US PATENT SUBCLASS 148 / 95
PROCESS OF MODIFYING OR MAINTAINING INTERNAL PHYSICAL STRUCTURE (I.E., MICROSTRUCTURE) OR CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METAL, PROCESS OF REACTIVE COATING OF METAL AND PROCESS OF CHEMICAL-HEAT REMOVING (E.G., FLAME-CUTTING, ETC.) OR BURNING OF METAL

Current as of: June, 1999
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148 /   HD   METAL TREATMENT

95PROCESS OF MODIFYING OR MAINTAINING INTERNAL PHYSICAL STRUCTURE (I.E., MICROSTRUCTURE) OR CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METAL, PROCESS OF REACTIVE COATING OF METAL AND PROCESS OF CHEMICAL-HEAT REMOVING (E.G., FLAME-CUTTING, ETC.) OR BURNING OF METAL {17}
96  DF  .~> Superconductive metal or alloy (i.e., superconductive Tc at or below 30'K) {2}
99  DF  .~> Treating in extraterrestrial environment (e.g., space, moon, etc.) or zero gravity environment
100  DF  .~> Magnetic materials {7}
194  DF  .~> Chemical-heat removing (e.g., flame-cutting, etc.) or burning of metal {9}
206  DF  .~> Carburizing or nitriding using externally supplied carbon or nitrogen source {15}
239  DF  .~> With ion implantation
240  DF  .~> Processes of coating utilizing a reactive composition which reacts with metal substrate or composition therefore {12}
500  DF  .~> Utilizing disclosed mathematical formula or relationship {3}
508  DF  .~> With measuring, testing, or sensing {3}
512  DF  .~> Surface melting (e.g., melt alloying, etc.)
513  DF  .~> Treating loose metal powder, particle or flake
514  DF  .~> Treating consolidated metal powder, per se (i.e., no sintering or compacting step present)
515  DF  .~> With explosive or exothermic agent
516  DF  .~> Producing or treating layered, bonded, welded, or mechanically engaged article or stock as a final product {9}
538  DF  .~> With casting or solidifying from melt {6}
558  DF  .~> With vibration (e.g., mechanical, sound, etc.)
559  DF  .~> Heating or cooling of solid metal {22}

DEFINITION

Classification: 148/95

PROCESS OF MODIFYING OR MAINTAINING INTERNAL PHYSICAL STRUCTURE (I.E., MICROSTRUCTURE) OR CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METAL, PROCESS OF REACTIVE COATING OF METAL AND PROCESS OF CHEMICAL-HEAT REMOVING (E.G., FLAME-CUTTING, ETC.) OR BURNING OF METAL:

(under the class definition) Subject matter which relates to (1) a process of modifying or maintaining the internal physical structure (i.e., microstructure) or chemical properties of metal not elsewhere provided, (2) a process of reactive coating of metal, and (3) a process of chemical-heat removing (e.g., flame-cutting, etc.) or burning (i.e., oxidizing) of a portion of a metal workpiece.

(1) Note. Most subject matter herein will relate to processes of treating solid or semisolid metal with heat without melting a substantial portion thereof and will also include the combination of significant heating and working not provided for in the other metal working classes. However, casting or casting and working of molten metal, if combined with heat treatment to change the microstructure of a solid metal resulting therefrom, is acceptable to this class.

(2) Note. For purposes of distinguishing over the metal working classes, significant heat treatment occurs when the temperature or heating or cooling rate is provided for in a nonworking treating step or when microstructure description is utilized in the claim. Working at a specified temperature is not a significant heat treatment without mention of microstructure. The mere use of the term "ageing" or "tempering" will be considered significant heat treatment. Except for "work hardening", the use of the term "hardening"

will be considered significant heat treatment. "Quenching" will be considered significant heat treatment lacking an indication that it means simply returning to a convenient working temperature. "Stress-relief-annealing" will remain in the metal working classes. Working metal in the "superplastic" state or during "dynamic-recrystallization" remains in the working classes unless a temperature is provided. "Ion implantation" will be a sufficient indication of microstructural change to place classification in Class 148. When combined with working, "annealing", per se, will remain in the metal working classes. However, annealing at a specified temperature goes in Class 148. Merely, heating or cooling a metal to a working temperature is not significant heat treatment. However, the presence in any step of a significant heat treatment as hereinabove described is sufficient to place the classification in Class 148.

(3) Note. The presence of carburizing, nitriding, or reactive coating is sufficient to place the classification in Class 148, even if a metal working step is present.