Appeal No. 2002-1274
Application No. 09/153,309
transforming the molten metal at a temperature over the
melting point into a predetermined configuration by applying at
least one stress selected from compressive stress and shearing
stress; and
cooling the molten metal at over a critical cooling
rate simultaneously with or after the transformation to make the
zirconium system amorphous alloy in the predetermined
configuration which has a composition expressed by a general
formula: Zr100-x-y-a-b Tix Aly Cua Nib (marks a, b, x, and y in the
formula represent atomic percentage, and they fulfill X<10, Y>5,
Y< -(1/2)X + 35/2, 15# a# 25, and 5# b# 15), and which has an
amorphous phase of more than 50 volume % of the alloy, a tensile
strength higher than 1550 MPa, and a specific strength higher
than 2.38 X 106cm.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Scruggs et al. 5,711,363 Jan. 27, 1998
(Scruggs)
Dandliker et al. 6,010,580 Jan. 4, 2000
(Dandliker)
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a method of
making a zirconium system amorphous alloy of the recited formula.
The process entails pressing the appropriate molten metal in a
press such that form fitting cooling faces do not form. To our
understanding cooling faces are surfaces within the molten metal
that are below the melting point of the metal which result in
defects in the cooled alloy. According to appellants, "the
zirconium system amorphous alloys produced by the method of the
present invention can be widely used as excellent structural
materials with excellent strength characteristics such [as] a
-2-
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