JP2017074622A - Method and system for skull trapping - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide systems and methods for mechanically reducing an amount of the skull material in a finished, molded part formed from amorphous alloy using an injection molding system.SOLUTION: Skull material 46 of a molten amorphous alloy 42 is captured in a trap 40 before molding the material. A cavity 40 is provided in the injection molding system to trap skull material. For example, the cavity 40 is provided in a mold, the tip of a plunger rod, or a transfer sleeve. Thus, mixing of molten amorphous alloy is induced so that skull material is reduced before molding. A plunger and/or its tip can be used to induce mixing (e.g., systematic movement of plunger rod, or a shape of its tip). By minimizing the amount of skull material in the finished, molded part, the quality of the part is increased. The plunger is preferably includes a tip provided with a cavity therein and is configured to trap skull material during injection.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present disclosure generally relates to melting and forming of amorphous alloy materials and minimizing the presence of skull material in the formed product.

After heating and melting the amorphous alloy, if the material is not heated to a high temperature uniformly (to completely melt), crystal or skull material may form inside, thereby causing the molten material to At any interface between the inside of the container where it is made (eg at the bottom)
A molten pool with skulls or crystals is produced. Forming with a skull material in an amorphous alloy can reduce the final quality of the part after it is formed and formed, and can degrade the mechanical properties.

Thus, reducing the amount of skull or crystallized material in a molded part increases the quality of the molded part, including but not limited to strength-related properties, aesthetic properties, corrosion resistance, and amorphous uniformity. Can do.

The solution proposed by the embodiments herein for the improvement of molded articles or parts is to use a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy.

One aspect includes a plunger configured for use in an injection molding system and configured to move molten amorphous alloy material into a mold. The plunger includes a tip with a cavity for trapping and storing the amorphous alloy skull material melted during injection.

Another aspect includes a melting zone configured to melt a meltable amorphous alloy material received therein, a mold for molding the molten amorphous alloy material, and a molten amorphous alloy from the melting zone to the mold. And an injection molding system including a plunger rod configured to be moved to the side. The injection molding system further includes a cavity configured to trap the molten amorphous alloy skull material to substantially reduce the amount of skull material in the final molded part.

Yet another aspect includes a method of manufacturing a bulk amorphous alloy component that includes providing an injection molding apparatus with a melting zone, a plunger, and a mold, and melting amorphous alloy material into the melting zone. A step of supplying, a step of applying a vacuum to the apparatus, a step of melting the amorphous alloy material in the melting zone, and a step of moving the molten amorphous alloy material to a mold using a plunger after melting. And trapping at least a portion of the molten amorphous alloy material within the cavity of the injection molding apparatus and forming the material into a bulk amorphous alloy part. The molten amorphous alloy material trapped in the cavity includes a skull material obtained from the molten amorphous alloy, thereby having a reduced amount of hardened skull material in the bulk amorphous alloy part. .

Another aspect includes a plunger configured for use in an injection molding system and configured to move molten amorphous alloy material into a mold. The plunger is configured to induce mixing of the molten amorphous alloy material before entering the mold.

Yet another aspect includes a method of manufacturing a molded part that includes providing an injection molding apparatus with a melting zone, a plunger, and a mold, and supplying a molten amorphous alloy material to the melting zone. A step of applying a vacuum to the apparatus, a step of melting the amorphous alloy material in the melting zone, a step of moving the molten amorphous alloy material to a mold using a plunger after melting, Forming a material into a molded part.
Using a plunger to move the molten amorphous alloy material induces mixing of the molten amorphous alloy material before entering the mold so that the skull material content of the molded part is reduced.

FIG. 3 is a temperature-viscosity diagram of an exemplary bulk solidified amorphous alloy.

1 is a schematic diagram of a time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram for an exemplary bulk solidified amorphous alloy. FIG.

FIG. 2 illustrates an injection molding system according to one embodiment for implementing one or more skull trapping systems and methods disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the mold, transfer sleeve, and melting zone associated with the injection molding system according to FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a plunger and mold tip associated with the injection molding system shown in FIG. 3 according to another embodiment. FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another design, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, of the plunger tip shown in FIG. 5 that may be used in an injection molding system, according to yet another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a plunger and mold tip included in the injection molding system shown in FIG. 3 according to another embodiment. FIG. 9 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the use of a plunger to guide and provide mixing as molten material is transferred from a melting zone to a mold, according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the use of a plunger to guide and provide mixing as molten material is transferred from a melting zone to a mold, according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the use of a plunger to guide and provide mixing as molten material is transferred from a melting zone to a mold, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another design of a plunger tip that can be used in an injection molding system to mix molten material, according to yet another embodiment.

14 is a detailed cross-sectional view and a detailed cross-sectional view of a channel in the injection molding system shown in FIG. 3 according to another embodiment. 15 is a detailed cross-sectional view and a detailed cross-sectional view of a channel in the injection molding system shown in FIG. 3 according to another embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary device and method for removing scraped or trapped skull material from a path in an injection molding system, according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary device and method for removing scraped or trapped skull material from a path in an injection molding system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an injection molded part with a molded part for removing a skull material trapping formation using a plunger tip, with the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 7, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows another design of another plunger tip that can be used in an injection molding system, according to yet another embodiment. FIG. 6 shows another design of another plunger tip that can be used in an injection molding system, according to yet another embodiment. FIG. 6 shows another design of another plunger tip that can be used in an injection molding system, according to yet another embodiment.

All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or more (ie, at least one) grammatical objects of the article. By way of example, “a polymer resin” means one polymer resin or two or more polymer resins. Any ranges set forth herein are inclusive. The terms “substantially” and “about” as used throughout this specification are used to describe and explain minor variations. For example, the terms are ± 2% or less, such as ± 1% or less, ± 0.5
%, Etc., ± 0.2% or less, ± 0.1% or less, etc., ± 0.05% or less, etc., ± 5
% Or less.

Bulk solidified amorphous alloys, or bulk metallic glass (“BMG”), is a recently developed class of metallic materials. These alloys can be solidified and cooled at a relatively moderate rate, and they maintain an amorphous, amorphous (ie, glassy) state at room temperature. Amorphous alloys have many superior properties than their crystalline counterparts. However, if the cooling rate is not sufficiently high, crystals may form within the alloy during cooling, and so the benefits of the amorphous state may be lost. For example, one important issue associated with the fabrication of bulk amorphous alloy parts is the partial crystallization of those parts, either by slow cooling or by impurities in the alloy raw materials. BM
Within G parts, a high degree of amorphization (and conversely, a low degree of crystallinity) is desirable, so there is a need to develop a method for casting BMG parts with a controlled amount of amorphization. There is.

FIG. 1 (obtained from US Pat. No. 7,575,040) is Liquidmetal Te.
Figure 3 shows viscosity-temperature graphs of exemplary bulk solidified amorphous alloys from the VIT-001 series of the Zr--Ti--Ni--Cu--Be family produced by chemistry. It should be noted that there is no clear liquid / solid transformation for bulk solidifying amorphous metals during the formation of amorphous solids. This molten alloy becomes increasingly viscous with increasing supercooling until it approaches a solid form near the glass transition temperature. Thus, the temperature of the solidification front for a bulk solidified amorphous alloy can be near the glass transition temperature, where it actually acts as a solid to remove the quenched amorphous sheet product.

FIG. 2 (obtained from US Pat. No. 7,575,040) shows a time-temperature-transformation (TTT) cooling curve, or TTT diagram, of an exemplary bulk solidified amorphous alloy. Bulk solidified amorphous metals, like conventional metals, do not undergo liquid / solid crystallization transformations upon cooling. Instead, the highly flowable amorphous form of the metal found at high temperatures (near the “melting temperature” Tm) becomes more viscous as the temperature decreases (to near the glass transition temperature Tg) In particular, it exhibits the external physical properties of a conventional solid.

For bulk solidified amorphous metals, the “melting temperature” Tm can be defined as the thermodynamic liquid phase temperature of the corresponding crystal phase, even though there is no liquid / crystallization transformation. Under this regime, the viscosity at the melting temperature of the bulk solidified amorphous alloy can range from about 0.1 poise to about 10,000 poise, and in some cases, less than 0.01 poise. . This lower viscosity at the “melting temperature” results in faster and complete filling of complex parts of the shell / mold with bulk solidified amorphous metal to form BMG parts. Furthermore, the cooling rate of the molten metal to form the BMG part is the time between cooling-
The temperature profile must be such that it does not cross the nose shaped region that bounds the crystallization region in the TTT diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, T nose is the critical crystallization temperature Tx where crystallization is most rapid and occurs on the shortest time scale.

The supercooled liquid region, i.e., the temperature region from Tg to Tx, demonstrates extreme stability against crystallization of the bulk solidified alloy. Within this temperature range, the bulk solidified alloy can exist as a highly viscous liquid. The viscosity of the bulk solidified alloy in this supercooled liquid region is from 10 ¹² Pa · s at the glass transition temperature to 10 ⁵ P at the high temperature limit of the supercooled liquid region, which is the crystallization temperature.
It can change in the range up to a · s. A liquid having such a viscosity can experience substantial plastic strain under pressure. Embodiments herein utilize the large plastic formability within this supercooled liquid region as a forming and separating method.

It is necessary to clarify Tx. Technically, the nose shaped curve shown in the TTT diagram describes Tx as a function of temperature and time. Therefore, Tx is reached when it hits this TTT curve, regardless of the trajectory followed during heating or cooling of the metal alloy. FIG.
Then Tx is shown as a dashed line because Tx can vary from proximal Tm to proximal Tg.

The schematic TTT diagram of FIG. 2 shows a die casting processing method in which the time-temperature trajectory (shown as (1) as an exemplary trajectory) does not hit the TTT curve and is greater than or equal to Tm and less than Tg. During die casting, this shaping is performed at the same time as the rapid cooling to avoid the trajectory hitting the TTT curve. Time-temperature trajectory ((2), (3) as exemplary trajectories
And (shown as (4)) does not hit the TTT curve, a processing method for superplastic forming (SPF) from Tg or less to less than Tm. In SPF, amorphous BMG is reheated into the supercooled liquid region and the available processing window can be much larger than die casting, resulting in better process controllability. The SPF process does not require rapid cooling to avoid crystallization during cooling. An exemplary trajectory (2)
, (3), and (4), SPF can be performed with the highest temperature during SPF being above or below T nose and up to about Tm. In the case of avoiding hitting the TTT curve while raising the temperature of the piece of amorphous alloy, “Tg˜T
Even when heated to “m”, Tx has not been reached.

The typical differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) heating curve of bulk solidified amorphous alloys, obtained at a heating rate of 20 ° C./min, largely describes the specific trajectory across the TTT data. Temperature Tg and Tx when DSC heating ramp intersects TTT crystallization start
And finally the melting peak where the same trajectory intersects the temperature range for melting.
If the bulk solidified amorphous alloy is heated at a rapid heating rate as shown by the upslopes of trajectories (2), (3), and (4) in FIG. 2, the TTT curve is completely avoided. It is possible that DSC data show a glass transition upon heating but no Tx. Another way of thinking about this is that the trajectories (2), (3), and (4) are within the TTT curve nose (and further above) to the temperature of the Tg line, as long as they do not hit the crystallization curve. ,
It can fit in any place. That simply means that as the processing temperature increases, the horizontal flats in the trajectory can become much shorter.
phase

As used herein, the term “phase” may refer to what can be found in a thermodynamic phase diagram. A phase is a region of space where all physical properties of the material are essentially uniform throughout (
For example, a thermodynamic system). Examples of physical properties include density, refractive index, chemical composition, and lattice periodicity. A simple description of a phase is a region of material that is chemically uniform, physically different, and / or mechanically separable. For example, in a system consisting of ice and water in a glass jar, the ice cube is one phase, water is the second phase, and humid air above the water is the third phase. Jar glass is another separate phase. The phase is an intermetallic compound,
It can refer to a solid solution that can be a two-component, three-component, four-component or higher solution or compound. As another example, the amorphous phase can be distinguished from the crystalline phase.
Metals, transition metals, and non-metals

The term “metal” refers to an electropositive chemical element. As used herein, the term “element” generally refers to an element that can be found in the periodic table. Physically, a ground state metal atom includes a partially filled band with an empty state close to the occupied state. The term “transition metal” is the third in the periodic table that has an incomplete internal electron shell and serves as a transition link between the most electropositive and the least electropositive in a set of elements. It is one of the metal elements within the range of Group 12 to Group 12. Transition metals are characterized by multiple valences, colored compounds, and the ability to form stable complex ions. The term “nonmetal” refers to a chemical element that does not have the ability to lose electrons and form a cation.

Depending on the application, any suitable non-metallic elements, or combinations thereof, can be used. The alloy (or “alloy composition”) has at least 2, at least 3, at least 4
It may include a plurality of non-metallic elements such as one or more non-metallic elements. Nonmetallic elements are the first in the periodic table.
It can be any element found within Group 3 to Group 17. For example, the nonmetallic elements are F, Cl, Br, I, At, O, S, Se, Te, Po, N, P, As, Sb, B
Any one of i, C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, and B can be used.
In some cases, the non-metallic element may also be a specific metalloid within group 13 to group 17 (eg, B, S
i, Ge, As, Sb, Te, and Po). In one embodiment, the non-metallic element can include B, Si, C, P, or a combination thereof. Thus, for example, the alloy can include borides or carbides, or both.

Transition metal elements are scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, technetium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, cadmium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten , Rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, mercury, rutherfordium, dobnium, seaborgium, bolium, hassium, mitonium, ununnilium, ununnium, and ununbium. In one embodiment, the transition metal element-containing BMG is Sc, Y, La, Ac, Ti, Zr, Hf, V
Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, I
at least one of r, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, and Hg
Can have one. Depending on the application, any suitable transition metal element, or combinations thereof, can be used. The alloy composition may include a plurality of transition metal elements, such as at least 2, at least 3, at least 4 or more transition metal elements.

An alloy or alloy “sample” or “specimen” alloy described herein may have any shape or size. For example, the alloy can have a particulate shape, which can have a shape such as a sphere, ellipse, wire, rod, sheet, flake, or irregular shape. The microparticles can have any size. For example, the microparticles can be about 5 micrometers to about 80 micrometers, such as about 10 micrometers to about 60 micrometers, such as about 15 micrometers to about 50 micrometers, such as about 15 micrometers to about 45 micrometers, etc. It may have an average diameter from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers, such as from about 20 micrometers to about 40 micrometers, such as from about 25 micrometers to about 35 micrometers. For example, in one embodiment, the average diameter of the microparticles is from about 25 micrometers to about 44 micrometers. In some embodiments, smaller particles, such as those in the nanometer range, or larger particles, such as those larger than 100 micrometers, can be used.

The alloy sample or specimen can also be of much larger dimensions. For example, it can be a bulk structural component such as an ingot, a housing / casing of an electronic device, or even a part of a structural component having dimensions in the millimeter, centimeter, or meter range.
Solid solution

The term “solid solution” refers to the solid form of the solution. The term “solution” refers to a mixture of two or more substances that can be a solid, liquid, gas, or a combination thereof. This mixture can be homogeneous or heterogeneous. The term “mixture” is a composition of two or more substances that can be combined with each other and generally separated. In general, the two or more substances are not combined with each other.
alloy

In some embodiments, the alloy compositions described herein can be fully alloyed. In one embodiment, an “alloy” refers to a homogenous mixture or solid solution of two or more metals in which one atom replaces another atom or occupies an interstitial position between atoms. For example, brass is an alloy of zinc and copper. An alloy can refer to a partial or complete solid solution of one or more elements in a metal matrix, such as one or more compounds in the metal matrix, as opposed to a composite material. The term alloy herein may refer to both a fully solid solution alloy that may exhibit a single solid phase microstructure and a partial solution that may exhibit two or more phases. The alloy compositions described herein can refer to those comprising an alloy or those comprising an alloy-containing composite material.

Thus, a fully alloyed alloy can have a homogeneous distribution of its constituents, whether in solid solution phase, compound phase, or both. As used herein, the term “fully alloyed” can describe slight variations within tolerances. For example, the term is
At least 99.5%, such as at least 95% alloyed, such as at least 99% alloyed
Can refer to at least 90% alloying, such as at least 99.9% alloying. Percentages herein can refer to either volume percentages or weight percentages, depending on the context.
These percentages can be balanced by impurities that can be in terms of compositions or phases that are not part of the alloy.
Amorphous or amorphous solid

An “amorphous” or “amorphous solid” is a solid that lacks the lattice periodicity characteristic of crystals. As used herein, “amorphous solid” includes “glass”, which is an amorphous solid that softens and transforms into a liquid state upon heating through the glass transition. In general, amorphous materials lack the long-range order characteristic of crystals, but these amorphous materials can possess some short-range order on the atomic length scale due to the nature of chemical bonds. A distinction between an amorphous solid and a crystalline solid can be made based on lattice periodicity determined by structural property evaluation techniques such as X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.

The terms “order” and “disorder” indicate the presence or absence of any symmetry or correlation within a multiparticulate system. The terms “long-range order” and “short-range order” distinguish order within a material based on a length scale.

The most rigorous form of order in a solid is lattice periodicity, and a specific pattern (atomic arrangement in a unit cell) is repeated many times, forming a space-filling universal for space translation. This lattice periodicity is a defining characteristic of crystals. The possible symmetries are grouped into 14 Bravey lattices and 230 space groups.

Lattice periodicity suggests long-range order. If only one unit cell is known, its translational symmetry makes it possible to accurately predict all atomic arrangements at an arbitrary distance. The converse is generally true, except in the case of, for example, quasicrystals that have a completely deterministic filling but do not possess lattice periodicity.

Long-range order characterizes a physical system in which remote parts of the same sample exhibit correlated behavior. This long-range order can be expressed as a correlation function, that is, the next spin-spin correlation function. G (x, x ′) = <s (x), s (x ′)>.

In the above function, s is a spin quantum number and x is a distance function in a specific system. This function is equal to the identity element when x = x ′ and decreases as the distance | x−x ′ | increases.
Typically, this function decays exponentially to zero over long distances and the system is considered disordered. However, if this correlation function decays to a constant value with a large | x−x ′ |, it can be stated that the system possesses long-range order. If this function decays to zero as a power of distance, it can be called quasi-long-range order. Large value | x
Note that what constitutes -x '| is relative.

A system can extend when presenting a quenching disorder, eg, spin glass, if some of the parameters that define its behavior are random variables that do not evolve over time (ie, they are quenched or frozen). it can. This quenching disorder is the opposite of the annealing disorder in which the random variable itself can develop. Embodiments herein include systems that include a quenching disorder.

The alloys described herein can be crystalline, partially crystalline, amorphous, or substantially amorphous. For example, an alloy sample / specimen can include at least some degree of crystallinity, and the grains / crystals have a size in the nanometer and / or micrometer range. Alternatively, the alloy can be substantially amorphous, such as completely amorphous. In one embodiment, the alloy composition is substantially crystalline, such as fully crystalline, and at least not substantially amorphous.

In one embodiment, the presence of one or more crystals in another amorphous alloy can be interpreted as a “crystalline phase” in that alloy. The degree of crystallinity of an alloy (or in some embodiments, “crystallinity” for short) can refer to the amount of crystalline phase present in the alloy. The degree can refer, for example, to the fraction of crystals present in the alloy. This fraction can refer to a volume fraction or a weight fraction, depending on the context. A measure of how “amorphous” an amorphous alloy can be is the degree of amorphization.
The degree of amorphization can be measured from the viewpoint of the degree of crystallinity. For example, in one embodiment, an alloy having a low degree of crystallinity can be described as having a high degree of amorphousness. In one embodiment, for example, an alloy having 60 volume percent crystalline phase is
It can have 40 volume% amorphous phase.
Amorphous alloy or amorphous metal

“Amorphous alloy” means an amorphous content greater than 50% by volume, preferably greater than 90% by volume, more preferably greater than 95% by volume, most preferably greater than 99% by volume to almost 100% by volume. % Is an alloy with an amorphous content.
As noted above, it should be noted that alloys with a high degree of amorphization have an equally low degree of crystallinity. An “amorphous metal” is an amorphous metal material having a disordered atomic scale structure. In contrast to most metals, which are crystalline and thus have a highly ordered atomic arrangement, amorphous alloys are amorphous. The material in which such a disordered structure is created directly from the liquid state during cooling may be referred to as “glass”. Thus, amorphous metals are commonly referred to as “metallic glass” or “glass metal”. In one embodiment, bulk metallic glass (“BMG”) can refer to an alloy whose microstructure is at least partially amorphous. However, in addition to extreme rapid cooling, there are several ways to create amorphous metals, including physical vapor deposition, solid phase reaction, ion irradiation, melt spinning, and mechanical alloying. Amorphous alloys
Regardless of how they are prepared, they can be a single class of materials.

Amorphous metal can be produced through various quenching methods. For example, amorphous metal can be created by sputtering molten metal onto a rotating metal disk. A quench of about several million degrees per second can be too fast for crystals to form, so that the metal is “fixed” in the glassy state. Amorphous metals / alloys are also used to enable the formation of thick layer amorphous structures, such as bulk metallic glass.
It can also be produced at a sufficiently low critical cooling rate.

The terms “bulk metallic glass” (“BMG”), bulk amorphous alloy (“BAA”),
And bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are used interchangeably herein. These terms are
Refers to an amorphous alloy having a minimum dimension in the range of at least millimeters. For example,
The dimension is at least about 0.5 mm, such as at least about 1 mm, at least about 2 mm, at least about 4 mm, at least about 5 mm, at least about 6 mm, at least about 8 mm, at least about 10 mm, at least about 12 mm, etc. It can be. Depending on the geometry, the dimensions can refer to diameter, radius, thickness, width, length, etc. The BMG may also be a metallic glass having at least one dimension in the centimeter range, such as at least about 1.0 cm, such as at least about 2.0 cm, such as at least about 5.0 cm, such as at least about 10.0 cm. You can also. In some embodiments, the BMG may have at least one dimension in the range of at least meters. BM
G can take on any of the shapes or forms described above associated with metallic glass. Thus, the BMG described herein may differ from thin films made by conventional deposition techniques in one important aspect in some embodiments, the former B
MG can be much larger in size than the latter thin film.

The amorphous metal can be an alloy rather than a pure metal. This alloy can contain atoms of significantly different sizes, resulting in a low free volume in the molten state (and therefore has a viscosity that is orders of magnitude higher than other metals and alloys). . This viscosity prevents atoms from moving sufficiently to form an ordered lattice. This material structure can provide low shrinkage during cooling and resistance to plastic deformation. This absence of grain boundaries, which in some cases is a weakness of crystalline materials, can result in better resistance to wear and corrosion, for example. In one embodiment, although technically glass, amorphous metals can also be much stronger and less brittle than oxide glasses and ceramics.

The thermal conductivity of amorphous materials can be lower than the thermal conductivity of their crystalline counterparts. To achieve the formation of an amorphous structure even during slower cooling,
Alloys with more than two components can be made to yield composite crystal units with higher potential energy and lower probability of formation. The formation of an amorphous alloy has a significant difference of more than 12% to achieve several factors: alloy composition, alloy atomic radius (preferably high packing density and low free volume) ), As well as the negative mixing heat of the combination of components that prevents crystal nucleation and extends the time that the molten metal remains in the supercooled state. However, since the formation of amorphous alloys is based on a wide variety of variables, it may be difficult to determine in advance whether the alloy composition forms an amorphous alloy.

For example, boron, silicon, phosphorus, and other glass formers and magnetic metals (iron, cobalt,
The amorphous alloy with nickel) can be magnetic with low coercivity and high electrical resistance. This high resistance results in low loss due to eddy currents when exposed to an alternating magnetic field, which is a characteristic useful as a magnetic core for a transformer, for example.

Amorphous alloys can have a variety of potentially useful properties. Specifically, amorphous alloys tend to be stronger than crystalline alloys of similar chemical composition, and they can withstand greater reversible (“elastic”) deformation than crystalline alloys.
Amorphous metals derive their strength directly from their amorphous structure, which can have no defects (such as dislocations) that limit the strength of the crystalline alloy. For example, one state-of-the-art amorphous metal, known as Vitreloy ™, has a tensile strength approximately twice that of high-grade titanium. In some embodiments, the metallic glass at room temperature is not ductile and breaks suddenly when tension is applied, which is not evident in imminent failure, so in applications where reliability is important, Limit applicability of the material. Therefore, to overcome this challenge, a metal matrix composite having a metallic glass matrix containing ductile crystalline metal dendritic particles or fibers can be used. Alternatively, BMG with less elements (eg, Ni) that tend to cause seriousness can be used. For example, by using BMG that does not contain Ni, the ductility of the BMG can be improved.

Another useful property of bulk amorphous alloys is that they are true glasses, in other words they can soften and flow with heating. This allows easy processing such as injection molding as well as polymer. As a result, amorphous alloys can be used to make sports equipment, medical equipment, electronic components and equipment, and thin films. Amorphous metal thin films can be deposited as protective coatings via high speed oxygen fuel technology.

The material can have an amorphous phase, a crystalline phase, or both. These amorphous and crystalline phases can have the same chemical composition and differ only in microstructure (ie, one is amorphous and the other is crystalline). The microstructure in one embodiment is 2
It refers to the structure of a material as revealed by a microscope with a magnification of 5 × or more. Alternatively, these two phases can have different chemical compositions and microstructures. For example, the composition can be partially amorphous, substantially amorphous, or fully amorphous.

As described above, the degree of amorphization (and conversely, the degree of crystallinity) can be measured by the fraction of crystals present in the alloy. The degree can refer to the volume fraction or weight fraction of the crystalline phase present in the alloy. A partially amorphous composition includes at least about 10%, such as at least about 20%, such as at least about 40%, such as at least about 60%, such as at least about 80%, such as at least about 90%. , Which can refer to a composition at least about 5% by volume of which is in an amorphous phase. The terms “substantially” and “about” are defined elsewhere in this specification. Thus, a composition that is at least substantially amorphous includes at least about 95%, such as at least about 98%, such as at least about 99%, such as at least about 99.5%.
It can refer to at least about 90% by volume of which is amorphous, such as at least about 99.8% by volume, such as at least about 99.9% by volume.

In one embodiment, the substantially amorphous composition may have some accompanying small amount of crystalline phase present inside.
In one embodiment, the amorphous alloy composition can be homogeneous with respect to the amorphous phase. A substance with a uniform composition is homogeneous. This is in contrast to materials that are heterogeneous. The term “composition” refers to the chemical composition and / or microstructure in a substance. The substance is
It is homogeneous when the volume of the material is divided in half and both halves have substantially the same composition. For example, a microparticle suspension is homogeneous when the volume of the microparticle suspension is divided in half and both halves have substantially the same volume of particles. However, it may be possible to see individual particles under a microscope. Another example of a homogeneous material is air, where the various components in the air are equally floating, but the particles, gases, and liquids in the air can be analyzed separately or separated from the air. You can also

A composition that is homogeneous with respect to an amorphous alloy can refer to one having an amorphous phase that is distributed substantially uniformly throughout its microstructure. In other words, the composition macroscopically comprises an amorphous alloy that is distributed substantially uniformly throughout the composition. In an alternative embodiment, the composition can be of a composite material having an amorphous phase with a non-amorphous phase therein. This non-amorphous phase can be a single crystal or multiple crystals. The crystals can be in the form of particulates of any shape, such as spherical, oval, wire, rod, sheet, flake, or irregular shape. In one embodiment, the crystals can have a dendritic morphology. For example, an at least partially amorphous composite composition may have a crystalline phase in the form of dendrites dispersed in an amorphous phase matrix, and this dispersion may be uniform or non-uniform. The amorphous phase and the crystalline phase can have the same chemical composition or different chemical compositions. In one embodiment, the phases can have substantially the same chemical composition. In another embodiment, the crystalline phase can be more ductile than the BMG phase.

The methods described herein may be applicable to any type of amorphous alloy. Similarly, the amorphous alloy described herein as a component of the composition or article can be of any type. This amorphous alloy is composed of Zr, Hf,
Ti, Cu, Ni, Pt, Pd, Fe, Mg, Au, La, Ag, Al, Mo, Nb, B
e elements, or combinations thereof. That is, the alloy may include any combination of these elements in its chemical formula or chemical composition. These elements can be present in various weight or volume percentages. For example, an iron “base” alloy can refer to an alloy having a non-negligible weight percentage of iron present therein, the weight percentage being at least about 40% by weight, for example, at least about 40% by weight. It may be at least about 20%, such as 50%, such as at least about 60%, such as at least about 80%. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the percentages described above can be volume percentages instead of weight percentages. Therefore, amorphous alloys are zirconium based, titanium based, platinum based, palladium based, gold based, silver based, copper based,
It can be an iron base, a nickel base, an aluminum base, a molybdenum base, or the like. The alloy may also not include any of the above-described elements to suit a particular purpose. For example, in some embodiments, the alloy, or a composition comprising the alloy, can be substantially free of nickel, aluminum, titanium, beryllium, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the alloy or composite material does not include any nickel, aluminum, titanium, beryllium, or combinations thereof.

For example, this amorphous alloy has the formula (Zr, Ti) _a (Ni, Cu, Fe) _b (Be,
Al, Si, B) _c , where a, b, and c each represent a weight percentage or an atomic percentage. In one embodiment, in atomic percent, a is in the range of 30-75, b is in the range of 5-60, and c is in the range of 0-50. Alternatively, the amorphous alloy can have the formula (Zr, Ti) _a (Ni, Cu) _b (Be) _c , where a
, B, and c each represent a weight percentage or an atomic percentage. In one embodiment, in atomic percent, a is in the range of 40-75, b is in the range of 5-50, and c is in the range of 5-50. The alloy may also have the formula (Zr, Ti) _a (Ni, Cu) _b (Be) _c , where a, b, and c represent weight percentage or atomic percentage, respectively. In one embodiment, in atomic percent, a is in the range of 45-65, b is in the range of 7.5-35,
c is in the range of 10-37.5. Alternatively, the alloy has the formula (Zr) _a (Nb, Ti) _b (
Ni, Cu) _c (Al) _d , where a, b, c, and d are each
Represents weight percentage or atomic percentage. In one embodiment, in atomic percent, a is in the range of 45-65, b is in the range of 0-10, c is in the range of 20-40, and d is 7.5-15.
Range. One exemplary embodiment of the alloy system described above is Liquidmetal Tech.
Zr-Ti- of the trade name Vitreloy (TM), such as Vitreloy-1 and Vitreloy-101, as produced by nologies (CA, USA).
It is a Ni—Cu—Be based amorphous alloy.
Some examples of various systems of amorphous alloys are listed in Tables 1 and 2.

Other exemplary ferrous alloys include, for example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0079907.
And the compositions disclosed in JP 2008/0118387. These compositions include the Fe (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu) (C, Si, B, P, Al) system,
Fe content is 60 to 75 atomic percent, and the total of (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu) is 5 to 25
Within the atomic percent range, and the sum of (C, Si, B, P, Al) is within the range of 8-20 atomic percent, an exemplary composition is Fe48Cr15Mo14Y2C15B6.
Fe-Cr-Mo- (Y, Ln) -CB, Co-Cr-Mo-Ln-CB, F
e-Mn-Cr-Mo- (Y, Ln) -CB, (Fe, Cr, Co)-(Mo, Mn)
-(C, B) -Y, Fe- (Co, Ni)-(Zr, Nb, Ta)-(Mo, W) -B,
Fe- (Al, Ga)-(P, C, B, Si, Ge), Fe- (Co, Cr, Mo, Ga)
, Sb) —P—B—C, (Fe, Co) —B—Si—Nb alloy, and Fe— (Cr—Mo)
)-(C, B) -Tm, where Ln is a lanthanide element and Tm is a transition metal element. In addition, this amorphous alloy has an exemplary composition of Fe80P12.5C5B2.V described in US 2010/0300148.
5, Fe80PllC5B2.5Sil. 5, Fe74.5Mo5.5P12.5C5B
2.5, Fe74.5Mo5.5PllC5B2.5Sil. 5, Fe70Mo5Ni5
P12.5C5B2.5, Fe70Mo5Ni5PllC5B2.5Sil. 5, Fe6
8Mo5Ni5Cr2P12.5C5B2.5, and Fe68Mo5Ni5Cr2Pll
C5B2.5Sil. It can be one of five.

These amorphous alloys can also be iron alloys, such as (Fe, Ni, Co) based alloys. Examples of such compositions are U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,325,868 and 5,28.
8,344, 5,368,659, 5,618,359, and 5,7
35,975, Inoue et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. , Volume 71
, P 464 (1997), Shen et al., Mater. Trans. , JIM, Volu
me 42, p 2136 (2001), and Japanese Patent Application No. 200126277 (
Publication number 2001303218 (A)).
One exemplary composition is Fe ₇₂ Al ₅ Ga ₂ P ₁₁ C ₆ B ₄ . Another example is Fe ₇₂
Al ₇ Zr ₁₀ Mo ₅ W ₂ B ₁₅ . Can be used for coating herein,
Another iron-based alloy system is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0084052, the amorphous metal having, for example, manganese (1-
3 atom%), yttrium (0.1 to 10 atom%), and silicon (0.3 to 3.1 atom%)
) And within the specified range of the composition indicated in parentheses, the following elements: chromium (15-20 atomic%), molybdenum (2-15 atomic%) tungsten (1-3 atomic%), boron (5 ~ 1
6 atom%), carbon (3-16 atom%), and the balance iron.

The amorphous alloy system described above may further include additional elements, such as additional transition metal elements including Nb, Cr, V, and Co. These additive elements may be present at about 30 wt% or less, such as about 20 wt% or less, such as about 10 wt% or less, such as about 5 wt%. In one embodiment, the optional additive element is at least one of cobalt, manganese, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, yttrium, titanium, vanadium, and hafnium, forming carbides and wear resistant. Further improve the properties and corrosion resistance. Further optional elements include a total of up to about 2%, preferably less than 1%, phosphorus, to lower the melting point,
Germanium and arsenic can be mentioned. Other minor impurities should be less than about 2%, preferably less than 0.5%.

In some embodiments, a composition having an amorphous alloy can include a small amount of impurities. By intentionally adding impurity elements, the properties of the composition, such as improved mechanical properties (eg, hardness, strength, fracture mechanism, etc.) and / or improved corrosion resistance can be modified. Alternatively, the impurities may be present as inevitable incidental impurities, such as those obtained as processing and manufacturing by-products. These impurities can be up to about 10 wt%, such as about 5 wt%, such as about 2 wt%, such as about 1 wt%, such as about 0.5 wt%, such as about 0.1 wt%. . In some embodiments, these percentages can be volume percentages instead of weight percentages. In one embodiment, the alloy sample / composition consists essentially of an amorphous alloy (with only a small amount of incidental impurities). In another embodiment, the composition comprises an amorphous alloy (having no observable trace impurities).

In one embodiment, the final part exceeded the critical cast thickness of the bulk solidified amorphous alloy.

In embodiments herein, superplastic forming is possible due to the presence of a supercooled liquid region in which the bulk solidified amorphous alloy can exist as a high viscosity liquid. Large plastic deformation can be obtained. The ability to plastically deform significantly in the supercooled liquid region is used for the molding and / or cutting process. In contrast to solids, this liquid bulk solidified alloy deforms locally, which greatly reduces the energy required for cutting and forming. The ease of cutting and forming varies with the temperature of the alloy, mold and cutting tool.
As the temperature increases, the viscosity decreases, resulting in easier cutting and molding.

Embodiments herein can utilize a thermoplastic molding process using amorphous alloys, for example, performed at Tg-Tx. As used herein, Tx and Tg are the typical heating rates (eg, 20
Determined from standard DSC measurements in ° C / min).

The amorphous alloy component can have a critical casting thickness, and the final part can have a thickness greater than its critical casting thickness. Furthermore, the time and temperature of the heating and shaping operations are selected such that the elastic strain limit of the amorphous alloy can be substantially maintained at 1.0% or higher, preferably 1.5% or higher. In the context of embodiments herein, the temperature near the glass transition means that the molding temperature can be less than the glass transition, near the glass transition temperature or glass transition temperature, and above the glass transition temperature, it is preferably a temperature lower than the crystallization temperature T _x. The cooling step is performed at a rate similar to the heating rate in the heating step, preferably at a rate exceeding the heating rate in the heating step. The cooling step is also preferably accomplished while the forming and forming loads are still maintained.
Electronic devices

Embodiments herein may be useful in the fabrication of electronic devices that use BMG. As used herein, an electronic device can refer to any electronic device known in the art. For example, the electronic device may be a phone such as a cell phone and a landline phone, or
For example, it can be any communication device such as a smartphone including iPhone ™ and an e-mail sending / receiving device. The electronic device may be a digital display, TV monitor, electronic book reader, portable web browser (eg,
It can be part of a display, such as iPad ™) and a computer monitor. The electronic device also includes a portable DVD player, a conventional DVD player, a Blu-ray disc player, a video game console, a portable music player (eg, iPod
(Trademark)) and other entertainment devices. The electronic device can also be part of a device that provides control (eg, Apple TV ™), such as controlling image, video, audio streaming, or remote control for an electronic device It can be a device. This electronic device can be part of a computer or computer accessory such as a hard drive tower enclosure or casing, laptop enclosure, laptop keyboard, laptop trackpad, desktop keyboard, mouse, and speakers. . This article can also be applied to devices such as watches or watches.

The methods, techniques, and apparatus described herein are not intended to limit the described embodiments.

As disclosed herein, a device or system (or device or machine) is made up of materials (
For example, an amorphous alloy) may be melted and injection molded. The system is configured to process such a material or alloy by melting at a high melting temperature and then pouring the molten material into a mold for molding. As will be described further below, the parts of this device are placed in line with each other. According to some embodiments, the parts of the device (or access to the system) are along a horizontal axis.

When molding a part using an amorphous alloy material, the quality of the part can be reduced during formation and molding because the amorphous alloy does not melt completely during the processing cycle.
Specifically, when using an amorphous alloy material in an injection molding machine, if the material is not uniformly heated to a high temperature and / or the uniformly heated high temperature state of the molten material is not maintained until it is molded In some cases, the material (the material in its molten state) may produce crystals or form skulls within it during melting and / or during the transfer of the material to the mold in an injection molding machine. “Skull” as used throughout this disclosure is defined as a crystallized amorphous alloy or crystal. Skulls can be formed in amorphous alloy materials when the temperature drops during a processing cycle with a portion of the meltable material, or when a layer of material does not melt or is heated to a sufficiently high temperature . This may include a crystalline layer, slush, or slurry in the molten material. Skulls can be formed in areas that are in direct contact with (lower) colder surfaces. For example, if an amorphous alloy is melted in a vessel with temperature control or cooling function or in a boat crucible (eg, made of copper), the portion of the material that is in contact with the vessel near the temperature cooling zone is completely It may not reach a high enough temperature to melt, so a skull layer is formed in the molten material near the surface in contact with the cooling parts of the container (eg at the bottom or side of the molten material) obtain. As another example, as molten amorphous alloy material moves from a melting zone into a mold (eg, through a transfer sleeve) for injection, a portion of the molten material can cool and form a skull. In some cases, not all parts of the injection molding system or apparatus are temperature controlled and / or heated, so that, for example, when passing through a transfer sleeve, the formation of a skull layer may occur erroneously. For example, the transfer sleeve (30) described herein may be a cold sleeve (eg, unheated) or may be provided at room temperature.

Skulls can cause adverse effects on the injection molding process. For example, an amorphous alloy (or BMG) skull may produce a crystalline structure. When crystalline material is introduced into an injection molded part, it can, for example, result in reduced part strength, reduced part quality, and undesirable spots on the part surface. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides several exemplary methods and systems for minimizing and / or removing skulls of amorphous alloys that result from differences in heat conduction within various parts of an injection molding system. I will provide a.

Throughout this disclosure, the expression meltable material, molten material, or material in the molten state when used, melted, and molded in an injection system includes, for example, materials described in detail above It refers to the amorphous alloy material.

Also, as understood throughout, a “cookie” is a residue (eg, slag) that originates from a molded part with the molded part or remains in the transfer sleeve once molding is complete (initially in the mold). Material that can enter but can be extruded or spilled during molding)
. In some cases this may need to be removed (eg excised) from the molded part,
Alternatively, mechanical techniques may be applied to molded parts that are discharged before the parts are completed.

The following embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of such an exemplary system. More specifically, FIG. 3 shows an injection molding apparatus or system 10. According to one embodiment, the injection molding system 10 is configured to move and inject the molten material from the melting zone 12 to the mold 16 configured to melt the meltable material received therein. And at least one plunger rod 14 with a tip 22. In one embodiment, at least the plunger rod 14 and the melting zone 12 are provided in a straight line and on a horizontal axis (eg, the X axis) so that the plunger rod 14 is substantially horizontally through the melting zone 12 ( (Eg, along the X axis) to move the molten material into the mold 16. The mold can be placed adjacent to the melting zone.

The meltable amorphous alloy material can be received in the melting zone in any number of forms. For example, the meltable material may be supplied to the melting zone 12 in the form of an ingot (solid state), semi-solid state, preheated slurry, powder, pellets, and the like. In some embodiments,
A loading port (eg, the illustrated example of the ingot loading port 18) may be provided as part of the injection molding system 10. The loading port 18 may be a separate opening or region provided in the device at any number of locations. In one embodiment, the loading port 18 can be a path through one or more parts of the device (eg, not formed separately therein). For example, the material (eg, ingot) can be inserted horizontally into the container 20 by the plunger 14 or can be inserted horizontally from the mold side of the injection system 10 (eg, the mold 16 Through and / or through the transfer sleeve 30 into the container 20). In other embodiments, the meltable material can be fed into the melting zone 12 using other methods and / or other devices (eg, through the opposite side of the injection system).

Melting zone 12 has a melting mechanism configured to receive a meltable material and hold it as it is heated to a molten state. The melting mechanism may be in the form of a container 20, which has, for example, a body configured to receive a meltable material and to melt the internal material. Containers used throughout this disclosure are containers made of materials that have been employed to heat substances to high temperatures. For example, in one embodiment, the container may be a crucible, such as a boat crucible or a skull crucible. In one embodiment, vessel 20 is a low temperature hearth melting device configured to be available for meltable material under vacuum (eg, applied by vacuum device 38 or a pump). In one embodiment,
As will be described in detail below, this container is a temperature controlled container.

The container 20 may also have an inlet for introducing material (eg, raw material) into the receiving or melting portion 24 of the body. In one embodiment, the body of the container 20 includes a substantially U-shaped structure. However, this shape is not meant to be limiting. The container 20 can include any number of shapes or configurations. The body of the container may have a length, extend longitudinally and horizontally, whereby molten material is transferred from here horizontally using the plunger 14. For example, the body can include a bottom with sidewalls extending vertically therefrom. The material for heating or melting can be received in the molten portion 24 of the container. The molten portion 24 is configured to receive a meltable material to be melted therein. For example, the molten portion 24 has a surface for receiving material. The container 20 may receive material (eg, in the form of an ingot) within the melted portion 24 using one or more devices of an injection system (eg, loading port, loading device, and / or plunger) for delivery. it can.

The body of the container 20 can be configured to receive a plunger rod horizontally through the interior for moving the molten material. That is, in one embodiment, the melting mechanism is on the same axis as the plunger rod, and the body can be configured and / or dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the plunger rod. Therefore, the plunger rod 1
4 is a material melted by moving substantially through the container 20 (after heating / melting)
Can be configured to move from the container and melting zone 12 to the mold 16. Referring to the embodiment of the system 10 illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the plunger rod 14 moves horizontally from right to left through the container 20 to move the molten material into the mold 16. Push out.

In order to heat the melting zone 12 to melt the meltable material received in the container 20,
The injection system 10 also includes a heat source that is used to heat and melt the meltable material. At least the molten portion 24 of the container, if not substantially the entire body itself, is configured to be heated to melt the material received therein. Heating is accomplished, for example, using an induction source 26 disposed in the melting zone 12 that is configured to melt the meltable material. In one embodiment, the induction source 26 is disposed adjacent to the container 20. For example, the induction source 26 may be substantially in the form of a coil disposed in a spiral around its length over the length of the container body. Thus, the container 20 uses a power supply or power supply 28 to power the induction source / coil 26 to melt the meltable material (eg, the inserted ingot) in the melted portion 24 by electromagnetic induction. Can be configured. Thus, the melting zone 12 can include an induction zone. Induction coil 26 is configured to heat and melt any material contained in container 20 without melting and wetting container 20. The induction coil 26 radiates radio frequency (RF) waves to the container 20. As illustrated, the main body and the coil 26 surrounding the container 20 may be configured to be arranged in a horizontal direction along a horizontal axis (for example, the X axis).

In one embodiment, the container 20 is a temperature controlled container. Such a container may include one or more temperature control tubes, which adjust the temperature of the body of the container 20 during melting of the material received in the container (eg, to force the container to cool). In addition, a fluid (eg, water or other fluid) is configured to flow inside. Such a forced-cooled crucible can also be provided on the same axis as the plunger rod. The cooling tube can help prevent the body of the container 20 itself from overheating and melting. The cooling tube can be connected to a cooling system configured to direct the flow of liquid within the container. The cooling tube may include one or more inlets and outlets for liquid or fluid to flow therethrough. The inlet and outlet of the cooling tube can be configured in any number of ways and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the cooling tube may be positioned relative to the melted portion 24 so that the material therein melts and the container temperature is adjusted (ie, heat is absorbed and the container is cooled). Number of cooling pipes, arrangement and / or
Or the direction should not be limited. The cooling liquid or cooling fluid may be configured to flow through the cooling tube during melting of the meltable material when the induction source 26 is energized.

After the material is melted in the container 20, the plunger 14 is used to
It can be extruded from the container 20 into the mold 16 for molding into an object, part or component. In the case where the meltable material is an amorphous alloy, the mold 16 is configured to form a shaped bulk amorphous alloy object, part or component. The mold 16 is
It has an inlet for receiving molten material therethrough. The outlet of the container 20 and the inlet of the mold 16 can be provided on a line and on a horizontal axis, whereby the plunger rod 14 moves horizontally through the body of the container and the molten material is removed from the mold. Extrude into the mold through the inlet of the mold 16.

In some embodiments, the injection molding system 10 includes a transfer sleeve 30. A transfer sleeve 30 (sometimes referred to in the art and herein as a shot sleeve, cold sleeve or injection sleeve) may be provided between the melting zone 12 and the mold 16. The transfer sleeve 30 has an opening that is configured to receive molten material therethrough and transfer (using the plunger 14) into the mold 16. This opening may be provided in a horizontal direction along a horizontal axis (eg, the X axis). The transfer sleeve need not be a cold chamber. In one embodiment, at least the plunger rod 14, the container 20
(E.g., the receiving or melting portion thereof) and the opening or path of the transfer sleeve 30 are provided in-line and on a horizontal axis so that the plunger rod 14 moves the molten material into the opening of the transfer sleeve 30. (And can then be passed through) can move horizontally through the container 20. The molten material is pushed horizontally through the transfer sleeve 30 and enters the mold cavity through the inlet.

As described above, an injection molding system 1 used for molding a material such as a metal or an alloy.
A system such as 0 can utilize a vacuum when extruding molten material into a mold or die cavity. The injection molding system 10 includes at least a melting zone 12 and a mold 1
6 may further include at least one vacuum source 38 or pump configured to apply a vacuum pressure to 6. This vacuum pressure can be applied to at least a portion of the injection molding system 10 used to melt, move or transfer, and mold the material therein. For example, the container 20 and the transfer sleeve 30
, And the plunger rod 14 may all be under vacuum and / or may be sealed in a vacuum chamber.

In one embodiment, the mold 16 is a vacuum mold that is an encapsulating structure configured to adjust the internal vacuum pressure when molding the material. For example, in one embodiment, the vacuum mold 16 is a first plate 32 (also referred to as an “A” mold or an “A” plate), a second plate 34 (“B” Also called “die” or “B” plate). The first plate 32 and the second plate 34 generally have associated mold cavities 36 and 38, respectively, for molding the molten material therebetween. The mold cavity is configured to mold a molten material received therebetween via an infusion sleeve or transfer sleeve 30. Mold cavities 36 and 38 may include part cavities for forming and casting parts therein.

In general, the first plate 32 can be connected to the transfer sleeve 30. According to one embodiment, the plunger rod 14 is configured to move molten material from the container 20 through the transfer sleeve 30 to the mold 16. That is, an entrance to the cavity of the mold 16 is provided in the first plate 32, and the cavity is disposed between the first plate 32 and the second plate 34.

During molding of the material, at least the first plate and the second plate of the mold 16 are configured to substantially eliminate exposure of the material in between (eg, molten amorphous alloy) to at least oxygen and nitrogen. Specifically, a vacuum is applied so that atmospheric air is substantially excluded from the plates as well as their cavities. A vacuum pressure is applied inside the vacuum mold 16 using at least one vacuum source 38 connected to a vacuum line. For example, the vacuum or vacuum level of the system can vary from 1 × 10 ⁻¹ to
It can be held at 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ Torr. In another embodiment, the vacuum level is maintained between 1 × 10 ⁻² and about 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ Torr during the melting and molding cycle. Of course, other pressure levels or ranges may be used, for example, 1 × 10 ⁻⁹ Torr to about 1 × 10 ⁻³ Torr, and / or 1 × 10 ⁻³ Torr to about 0.1 Torr. The vacuum ejector box (not shown) is configured to remove the molded (amorphous alloy) material from the mold cavity between the first plate 32 and the second plate 34 of the mold 16. This removal mechanism is associated with or connected to an actuating mechanism (not shown) configured to actuate to remove the molded material or part (e.g., after at least the vacuum pressure between the plates is released, After the first and second plates move horizontally away from each other).

In some cases, as described below, additional machining is performed on the discharged molded component pieces before producing the finished molded part. For example, cookies and / or extra shaped material (eg, trapped and shaped material, including skull material) can be removed prior to final finishing of the part.

The apparatus 10 can employ any number or type of molds. For example, any number of plates can be provided between and / or adjacent to the first and second plates to form the mold. For example, molds known as “A” series, “B” series, and / or “X” series molds may be attached to the injection molding system / device 10.

The cooling tube in the container 20 helps to cool the container body, but as previously mentioned, in some cases may cause the formation of skull material in the molten amorphous alloy material. Or even if there is no cooling pipe, a part of the melted amorphous alloy material may be crystallized before forming into a skull material. For example, the molten material is melt zone 1
It can be cooled while being transferred from 2 to the mold 16. Heating the molten material uniformly and maintaining the temperature of the molten material in such an injection molding apparatus 10 helps to form a uniformly molded part. Molding with a skull material reduces quality and integrity.

Accordingly, the present disclosure reduces or eliminates skull portions resulting from thermal conduction differences in different parts of an injection molding system from amorphous alloys to address the need to reduce and / or prevent forming with skull materials. By providing several different concepts.

According to some embodiments, the skull may be used during a processing cycle (ie, at least from the time of melting in the melting zone 12 until the molten material is fully formed in the mold 16). Designed to mechanically separate in an injection molding system (eg, system 10). In one embodiment, the injection molding system traps molten material skull material within the tip therein, thereby substantially reducing the amount of skull or crystalline material in the final finished molded part. Includes configured cavities. This reduces the likelihood that skull material will be pushed into the cavity and drawn into the molded part (and thus improve the quality of the part). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the plunger tip 22 of the plunger rod 14 moves the molten material 42 from the melting zone 12 through the transfer sleeve 30 to the mold 16, the molten material 42 causes the skull 46 to move. Can be formed.
That is, the molten material 42 is a higher temperature molten pool 44 of material (amorphous alloy).
And the cooler skull material 46. To reduce and / or prevent the skull material 46 from being present in the final molded part, FIG. 4 is provided in a mold 16 configured to trap the skull material in the molten amorphous alloy. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a cavity 40. More specifically, a skull trap zone 40, cavity (s), or region is provided in a mold cavity used to form the part.
The skull trap zone 40 can be an extension of the actual mold used to form the part. In the illustrated embodiment, the skull trap zone 40 is the second of the mold 16.
It is provided as an extension of the mold cavity 38 in the plate 34. This is because the skull material 46 is substantially pushed into the skull trap zone 40 as the molten material 42 is injected between the first plate 32 and the second plate 34 and into the respective cavities 36 and 36. This causes most or substantially all of the skull material 46 to enter a separate region of the mold 16, which is distinct from the cavities used to form the part. After the part is formed, the molded part can be discharged and further machining can be used to finish the molded part. That is, the material injected into the skull trap zone 40 where it is molded and cured can be removed by machining, so that the final part does not necessarily contain a cured skull or crystalline material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the skull material 46 is shown as being formed near the lower moving surface (eg, the path of the transfer sleeve 30) and the plunger tip 22.
This is an example. Based on this example, the skull trap zone 40 is configured to be placed in the mold 16 such that the skull material 46 is pushed into the mold 16 when it is injected into the mold 16. However, in FIG. 4 the skull trap zone 40 is in the second cavity 3.
Although shown as an extension within 8, this location is merely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the skull trap zone 40 can be provided as part of the cavity 36 of the first plate 32. Thus, the skull trap zone 40 may be located in or adjacent to the mold determined to receive a substantial amount of skull material 46 from the molten material 42.

According to some other embodiments, the skull 46 is mechanically separated from the molten material 42 prior to entering the mold. 5-8 show another embodiment for separating the skull material. Specifically, the melted material is melted into the melting zone 12 using the tip 22 of the plunger rod 14.
When being pushed into the mold 16, the skull is mechanically separated from the molten material (alloy). For example, a cavity may be provided at the tip 22 of the plunger rod 14. In some embodiments, a cavity in the tip of the plunger rod 22 can be provided below the centerline (horizontal longitudinal line) of the plunger rod 14 so that skull material is trapped or captured therein. Be trapped. That is, the bottom surface and / or the plunger rod 2
If there is a skull material 46 formed near two ends (eg, as shown in FIG. 4), the cavity can be designed to separate the skull 46 from the pool 44 of molten material 42.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of a plunger tip 22 with a body 48 having a cavity 50 provided at the end, which at least removes molten material from the melting zone 12 to the mold 16.
It is configured to move. For example, the cavity 50 can be provided to have a rounded shape substantially below the centerline of the plunger rod 14. Cavity 5
0 is configured to extend backward from the end of the plunger tip 22. Cavity 50
, When most or substantially all of the skull material 46 in the molten material 42 is moved into the mold 16 during movement toward the mold 16 and / or when the molten material is injected into the mold 16. 5
At this time, a molten pool 4 of a higher temperature amorphous alloy material is trapped within 0.
4 is pressed into the mold 16 and formed into parts using the cavities 36 and 38. After the part is formed, the molded part can be discharged and further machining can be used to finish the molded part. That is, the material trapped in the cavity 50 of the plunger body 48 can be cured and molded together with the part. Thus, such material can be removed by machining, so that the final part does not necessarily contain a hardened skull or crystallized material.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a plunger tip 22 having another rounded cavity 52. A cavity 52 is provided at the end of the plunger tip 22, like the cavity 50, which is configured to move at least the molten material from the melting zone 12 to the mold 16. The cavity 52 may be provided with a rounded shape that is substantially below the centerline of the plunger rod 14 and is in the form of an arc or tongue-shaped groove, as shown in FIG. The cavity 52 is configured to extend backward from the end of the plunger tip 22. The cavities 52 may cause most or substantially all of the skull material 46 in the molten material 42 to move during movement toward the mold 16 and / or when the molten material is injected into the mold 16. At this time, the molten pool 44 of higher temperature amorphous alloy material is pushed into the mold 16. After the part is formed, the molded part can be discharged and further machining can be used to finish the molded part. That is, the material trapped in the plunger cavity 52 can be cured and molded with the part as shown in FIG. Specifically, FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the component 100 discharged from the mold in the injection molding machine. The part 100 includes a molded part 102 that is a final part.
7 includes a molded portion 104 cured in cavity 52 in FIG. The molded portion 104 includes at least a portion of the skull material 46 that is trapped and / or prevented from being pushed into the mold 16. Therefore, the molded part 104 is
The molded part 102 can be machined so that the final part 100 does not necessarily contain a hardened skull or crystallized material.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show yet another example of a plunger tip 22 with a body 54 having a cavity 56 provided at the end, which moves at least molten material from the melting zone 12 to the mold 16. It is configured as follows. The cavity 56 may be provided to have a stepped shape substantially below the centerline of the plunger rod 14. The cavity 56 is configured to extend backward from the end of the plunger tip 22. The cavity 56 is
Most or substantially all of the skull material 46 in the melted material 42 is in the cavity 56 during movement toward the mold 16 and / or when the melted material is injected into the mold 16. At the same time, the molten pool 44 of higher temperature amorphous alloy material is pushed into the mold 16 and formed into parts using the cavities 36 and 38. After the part is formed, the molded part can be discharged and further machining can be used to finish the molded part. That is, the material trapped in the cavity 56 of the plunger body 54 can be cured and molded together with the part. Thus, such material can be removed by machining, so that the final part does not necessarily contain a hardened skull or crystallized material.

Of course, it will be appreciated that the shape of the cavity shown in FIGS. 5-8 at the plunger tip is exemplary and not limiting. Any number of different configurations or shapes can be used to form a cavity at the tip 22 of the plunger rod 14.

Thus, by using the concept of a plunger tip designed with a cavity, for example as shown in FIGS. 5-8, the skull material formed in the melted material is substantially contained within the mold cavity. Don't enter. At this time, the skull is trapped by the plunger tip (and stays with the part or cookie).

However, machine or system components other than the mold or plunger rod can also be configured to be removed from the molten material before the skull enters the mold. The cavity can be provided on the outside of the mold or plunger, which can still be configured to trap the skull material before the plunger moves the molten material to the mold. For example,
In the system including the transfer sleeve 30 (between the melting zone and the mold), the cavity is
It can be provided in the path of the transfer sleeve. A cavity can then be used to trap or capture at least a portion of the skull material as the molten material travels through it. FIGS. 14 and 15 show such a cavity 6 provided on the bottom surface 58 of the path in the transfer sleeve 30 (for the plunger rod and material to travel therethrough).
An example of 0 or a channel is shown. As generally illustrated, the cavity 60 extends longitudinally within the path (eg, along the horizontal axis). A cavity 60 is provided below the bottom surface 58 of the path so that when the plunger rod 14 moves the molten material 42 from the melting zone 12, the skull material 46 is captured in the cavity 60 and at the same time the molten pool 44. Is pushed into the mold 16. For example, the cavity 60 may be in the form of a runner or opening that extends longitudinally (eg, along the X axis) into the path, before the skull material enters the mold part area of the mold. It is configured to trap this.

In one embodiment, the cavity 60 is configured to be placed in the path of the transfer sleeve 30 near the entrance of the mold 16 so that most of the skull material 46 formed as the molten material passes through the sleeve 30. , Captured before being injected into the mold 16. However, FIGS. 14-15 show the transfer sleeve 30 with the interior of the cavity 60 therein, but such a cavity or channel is near or in the melting zone 12 and / or enters the mold. It will be appreciated that any previous point may be provided. In another embodiment,
Multiple cavities or channels can be provided along the length of the transfer sleeve.
For example, the cavities or channels can be spaced longitudinally along the bottom surface to selectively collect or scrape the skull material as the molten material moves along the path.

The depth of the cavity 60 may be between about 0.10 mm and about 0.25 mm in one embodiment. The depth of the cavity may also be from about 0.25 mm to about 10.
It can be 0 mm. In another embodiment, the depth of the cavity 60 is 2.0 mm to about 5.0 mm. These dimensions are exemplary and not limiting. For example, in another embodiment, the depth of the cavity 60 is the amount of material recovered from the molten material (
For example, this may depend on the total amount of molten material that is injected and molded). The depth of the cavity 60 may depend on the injection speed according to another embodiment. Thus, any number of elements can be used to determine the dimensions of the cavity 60. Thus, due to the implementation of the cavity 60, the skull material formed in the molten material does not substantially enter the mold cavity. Here, the skull is trapped by falling into the cavity as it moves through the transfer sleeve.

Once the material is trapped in the cavity 60, any number of means or devices can be used to remove the material. In some cases, the material in the cavity 60 can be cooled to form solid pieces and then removed. 16 and 17 illustrate an exemplary embodiment for using a device in an injection molding system to remove skull material that has been scraped or trapped in a path in the injection molding system. In the illustrated embodiment, the ejection device includes a plate 66 attached to an actuation mechanism 68 (illustrated in the form of a shaft). A plate 66 is provided in the path (eg, in the transfer sleeve 30 between the melt zone 12 and the mold 16) and is positioned to form a cavity below the path of the melt pool. For example, the plate 66 may have a cavity 6 as shown in FIG.
It can be arranged to form a cavity similar to zero. The plate 66 can be provided at any position and depth with respect to the path.

The material trapped in the cavity can be discharged using the illustrated device in a number of ways. For example, the device can move up or down. In one embodiment, the actuation mechanism 68 can be moved vertically down the plate 66 away from the path, thereby releasing and / or dropping the material in the cavity 60. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the plate 66 can be moved vertically up into the path, thereby pushing the material up. For example, the plate 66 can be configured in an arrangement such that material can be removed from the path. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the plunger 14 is configured to move backward in the horizontal direction (toward the home position, eg, the position prior to initiating melting and injection), thereby using its tip 22 to The material can be moved backwards or extruded into the melting zone 12, for example. However, the plunger 14 can also or alternatively be used to eject material from the cavity through the mold 16. For example, the plunger 14 can be pulled back to the home position before moving the plate 66. Next, the actuation mechanism 68 may be configured to push the material in the cavity upward using the plate 66. The plunger 14 can then be advanced toward the mold 16 to push the material forward and possibly pass through the mold for removal.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, it is conceivable to provide a pin to eject this material from the cavity 60. For example, a plurality of pins can be assigned to selectively move through the cavity region, thereby pushing material in the cavity out of the cavity (eg, from the bottom). Such a pin can be similar to, for example, an ejector pin used to eject a molded part from a mold cavity.

According to yet another alternative embodiment, an injection molding machine or system component may be connected to the melt pool 44.
It can be configured to remove the skull from the molten material before entering the mold without removing the material from the mold. For example, FIGS. 10-13 show that the molten material (alloy) before entering the mold (ie, while moving the molten material from the melting zone 12 to the mold 16).
FIG. 2 illustrates a concept and method of using a plunger tip to induce mixing.

Referring to the device in the injection molding system 10 of FIG. 3, the plunger rod 14 is used to move material from the melting zone 12 toward the mold 16 in a horizontal direction from right to left. In one embodiment, to induce and provide mixing of molten material 42, plunger rod 14 can be pre-programmed to move in a controlled manner that induces mixing or agitation of the material. For example, in one embodiment, the plunger stops periodically along a horizontal path for a short time (eg, 1 second) and / or moves back and forth (eg, in opposite directions, eg, left to right, (Or in the direction of returning from the mold and moving away from the mold) and then moving toward the mold again. Such movement of the plunger rod 14 can induce mixing of the molten material. For example, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 10, the plunger rod 14 passes through a path, and when the material is pushed horizontally along the surface 58 of the transfer sleeve 30, the molten material 42 overflows forward, Due to the movement of the plunger, the fluid flows forward and is mixed. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the skull material 46 is mixed with the hotter molten pool 44 by the turbulent flow of the molten material 42, thereby becoming part of the molten pool 44. By initiating such agitation, the skull material 46 is
It can melt into the hotter pool 44.

In another embodiment, the tip 22 of the plunger rod 14 can be shaped to induce mixing or agitation of the molten material as it moves toward the mold 16. Mixing is accomplished by shaping at least the face of the plunger tip into a shape that agitates the molten alloy as a function of forward movement toward the mold of the plunger tip and the molten pool of material.
Can be induced. FIG. 13 shows an example of a plunger tip 22 that includes a body 62 with a shaped end 64 configured to push molten material from the melting zone 12 into the mold 16. The shaped end 64 may be slightly concave (as shown) or designed to induce mixing and agitation as the plunger rod 14 moves horizontally toward the mold 16. It may have a conical shape. Such a plunger tip design can induce movement of the molten material 42 as the plunger moves, thereby causing the material to move vigorously and the skull material 46 mixes with the higher temperature melt pool 44. Can be melted into the higher temperature pool 44 and then molded. 19-21 illustrate another design of another plunger tip that can be used in an injection molding system, according to other embodiments. In one embodiment, the agitation motion can be a rotational motion that is angled with respect to the injection axis (eg, the horizontal X axis), which is caused by a threaded tip surface 70 of the plunger tip 22, for example, as shown in FIG. Can be generated. Alternatively, the plunger tip 22 can include a beveled tip surface 72 as shown, for example, in FIG. 20, which can be agitated of the molten fluid from the bottom to the top of the melt by rotating in the axial direction. In another embodiment, the agitation can be radiated radially from the axial injection by a conical tip surface, for example as shown in FIG.

Thus, any of these plunger tip designs, devices, and / or methods can be used to enhance mixing, thereby allowing the skull to be continuously intermixed into the molten material. By moving the molten pool and injecting and mixing the skull material simultaneously while injecting, the amount of skull material present in the final molded part is reduced and / or eliminated.

In some embodiments, a combination of implementations described herein can be used in an injection molding machine to reduce and / or substantially reduce skull material (crystals) in the final molded part. It can be considered that it can be eliminated. For example, in one embodiment, skull material may be trapped by both a cavity in the plunger tip (see, for example, the design in FIGS. 5-8) and a cavity in the transfer sleeve (see, for example, FIGS. 14-15). .
In another embodiment, both the skull trap zone 40 and inductive mixing can be used. In yet another embodiment, both inductive mixing and one or more cavities can be used to trap skull material.

In addition to the described implementation, additional functionality of the injection molding system 10 may be provided to reduce the amount of skull material in the final molded part. For example, in some cases, the transfer sleeve 3
Zero path walls can be made of specific materials to promote skull removal or reduce skull formation. In some embodiments, the transfer sleeve 300 can be made of a material with low thermal conductivity, which reduces the cooling of the molten material as it is moved by the plunger rod 14 and in the molten material. The formation of skulls can be reduced. In another embodiment, if the meltable material can be overheated, the system 10 can be configured to heat the material to a higher temperature, thereby minimizing skull formation.

Materials that are trapped or removed and that at least substantially contain skull, for example, see FIGS.
8 and as shown using the method / device of FIGS. 14-15, for example, does not necessarily have to be discarded or discarded. In some cases, the skull material is recyclable. Since the skull has substantially the same composition as the material (alloy) to be melted, the skull is combined with the meltable material and / or inserted into the melt zone 12 with the meltable material and melted again. Can be made. In some cases, additional components can be added as needed.

The configuration described herein does not require a material that is different from the materials known for forming parts in injection molding machines. In some embodiments, a coating and / or surface texture can be added (eg, in a transfer sleeve) to improve wear resistance and reduce heat loss.

The methods and systems described above reduce and / or minimize skull formation and / or remove skull formed during processing. Therefore, the skull in the final molded product is
Reduced and / or minimized. In some cases, the skull can be substantially removed from the final molded product. Reducing the amount of skull or crystallized material in the molded part improves quality, including but not limited to strength related properties, aesthetic properties, corrosion resistance, and amorphous uniformity.

In general, to form a part (eg, a bulk amorphous alloy part) using a meltable material (eg, an amorphous alloy), the injection molding system / device 10 can be operated as follows: (E.g., an amorphous alloy or BMG in the form of a single ingot) is mounted on a supply mechanism (e.g., load port 18 or device) and melt zone 12 in vessel 20 (which is surrounded by induction coil 26). Insert into and accept. A vacuum is applied to the system (melting zone and mold) and the material is heated by an induction process in the melting zone 12 (ie, by supplying power to the induction coil 26 via a power source). The injection molding apparatus can control the temperature via a closed loop system, which can stabilize the material at a particular temperature (eg, using a temperature sensor and a controller). While the material is melting, the device is maintained under vacuum. Also, during heating / melting, the cooling system can be activated to allow the (cooling) liquid to flow through the cooling tube of the container 20. Once the desired temperature is reached and the meltable material is maintained in the molten state, heating using the induction coil 26 can be stopped. The apparatus initiates injection by moving the molten material from the container 20 through the transfer sleeve 30 to the vacuum mold 16 in a horizontal direction (from right to left) along the horizontal axis (X axis). This can be controlled using the plunger 14, which can be actuated using a servo driven drive or a hydraulic drive. The mold 16 is configured to receive the molten material through the inlet and is configured to mold the molten material under vacuum. That is, the molten material is injected into at least a mold cavity between the first plate and the second plate, and a part is molded by the mold 16. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the molten material is trapped within the cavity of the injection molding apparatus. Specifically, the skull material resulting from the melted material may have a mold, plunger tip, and / or transfer sleeve configuration as described with reference to FIGS. 4-8 and 14-15. It can be trapped or captured, alone or in combination. In another embodiment, mixing of the molten material is induced (e.g., using a plunger), thereby substantially preventing the skull material from forming and / or forming the skull within the molten pool. To be melted. The material is then injected into the mold. Once the mold cavity begins to fill, the vacuum (via vacuum line and vacuum source 38) can be held at a predetermined pressure to “crush” the molten material into the mold cavity area and mold the material. it can. After the molding process (eg after about 10-15 seconds),
The vacuum applied to at least the mold 16 (or the entire apparatus 10) is released. The mold 16 is then opened to release the pressure and expose the parts to the atmosphere. The ejector mechanism is actuated, and the solidified molded article is removed from between at least the first and second plates of the mold 16 via the actuating device.
After this, the process can be started again. The mold 16 is closed by moving at least the first and second plates closer together, thereby allowing the first and second plates to be adjacent to each other. After pulling the plunger 14 back into the loading position, the melting zone 12 and the mold 16 are evacuated via a vacuum source to insert and melt more material and to mold another part. The discharged molded part can be machined as needed to produce the final molded part, which has a reduced and / or substantially free content of cured skull material.

Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein illustrate a skull trap method and device in an exemplary injection system having an in-line melting system along a horizontal axis. However, some of the embodiments described herein can also be implemented in a system arranged on a vertical axis.

Although not described in detail, the injection system of the present disclosure includes one or more sensors, flow meters, etc. (eg, for monitoring temperature, cooling water flow, etc.) and / or one or more controllers. Additional parts that are not limited to may be included. In addition, when under vacuum, to or adjacent to any number of parts to assist in melting and forming part of the molten material by substantially limiting or eliminating significant air exposure or leakage. And a sealing part may be provided. For example, the sealing portion may be an O-ring shape. A seal can be made of any material and is defined as a device that stops a substance (eg, air) from moving between the parts to be sealed. The injection system inserts a meltable material inside, applies a vacuum, heats,
Automated or semi-automated processes may be performed to inject and form the material to form the part.

The type and material used for the plunger, transfer sleeve, or mold of any embodiment described herein is not intended to be limiting. The plunger rod and its tip can be made of similar or different materials. For example, a common material used to form the plunger rod body is hard tool steel. For the plunger tip, use one or more machinable non-ferrous materials such as copper, copper alloy, copper beryllium alloy, stainless steel, brass, tungsten, or various high temperature and high strength ceramics, and / or the like. be able to. In some embodiments, the plunger body and / or tip promotes high wear resistance and provides thermal insulation for the purpose of extending the service life of the plunger tip and / or improving melt uniformity. In addition, a coating (for example, a coating of carbide, nitride, ceramic, etc.) may be provided thereon. The plunger tip can also be coated with a relatively soft material to provide a better sliding mechanism between the plunger tip and the boat and / or cold sleeve material. The plunger tip coating may be ceramic or metallic in nature and may be deposited by a wide variety of methods such as chemical baths, vapor deposition, powder coating, and the like. In some embodiments, the material used to form the plunger tip material is non-magnetic. The plunger tip can be formed from a plurality of parts or structural pieces, for example, a tougher body portion and a replaceable tip portion (e.g., a material with sufficient properties to contact molten material). Or can be formed from such materials).

Further, any of the plunger rod and plunger tip embodiments described herein shown in FIGS. 5-8 and 13-15 may be temperature controlled or cooled in some manner (eg, using fluids).

In some embodiments, the material that is shaped (and / or melted) using any embodiment of the injection system disclosed herein can include any number of materials, amorphous It should not be limited to alloys. In some embodiments, any of the plungers described herein can be used to move materials other than amorphous alloys.

Although the principles of the present disclosure are clarified in the exemplary embodiments described above, various modifications may be made to the structures, arrangements, proportions, elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the present disclosure. This will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated that many of the above and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be suitably combined with many other different systems / devices or applications. Various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements in these that are currently unforeseen or unforeseen may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art and are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. The

Claims (27)

A plunger configured for use in an injection molding system and configured to move molten amorphous alloy material to a mold, the plunger including a tip having a cavity therein, the tip being A plunger configured to trap skull material from the molten amorphous alloy within the tip during injection.   The plunger of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a stepped cross section.   The plunger of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a rounded cross section. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the cavity at the tip of the plunger rod is provided below a centerline of the plunger rod. An injection molding system,
A melting zone configured to melt the meltable amorphous material received therein;
A mold for forming a molten amorphous alloy material;
A plunger rod configured to move the molten amorphous alloy material from the melting zone to the mold;
The injection molding system further comprising a cavity configured to trap the molten amorphous alloy skull material, thereby substantially reducing the amount of the skull material in the final molded part .   The system of claim 5, wherein the cavity is provided in the mold. The system of claim 5, wherein the cavity is provided at a tip of the plunger rod. The system of claim 7, wherein the cavity at the tip of the plunger rod is provided below a centerline of the plunger rod.   The system of claim 7, wherein the cavity comprises a stepped cross section.   The system of claim 7, wherein the cavity includes a rounded cross-section. 6. The cavity according to claim 5, wherein the cavity is provided outside the mold, whereby the cavity is configured to trap the skull material before the plunger moves the molten material to the mold. The described system. 6. A transfer sleeve configured to receive the molten material therethrough is further included between the melting zone and the mold, and the cavity is provided in the transfer sleeve. The system described in. The system of claim 12, wherein the cavity is provided in a bottom surface of a path in the transfer sleeve such that the plunger rod moves therethrough. 6. The container of claim 5, further comprising a container in the melting zone, the container being disposed along a horizontal axis, whereby movement of the amorphous alloy material in molten form is horizontal toward the mold. System. In order to adjust the temperature of the container during the melting of the amorphous alloy material, the container
The system of claim 14, further comprising one or more temperature control lines configured to flow liquid therein. The system of claim 5, further comprising an inductive source within the melting zone and configured to melt the amorphous alloy material received therein.   The system of claim 5, wherein the final molded part is a bulk amorphous alloy part. A method for manufacturing a bulk amorphous alloy part, comprising:
Preparing an injection molding apparatus comprising a melting zone, a plunger, and a mold;
Supplying an amorphous alloy material to be melted to the melting zone;
Applying a vacuum to the device;
Melting the amorphous alloy material in the melting zone;
Moving the molten amorphous alloy material to the mold using the plunger after the melting step;
Trapping at least a portion of the molten amorphous alloy material in a cavity of the injection molding apparatus;
Forming the material into the bulk amorphous alloy part;
And the trapped molten amorphous alloy material in the cavity is
A method comprising a skull material obtained from the molten amorphous alloy, whereby the bulk amorphous alloy part has a reduced amount of hardened skull material. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the molten amorphous alloy material using the plunger comprises moving the plunger horizontally. The apparatus further includes an induction source in the melting zone, wherein the step of melting the amorphous alloy material is applied to the induction source for melting the amorphous alloy material being supplied in the melting zone. The method of claim 18, comprising providing power. A plunger configured for use in an injection molding system and configured to move molten amorphous alloy material to a mold, wherein the plunger is in the molten amorphous alloy material before entering the mold A plunger configured to induce mixing of the plunger. 24. The plunger is configured to move along a horizontal axis, whereby the molten amorphous alloy material is moved and mixed as the plunger moves horizontally toward the mold. The plunger described in 1. 23. The plunger of claim 22, wherein movement of the plunger along the horizontal axis is configured to induce the mixing of the molten amorphous alloy. The plunger of claim 21, wherein the plunger includes a concave tip configured to induce the mixing of the molten amorphous alloy. A method for manufacturing a molded part, comprising:
Providing an injection molding apparatus comprising a melting zone, a plunger, and a mold; supplying an amorphous alloy material to be melted to the melting zone;
Applying a vacuum to the device;
Melting the amorphous alloy material in the melting zone;
Moving the molten amorphous alloy material to the mold using the plunger after the melting step;
Molding the material into the molded part;
And moving the molten amorphous alloy material using the plunger induces mixing of the molten amorphous alloy material prior to entering the mold, thereby reducing the molded part in a reduced amount. A method having a skull material. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the plunger is configured to move along a horizontal axis, and moving the molten amorphous alloy includes moving horizontally toward the mold. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the plunger includes a tip shaped to induce mixing of the molten amorphous alloy material.

Images