DELTA-ALPHA BOND/SUPERPLASTIC FORMING METHOD OF FABRICATING TITANIUM STRUCTURES AND THE STRUCTURES RESULTING THEREFROM

Abstract

Method of manufacturing structures from sheets of material having superplasticity as well as diffusion bonding capabilities wherein a combination of diffusion bonding and superplastic forming is performed concurrently with the use of low pressures and a simple heat furnace. The material to be formed and bonded is placed between and sealed in tooling constructed of materials having different degrees of thermal expansion. A low pressure from an external source is applied between the sheets of material to be formed during heating. Forming shims positioned within the tooling provide areas of diffusion bonding when the applied pressure and differential of tooling expansion force the sheets of material together at the shim locations.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1JAMES R. WOODWARD