Appeal No. 95-0112
Application 07/787,994
We initially note the appellant’s statement that
the claims stand or fall together. Brief, p. 3; 37 CFR
§ 1.192(c)(7). Therefore, we will limit our consideration of
the issues on appeal as they apply to representative claim 1
which reads as follows:
1. A process for making superplastic steel, comprising the
steps of:
rapidly solidifying molten steel to form a solidified
material in the form of a powder, ribbon, foil, or flake
comprising substantially single-phase austenitic steel having a
grain size of no greater than about 2 µm;
providing said rapidly solidified material of said
substantially single-phase austenitic steel having a grain size
of no greater than about 2 µm, in powder or flake form;
heating said powder or flakes of said substantially single-
phase austenitic steel having a grain size of no greater than
about 2 µm, at a temperature of 300<C to 600<C, to thus transform
said substantially single-phase austenitic steel powder or flakes
into a superplastic steel comprising a mixture of ferrite steel
and at least one metal carbide, said ferrite steel having a
randomly oriented structure and having a grain size of no greater
than about 2 µm, said at least one metal carbide having a grain
size no greater than about 0.5 µm; and
recovering said superplastic steel.
2
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