[0001] The present invention refers to a process for the surface treatment of an item made
of or coated with Titanium, in order to provide improved mechanical properties thereto.
[0002] The present invention further refers to items made of and coated with Titanium and
subsequently subjected to a treatment according to said process and therefore provided
with improved surface mechanical properties.
[0003] US-A-2892743 discloses a method of surface hardening for articles made of titanium
or titanium base alloy in an atmosphere comprising 0.5-1.0% of at least one hydrocarbon
gas and the balance essentially argon at a temperature in excess of about 788°C. EP-A-0885980
discloses a similar process for titanium and zirconium alloys where the surface hardening
is carried out in an atmosphere containing one hydrocarbon under temperatures and
pressures in the range 500-900°C and 100-900 mbar, respectively.
[0004] Among the mechanical properties of Titanium surfaces the non-stickiness thereof stands
out, making this material suitable for applications in which the items made of or
coated with Titanium are immersed or anyhow put in contact with liquid or pasty fluids,
in a condition wherein a minimum fluid-surface friction or foulability be required.
[0005] Hence, viable applications may be found in several industrial sectors, like the food,
petroliferous, paper, glue and likewise pasty aggregates manufacturing, or for the
making of vessels, stirrers, valves, conveyors, ducts and the like.
[0006] Moreover, let us consider household applications, like non-stick coated pans and
all the applications providing the employ of plastics substances, like the PTFE, liable
to wear and deterioration.
[0007] To date said optimal non-stick features have not been fully exploited, as the surfaces
at issue, when subjected to continuous stresses over time, are subjected to wear and
consumption, phenomena compelling costly component replacements and possibly entailing
pollution.
[0008] Hence, there is a demand for a process for the surface treatment of such items, so
as to reinforce surfaces without adversely affecting the desirable non-stickiness
thereof.
[0009] The technical problem underlying the present invention lies in providing a process
capable of meeting this demand.
[0010] This problem is solved by carburizing, in a controlled way, the Titanium surface.
In fact, the process provided according to the present invention comprises a heating
step for items made of or coated with Titanium in a controlled atmosphere containing
carburizing agents, characterized in that the heating step is carried out at a temperature
higher than the phase transition temperature of Titanium, i.e. higher than 882.5°C,
and at a pressure lower than 0.5 mbar in an atmosphere comprising one or more inert
gases and a Carbon gas, the percentage of Carbon gas being higher than 30%.
[0011] According to a preferred version of the process, this temperature advantageously
ranges from 950 to 1050°C.
[0012] The pressure whereat this step is carried out is advantageously equal to about 0.2
mbar, i.e., under vacuum beyond the controlled process atmosphere.
[0013] The duration of the heating time essentially depends on the temperature and on the
Carbon content of the atmosphere: for >25% percents of Carbon gas and ≥ 850°C temperatures
the treatment times are of at least 1 hour and may extend to over 6 hours.
[0014] The preferred percent for the Carbon gas concentration is advantageously equal to
about 40%.
[0015] Employable inert gases are Nitrogen and Argon, whereas among Carbon gases of course
Carbon and Hydrogen compounds having a <60 mol molecular weight are preferable. Two
particularly effective gases are methane (CH
4) and acetylene (C
2H
2).
[0016] The items made of or coated with Titanium exhibit Carbon enrichment in the surface
layers, an increase leading to a marked improvement of the mechanical performances
of the surface.
[0017] However, it is understood that this treatment does not entail an excessive embrittlement
of the latter.
[0018] In the case of the abovedescribed process, the effective penetration of the Carbon
atoms extends down to a depth of 120 µm below the surface, with a notable content
of Carbon, oxides and Titanium nitrides.
[0019] It is understood that the invention refers to all those items comprising a Titanium-base
non-stick surface, treated according to the abovedescribed process. Owing solely to
the wide range of employs, a listing of the viable items will be omitted. A mere few
examples will be mentioned, among which valve bodies and shutters, stirrers, mixers,
vessel coatings, components of machines operating on liquid or pasty fluids, conveyors,
ducts and coatings thereof, machine components apt to slide one in contact with the
other, slides, guides, wheels, etc.
[0020] In the comparative examples which will be described hereinafter, Titanium samples
will be subjected to a heating step as hereto defined and each test piece will be
measured in order to assess the effects of the treatment on the mechanical-physical
performances thereof.
[0021] Then, an applicative example of the process itself, related to a valve shutter, will
be disclosed.
Comparative examples
[0022] Some carburizing treatments were carried out using a high-vacuum oven whose main
features are reported hereinafter:
* Dimensions of inner cylindrical chamber: diameter ∅= 250 mm; height h = 400 mm.
* Maximum working temperature T = 2000 °C (Tungsten resistors)
* Inert gases: Nitrogen and Argon
[0023] Overall, about 25 treatments were carried out, the most significant ones being disclosed
in Tables 1.1 and 1.2. 200 x 100 x 3 mm test pieces superficially precleaned with
acetone were used. Ten treatments were carried out under a 40% Argon/Methane atmosphere,
the working pressure equal to 0.2 mbar was held, varying the treatment temperature
(from 800 to 1050°C), and the treatment duration (from 1 to 6 hours).
Tab. 1.1 -
| Carburizing treatments carried out with methane. |
| Treatment initials |
Temperatur e (°C) |
Duration (h) |
Atmosphere |
| A |
800 |
1 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| B |
800 |
6 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| C |
1050 |
1 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| D |
1050 |
6 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| E |
950 |
1 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| F |
850 |
2 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| G |
850 |
6 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| H |
800 |
2 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| I |
950 |
2 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| L |
950 |
6 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
Tab. 1.2 -
| Carburizing treatments carried out with acetylene |
| Treatment initials |
Temperature (°C) |
Duration (h) |
Atmosphere |
| M |
800 |
1 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| N |
800 |
2 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| O |
850 |
2 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| P |
950 |
1 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
| Q |
950 |
2 |
40% Ar + CH4 |
[0024] In order to assess the effect of the carburizing treatment onto the Titanium foils,
techniques such as optical microscopy, spectroscopic analysis, hardness measuring,
surface erosion and spectroscopy processes, X-rays, XPS, Hydrogen content measuring,
wettability and wear strength tests were adopted.
Optical microscope observation and spectroscopic analysis
[0025] Initially, surface carburization of the samples was assessed by spectroscopic analyses.
These techniques do not enable a quantitative Carbon analysis, yet a qualitative assessment
is viable. Fig. 1 reports the spectra of the Ti tel quel (a) and of the sample A (b)
representative of all the carburized samples at issue.
[0026] Comparing the peak heights (see the first peak on the left of the spectrum, almost
nil for the sample of Titanium tel quel and higher in the sample A), the Carbon is
found to be present in an equivalent quantity onto the surfaces of the carburized
foils, and in a greater quantity than that present onto the surface of the Ti tel
quel. Therefore, regardless of the time interval and of the temperature, the carburizing
treatments carried out have increased the concentration of the surface Carbon.
[0027] Following a metallographic attack carried out with Kroll reactant (HF+HNO
3 + distilled water) which. highlighted the structure of the materials and the thickness
of the carburized layer, the sections of these foils have been observed under an optical
microscope.
[0028] Micrographies taken from the samples enabled the observation that all the samples
treated at 800 and 850°C, hence below the phase transition temperature of Titanium,
exhibit a polygonal structure of an equiaxial α-type, similar to those of the Ti CP;
the samples treated at 950 and 1050°C exhibit a different structure, with more elongated
grains, suggesting a partial transformation from the a-type to the P-type structure
(α+β acicular structure).
[0029] In some micrographies the carburized layer was apparent, with a thickness varying
as a function of the temperature and of the duration of the treatment. Sample D exhibits
a layer with a thickness of about 120 µm. Actually, subsequent EDS analyses highlighted
the presence of a carburized layer of about 15 µm, a nitride-containing phase of about
100 µm and subsequently, for additional 5 µm, down to 120 µm a further carburized
belt.
[0030] All the samples treated at 950°C exhibit an apparent carburized layer having a thickness
of about 2040 µm.
[0031] For the foils treated at temperatures of 800 and 850°C the presence of a possible
surface carburization could not be highlighted from the micrographies.
Hardness measurings
[0032] The sectional measurings of the hardness enable to single out an edge-to-edge hardness
profile in order to assess any carburization and the thickness thereof.
[0033] The first measuring was carried out at about 10 - 25 µm from the surface, the subsequent
ones from 100 µm to 1 mm thickness, then at mid-thickness (1.5 mm) and likewise starting
from the opposite surface. The most significant measurings are reported in Table 1.3.
[0034] In the case of samples wherein the thickness of the carburized layer is in the order
of several µms, these measurings do not prove significant to the end of singling out
the carburized belt, as they are carried out in the matrix and not in the carburized
layer. E.g., the samples A, H, M and N, treated at 800°C for 1 or 2 hours, do not
exhibit an increase in hardness with respect to the Titanium tel quel.
Tab. 1.3 -
| Results of the sectional microhardness measurings |
| Sample Initials |
Hardness HV200g |
| |
about. 10 - 25 µm below surface |
1.5mm (mid-thickness) |
about 10 25 µm from opposite surface |
| TQ |
181 |
13 |
166 |
| A |
174 |
123 |
164 |
| B |
268 |
140 |
148 |
| C |
249 |
148 |
271 |
| D |
927 |
271 |
841 |
| E |
237 |
162 |
237 |
| F |
274 |
142 |
264 |
| G |
450 |
189 |
437 |
| H |
206 |
116 |
168 |
| I |
478 |
124 |
478 |
| L |
503 |
178 |
498 |
| M |
157 |
146 |
161 |
| N |
181 |
122 |
189 |
| O |
401 |
147 |
351 |
| P |
420 |
151 |
297 |
| Q |
514 |
145 |
464 |
[0035] These measurings demonstrate that the sample D, treated at 1050°C for 6 hours, has
undergone an apparent hardening process, reaching a subskin hardness equal to about
900 HV, way greater than that of the Ti CP tel quel, which generally exhibits a hardness
in the neighborhood of 150-200 HV. This sample, at 100 µm below surface, still exhibits
an elevated hardness, equal to 593 HV.
[0036] Also the samples G, I, L, O, P and Q, carburized at 850 and 950°C, exhibit a surface
hardening equal to 400-500 HV, anyhow quickly decreasing down to 200 HV at about 100
µm below surface.
[0037] Also other samples exhibit a slight hardening, markedly lower than that sustained
by the sample D.
Surface analysis
[0038] An analysis of the type providing surface erosions and spectroscopic measurings was
carried out on the carburized samples, in order to assess the thickness of the carburized
layer and any presence of undesirable elements like O and N under the various thermal
treatment conditions.
[0039] The analysis was also carried out on a sample of Titanium tel quel (TQ) adopted as
reference.
[0040] The results highlighted the following:
* The TQ sample merely exhibits a slight surface contamination from Carbon and a passivation
oxide film;
* The graphs show that all the samples exhibit a carburized layer;
* The thickness of the carburized layer for the various samples is reported in Table
1.4.
Tab. 1.4 -
| Carburized layer thickness of Ti samples |
| Sample |
Thickness (µm) |
| A (800°C, 1h) |
3 |
| B (800°C, 6h) |
5 |
| C (1050°C, 1h) |
5 |
| D (1050°C, 6h) |
20 |
| E (950°C, 1h) |
7 |
| F (850°C, 2h) |
14 |
| G (850°C, 6h) |
8 |
| H (800°C; 2h) |
4 |
| I (950°C, 2h) |
16 |
| L (950°C, 6h) |
23 |
| M (800°C, 1 h) |
1.5 |
| N (800°C, 2h) |
2.5 |
| O (850°C, 2h) |
3 |
| P (950°C, 1h) |
14 |
| Q (950°C, 2h) |
18 |
[0041] A significant example is represented by sample E, wherein the presence of Carbon,
Oxygen and Nitrogen is detected down to a depth of about 20 µm. The percent by weight
of Oxygen in the carburized layer is of about the 3%, always lower than that of the
Carbon. Moreover, about 1% Nitrogen is present.
[0042] The subsequent X-ray qualitative analysis of the samples confirms the presence of
the abovementioned elements, in particular highlighting the presence of a nitride
carbide Titanium wherein the C:N stoichiometric ratio is not lower than 0.7:0.3. The
presence of TiO is also highlighted.
[0043] Moreover, on some samples the XPS analysis was carried out, thereby assessing the
chemical composition of the outermost surface layers (Max. down to 60 nm), the various
phases present therein and the change thereof as a function of depth. It was observed
that the Titanium is present on the surface mainly as TiO
2, and to a lesser extent as TiC or TiN; depthwise, the quantity of TiO
2 decreases to the detriment of that related to the TiC and/or TiN. On the surface,
the Carbon is mainly present as graphite or hydrocarbon; depthwise, the carbon-related
component increases.
[0044] By way of example, in Table 1.5 the chemical composition of the outermost atomic
layers of the sample D is reported.
Tab.1.5-
| Chemical composition in atomic percent of the sample D, on-surface and at various
depths |
| Sample D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Depth (nm) |
Na |
Fe |
0 |
Ti |
N |
Ca |
C |
CI |
K |
Zn |
| o |
2.2 |
1.0 |
35.3 |
16.1 |
5.3 |
0.4 |
38.8 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
| 2 |
1.9 |
0.5 |
39.5 |
26.8 |
7.6 |
0.2 |
22.8 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
traces |
| 5 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
40.5 |
28.1 |
7.8 |
0.1 |
20.5 |
0.4 |
traces |
0 |
| 10 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
42.0 |
29.8 |
4.9 |
0.2 |
19.9 |
traces |
0.2 |
0 |
| 20 |
1.1 |
0.3 |
43.5 |
32.7 |
2.7 |
0.1 |
18.5 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
0 |
| 30 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
45.3 |
32.6 |
3.2 |
0.2 |
17.4 |
traces |
traces |
0 |
| 40 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
44.9 |
33.9 |
2.5 |
0.2 |
16. 8 |
traces |
traces |
0 |
| 50 |
0.5 |
1.3 |
43.5 |
35,7 |
2.8 |
0.1 |
16. 1 |
traces |
traces |
0 |
| 60 |
0.4 |
2.1 |
43.5 |
34.9 |
3.3 |
0.1 |
15.7 |
traces |
traces |
0 |
Hydrogen content
[0045] Some carburized samples were measured for Hydrogen content. In Table 1.6 it can be
seen that all the samples exhibit a hydrogen content lower than the maximum limit
defined by the ASTM standards, set at 150 ppm. In particular, the samples M and N,
treated at 800°C for 1h and 2h, respectively, exhibit the lowest Hydrogen content.
Tab. 1.6 -
| Hydrogen content of carburized Ti samples |
| Sample Initials |
Hydrogen content (ppm) |
| C |
60 |
| D |
49 |
| I |
92 |
| M |
30 |
| N |
33 |
| Q |
66 |
Wettability measurings
[0046] On all the samples wettability measurings with deionized water were carried out,
employing a cleaning procedure. For each foil 6 repetitions were carried out, except
in the case of non-significant results; yielded values are reported in Table 1.7.
In spite of a thorough cleaning of the samples, a high data scattering is observed;
in some cases, a standard deviation of up to 27° was calculated. Observing the yielded
measurings, it may however be remarked that for the samples carburized under acetylene
atmosphere (M, N, O, P and Q) the standard deviation is generally lower.
Tab. 1.7 -
| Wettability measurings on carburized Ti samples |
| Initials |
Contact angle |
Average |
Std. Dev. (°) |
| TQ |
84 |
72 |
60 |
83 |
72 |
90 |
77 |
11 |
| A |
41 |
84 |
55 |
61 |
79 |
74 |
66 |
16 |
| B |
89 |
66 |
73 |
96 |
91 |
80 |
83 |
12 |
| C |
75 |
69 |
67 |
76 |
71 |
72 |
72 |
3 |
| D |
72 |
78 |
83 |
72 |
74 |
69 |
75 |
5 |
| E |
60 |
80 |
73 |
71 |
63 |
79 |
71 |
8 |
| F |
75 |
78 |
68 |
68 |
- |
- |
72 |
5 |
| G |
72 |
60 |
31 |
41 |
67 |
55 |
54 |
16 |
| H |
71 |
88 |
75 |
74 |
30 |
69 |
68 |
20 |
| I |
51 |
90 |
62 |
52 |
84 |
- |
68 |
18 |
| L |
44 |
70 |
96 |
113 |
45 |
78 |
74 |
27 |
| M |
85 |
90 |
84 |
83 |
84 |
86 |
85 |
3 |
| N |
69 |
74 |
86 |
89 |
87 |
88 |
82 |
8 |
| O |
65 |
7 ì |
71 |
60 |
74 |
- |
69 |
6 |
| P |
68 |
70 |
72 |
79 |
78 |
- |
73 |
5 |
| Q |
80 |
79 |
68 |
70 |
77 |
78 |
75 |
5 |
[0047] Adopting a method differing from the one hereto employed, which enabled a greater
data reproducibility, several measurings of the contact angle were carried out. The
method provides the measuring of the advancing and receding angles, which appeared
more stable than the static angle measured with the sessile drop method. The results
of the contact angle measurings carried out with water are reported in Table 1.8.
Tab. 1.8 -
| Wettability measurings |
| Sample initials |
Contact angle (°) |
Average (°) |
Std. Dev. (°) |
| TQ |
72 |
75 |
76 |
74 |
75 |
74 |
1.5 |
| A |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
84 |
3.0 |
| B |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
46 |
4.3 |
| I |
133 |
135 |
131 |
130 |
127 |
131 |
3.0 |
| N |
122 |
121 |
128 |
127 |
129 |
125 |
4.0 |
| Q |
129 |
124 |
131 |
126 |
122 |
126 |
4.0 |
[0048] For these samples only the average value was provided.
[0049] Apparently, for the samples A, I, N and Q the carburizing treatment has increased
the contact angle with respect to the TQ, therefore improving the non-stick properties
of the material.
Wear strength tests
[0050] Stick-wear tests were carried out in order to assess the effect of the various treatments
carried out on the Titanium foils on the wear strength thereof.
[0051] To carry out this test, a SRV-Optimol (Fretting) tribotester having a ball-plane
contact geometry was used. The foil employed is made of Titanium, whereas the ball
is made of 100Cr6. The test consists in oscillating (10Hz) the ball onto the foil,
with a 3 mm width and applying a 20N load. The duration of the test is equal to 15
min. The wear strength is assessed measuring the post-test weight loss (ΔP) of the
materials. The testing conditions were selected so as to discriminate the effect of
the various treatments carried out on Titanium. Table 1.9 reports the yielded results.
Tab. 1.9 -
| Wear test results |
| Foil initiaIs |
Load (N) |
run (mm) |
Frequency (Hz) |
T (°C) |
C.A. |
foil ΔP (g) |
| T. Q. |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0050 |
| A |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0024 |
| B |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0027 |
| C |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0028 |
| D |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0024 |
| E |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0003 |
| F |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0027 |
| G |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0012 |
| H |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0039 |
| I |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0013 |
| L |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0014 |
| M |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0037 |
| N |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0033 |
| O |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0,5 |
0.0030 |
| P |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0,5 |
0.0016 |
| Q |
20 |
3 |
10 |
room |
> 0.5 |
0.0012 |
[0052] With respect to the Ti TQ, All the samples exhibit an improvement of the tribological
properties, and a sensibly smaller weight loss.
[0053] The samples treated at 950°C, for time intervals ranging from 1 to 6 hours under
methane as well as acetylene atmosphere, exhibit an elevated wear strength; in particular,
the sample E, carburized under methane atmosphere at 950°C for 1 hour, exhibits a
weight loss of a mere 0.0003 g, whereas the samples L, P and Q exhibit a weight loss
ranging from 0.0012 to 0.0016 g.
[0054] Also the sample G, treated at 850°C for 6h, exhibits an improvement of its tribological
properties, suffering a weight loss of a mere 0.0012 g.
[0055] With reference to Fig. 2, a valve 1 of a hand-operated type is shown. It is understood
that the present applicative example is mentioned purely by way of example, and not
for limitative purposes.
[0056] This valve comprises a valve body 2 inside which a duct is formed. Therein, the valve
1 comprises a shutter member, in particular a shutter capable of rotating of 90°,
by virtue of a handle 4, between a closing or shutting position and an opening position.
[0057] The shutter member at issue is to be destined to a continuous use during which it
should endure a certain pressure and be subjected to mechanical fatigue and to friction
with the other surfaces of the valve body.
[0058] Moreover, the surface of the shutter should have the least possible wettability,
so that the presence of the valve, at open conduit, does not entail excessive flow
resistance.
[0059] The shutter is foil- or plate-shaped. Advantageously, this plate is made of Titanium
and it is subsequently treated according to the abovedisclosed process, e.g., alike
sample D of the comparative examples.
[0060] Thus, this member will have a prolonged strength, an enhanced reliability, and it
will introduce a reduced flow resistance by virtue of the reduced friction between
the surfaces thereof and the fluid engaging the valve.
[0061] To the abovedescribed process and to items treated therewith, a person skilled in
the art, in order to satisfy further and contingent needs, may effect several further
modifications and variants, all however comprised in the protective scope of the present
invention, as defined in the appended claims.
1. A process for the surface treatment of Titanium comprising a heating step for items
made of or coated with Titanium in a controlled atmosphere containing carburizing
agents, characterized in that the heating step is carried out at a temperature higher than the phase transition
temperature of the Titanium, i.e. at a temperature higher than 882.5°C, and at a pressure
lower than 0.5 mbar in an atmosphere comprising one or more inert gases and Carbon
gas, the percentage of Carbon gas being higher than 30%.
2. The process according to claim 2, wherein the heating temperature ranges from 950°
to 1050°C.
3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the duration of the heating time is of at
least 1 hour.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein employable inert gases are Nitrogen and
Argon.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein said Carbon gas are Carbon and Hydrogen
compounds.
6. The process according to claim 5, wherein said Carbon and Hydrogen compounds have
a <60 molecular weight.
7. The process according to claim 6, wherein said employable Carbon gases are methane
(CH4) and acetylene (C2H2).
8. An item (3), made of Titanium or comprising at least one surface coated with Titanium,
treated by a process according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. The item (3) according to the preceding claim, including valve bodies and shutters,
stirrers, mixers, vessel coatings, components of machines operating on liquid or pasty
fluids, conveyors, ducts and coatings thereof, machine components apt to slide one
in contact with the other, slides, guides, wheels.
1. Verfahren zur Oberflächenbehandlung von Titan, beinhaltend einen Erhitzungsschritt
für Gegenstände, die aus Titan bestehen oder mit Titan überzogen sind, in einer kontrollierten
Atmosphäre, die Aufkohlungsmittel enthält, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Erhitzungsschritt bei einer Temperatur ausgeführt wird, die höher ist als die
Phasenübergangstemperatur des Titans, d.h. bei einer Temperatur, die höher ist als
882,5 °C, und bei einem Druck, der niedriger als 0,5 mBar ist, in einer Atmosphäre,
die ein oder mehrere Inertgase und Kohlenstoffgas enthält, wobei der Prozentsatz an
Kohlenstoffgas höher als 30% ist.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Erhitzungstemperatur von 950° bis 1050°C reicht.
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Dauer der Erhitzungszeit weniger als 1 Stunde
beträgt.
4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei verwendbare Inertgase Stickstoff und Argon sind.
5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Kohlenstoffgas Kohlenstoff- und Wasserstoffverbindungen
sind.
6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Kohlenstoff- und Wasserstoffverbindungen ein
Molekulargewicht von < 60 haben.
7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, wobei die verwendbaren Kohlenstoffgase Methan (CH4) und Acetylen (C2H2) sind.
8. Gegenstand (3), hergestellt aus Titan oder versehen mit wenigstens einer Oberfläche,
die mit Titan überzogen ist, behandelt durch ein Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche.
9. Gegenstand (3) nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, beinhaltend Ventilgehäuse und Verschlussstücke,
Rührer, Mischer, Behälterüberzüge, Maschinenteile, die in flüssigen oder pastenartigen
Fluids arbeiten, Förderer, Kanäle und Überzüge derselben, Maschinenteile, die in der
sing, eines in Kontakt mit dem anderen zu gleiten, Schieber, Führungen, Räder.
1. Procédé pour le traitement de surface de Titane comportant une étape de chauffage
d'articles constitués ou revêtus de Titane dans une atmosphère commandée contenant
des agents de cémentation, caractérisé en ce que l'étape de chauffage est effectuée à une température supérieure à la température
de transition de phase du Titane, c'est-à-dire à une température supérieure à 882,5°C,
et à une pression inférieure à 0,5 mbar dans une atmosphère comportant un ou plusieurs
gaz inertes et du gaz Carboné, le pourcentage de gaz Carboné étant supérieur à 30
%.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la température de chauffage est dans
la plage allant de 950° à 1050°C.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la durée du chauffage est d'au moins
1 heure.
4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel des gaz inertes pouvant être utilisés
sont de l'Azote et de l'Argon.
5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit gaz Carboné est constitué de composés
Carboné et Hydrogéné.
6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, dans lequel lesdits composés Carboné et Hydrogéné
ont un poids moléculaire < 60.
7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel lesdits gaz Carbonés pouvant être utilisés
sont le méthane (CH4) et l'acétylène (C2H2).
8. Article (3), constitué de Titane ou comportant au moins une surface revêtue de Titane,
traité à l'aide d'un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
9. Article (3) selon la revendication précédente, incluant des corps de vanne et des
obturateurs, des agitateurs, des mélangeurs, des revêtements de récipient, des composants
de machines agissant sur un liquide ou des fluides pâteux, des transporteurs, des
conduites et des revêtements de celles-ci, des composants de machines capables de
coulisser en contact les uns avec les autres, des glissières, des guides, des roues.