlayer comprises vanadium.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the titanium surface comprises an alloy of titanium.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the metallic interlayer comprises vanadium.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the diffusing comprises diffusing the metallic interlayer into the first metallic surface of the first tangible object by sputtering.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the diffusing comprises diffusing the metallic interlayer into the first metallic surface of the first tangible object by ultrasonic additive manufacturing bonding.

Assignees

• Univ Tennessee Res Found

Inventors

• Pagan Michael Barnes
• Zinkle Steven
• Babu Sudarsanam

Classifications

• B33Y10/00 Primary

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B23K2103/14

  Titanium or alloys thereof · CPC title

• B23K20/16

  with interposition of special material to facilitate connection of the parts, e.g. material for absorbing or producing gas · CPC title

• B23K20/22

  taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded · CPC title

• B23K20/103 Primary

  using a roller · CPC title