Appeal No. 2006-0443 2
Application No. 10/347,273
The appellant and the examiner would appear to agree, at least for purposes of this
appeal, that the reference to “alitizing” in the claims relates to a conventional expedient,
i.e. aluminizing which involves strengthening the bond between the cladding and the
substrate by promoting diffusion of aluminum at the cladding-substrate interface. In this
regard, see the examiner’s answer (paragraph bridging pages 3 and 4), Cork et al.
(column 2, line 61-column 3, line 8), appellant’s specification (page 6, lines 1-9), and the
reply brief (page 2, lines 2-3).
Claim 14, the sole independent claim, is reproduced below as being illustrative of
appellant’s claimed process:
14. Process for producing a cladding for a turbine blade, which cladding is provided on the
tip of this blade, characterized by the following steps:
producing a slip by mixing a powder, which contains at least one of the elements Ni or Cr
or Ce, with a binder; applying the slip to the surface which is to be clad; adding hard
ceramic particles to the slip before or after the slip is applied, the size of which particles is
selected in such a way that they project above a layer of slip following alitizing; drying the
slip at a temperature of from room temperature to 300°C; and alitizing the layer of slip.
The prior art references relied upon by the examiner are:
Cork et al. (Cork) 4,009,146 Feb 22, 1977
Baldi 4,464,430 Aug. 7, 1984
Takahashi JP 60-089503 May 20, 19851
1 All citations to the Japanese reference (Takahashi) will be to the full English translation of
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