A structure is provided. The structure defines a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction, the three directions orthogonal to each other. The structure includes a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section includes a plurality of unit cells joined together, wherein the first section has a first average tensile strength and a first average crack growth resistance. The second substantially solid section is within and surrounding each unit cell of the plurality of first section unit cells, wherein the second section has a second average tensile strength and a second average crack growth resistance, the second average tensile strength different from the first average tensile strength and the second average crack growth resistance different from the first average crack growth resistance. The third section surrounds the first section and the second section.

Process for the treatment of a steel material, wherein the grains of which it is composed comprise a matrix into which precipitates are incorporated, the precipitates comprising at least one metallic element selected from a metallic element M, a metallic element M′, a metallic element M″ or mixtures thereof; the microstructure of the steel being such that the grains are equiaxial and the average size of the grains being such that the average of their largest dimension “Dmax” and/or the average of their smallest dimension “Dmin” is in the range 10 μm to 50 μm.

The steel material has optimised, stable and isotropic mechanical properties, in particular so that the steel material is more resistant to mechanical and/or thermal stresses.

Provided is a method for promoting densification of a metal body by utilizing metal expansion induced by hydrogen absorption. The hydrogen absorption expansion refers to a volume expansion effect produced by absorbing hydrogen on some metal blocks or metal powder in a hydrogen atmosphere under certain temperature conditions. Hydrogen is introduced into a rigid closed mold filled with a hydrogen absorption expansion material or filled with the hydrogen absorption expansion material and a material to be densified, and the mold and/or the material to be densified are/is densified by using the volume expansion effect of the hydrogen absorption expansion material. The present method may be used for eliminating residual pores from a metal material so as to improve the properties of the material.

Provided is a method for promoting densification of a metal body by utilizing metal expansion induced by hydrogen absorption. The hydrogen absorption expansion refers to a volume expansion effect produced by absorbing hydrogen on some metal blocks or metal powder in a hydrogen atmosphere under certain temperature conditions. Hydrogen is introduced into a rigid closed mold filled with a hydrogen absorption expansion material or filled with the hydrogen absorption expansion material and a material to be densified, and the mold and/or the material to be densified are/is densified by using the volume expansion effect of the hydrogen absorption expansion material. The present method may be used for eliminating residual pores from a metal material so as to improve the properties of the material.

A method of producing an abrasive tip for a turbine blade includes producing or obtaining a metal powder that is mixed with an abrasive ceramic powder and producing or obtaining a metallic mold that is in the shape of an airfoil. The metallic mold includes a hollow interior portion. The method further includes sealing the metal and ceramic powder mixture within the hollow interior portion of the metallic mold under vacuum and subjecting the sealed mold to a hot isostatic pressing process. The hot isostatic pressing process compacts and binds the metal and ceramic powder mixture together into a solid article in the shape of the airfoil. Still further, the method includes slicing the solid article into a plurality of airfoil-shaped slices and bonding one slice of the plurality of airfoil-shaped slices to a tip portion of a turbine blade.

A method of producing an abrasive tip for a turbine blade includes producing or obtaining a metal powder that is mixed with an abrasive ceramic powder and producing or obtaining a metallic mold that is in the shape of an airfoil. The metallic mold includes a hollow interior portion. The method further includes sealing the metal and ceramic powder mixture within the hollow interior portion of the metallic mold under vacuum and subjecting the sealed mold to a hot isostatic pressing process. The hot isostatic pressing process compacts and binds the metal and ceramic powder mixture together into a solid article in the shape of the airfoil. Still further, the method includes slicing the solid article into a plurality of airfoil-shaped slices and bonding one slice of the plurality of airfoil-shaped slices to a tip portion of a turbine blade.

A structure is provided. The structure defines a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction, the three directions orthogonal to each other. The structure includes a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section includes a plurality of unit cells joined together, wherein the first section has a first average tensile strength and a first average crack growth resistance. The second substantially solid section is within and surrounding each unit cell of the plurality of first section unit cells, wherein the second section has a second average tensile strength and a second average crack growth resistance, the second average tensile strength different from the first average tensile strength and the second average crack growth resistance different from the first average crack growth resistance. The third section surrounds the first section and the second section.

In a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) method, the component to be treated, affected by imperfections, like porosity, cracks and cavities in its structure, is placed into a container together with non-metallic material in form of powder or grains having size greater than the porosity and the cracks and imperfections of the component. During the HIP process, the non-metallic material presses on the whole surface of the embedded component in order to generate a combination of temperature and forces capable to reduce defects, embedded and not embedded, in the component itself. The component is not contaminated during the process thus allowing easily removal of the non-metallic material by a simple operation of mechanical cleaning or chemical washing.

In a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) method, the component to be treated, affected by imperfections, like porosity, cracks and cavities in its structure, is placed into a container together with non-metallic material in form of powder or grains having size greater than the porosity and the cracks and imperfections of the component. During the HIP process, the non-metallic material presses on the whole surface of the embedded component in order to generate a combination of temperature and forces capable to reduce defects, embedded and not embedded, in the component itself. The component is not contaminated during the process thus allowing easily removal of the non-metallic material by a simple operation of mechanical cleaning or chemical washing.

A method for manufacturing a poppet valve or mushroom valve includes providing a mixture of metal powder and a binder, filling and pressing said mixture in a mold, to obtain a green product, removing the binder from the green product, and thermally sintering the green product to a poppet valve blank, by hot isostatic pressing. A poppet valve is also provided that is manufactured with this method.