US2010108203A1PendingUtilityA1

Ultra-High Strength Stainless Alloy Strip, a Method of Making Same, and a Method of Using Same for Making a Golf Club Head

Assignee: KOSA THEODOREPriority: Oct 31, 2008Filed: Oct 30, 2009Published: May 6, 2010

Est. expiryOct 31, 2028(~2.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

C22C 38/54C22C 38/50C21D 2211/008C22C 38/04C21D 9/0068C21D 8/0236C21D 6/02C22C 38/001C22C 38/44C22C 38/06C22C 38/02C21D 8/0226C21D 8/021C22C 38/48C22C 38/42C21D 6/001

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References

Claims

Abstract

A stainless steel strip article is disclosed. The article is formed from a corrosion resistant alloy having the following composition in weight percent, about: C 0.03 max. Mn 1.0 max. Si 0.75 max. P 0.040 max. S 0.020 max. Cr 10.9-11.1 Ni 10.9-11.1 Mo 0.9-1.1 Ti 1.5-1.6 Al 0.25 max. Nb 0.7-0.8 Cu 1 max. B 0.010 max. N 0.030 max. The balance is iron and usual impurities. The elongated thin strip article provides a room temperature tensile strength of at least about 280 ksi in the solution treated and age hardened condition. A method of making the strip article and a method of using it to make a golf club are also disclosed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

1 . An elongated, thin strip article that is formed from corrosion resistant alloy comprising, in weight percent, about:

C
0.03
max.

Mn
1.0
max.

Si
0.75
max.

P
0.040
max.

S
0.020
max.

Cr
10.9-11.1

Ni
10.9-11.1

Mo
0.9-1.1

Ti
1.5-1.6

Al
0.25
max.

Nb
0.7-0.8

Cu
1
max.

B
0.010
max.

N
0.030
max.

and the balance is iron and usual impurities, said elongated thin strip article having a room temperature tensile strength of at least about 280 ksi in the solution treated and age hardened condition.

2 . An elongated strip article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strip has a thickness of about 0.02 to 0.16 inches.

3 . An elongated strip article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alloy has an average grain size not greater than about ASTM 7-8 in major dimension.

4 . An elongated strip article as claimed in claim 1 which has a hardness of about 53-54 HRC.

5 . A method of making a thin strip article comprising the steps of
casting a corrosion resistant alloy comprising, in weight percent, about

C
0.03
max.

Mn
1.0
max.

Si
0.75
max.

P
0.040
max.

S
0.020
max.

Cr
10.9-11.1

Ni
10.9-11.1

Mo
0.9-1.1

Ti
1.5-1.6

Al
0.25
max.

Nb
0.7-0.8

Cu
1
max.

B
0.010
max.

N
0.030
max.

and the balance being iron and usual impurities to form an ingot;
mechanically working said ingot to form an elongated strip material; and then
heat treating said elongated strip material under conditions of time and temperature to provide an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 280 ksi at room temperature.

6 . A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the step of heat treating the elongated strip material comprises the steps of:
heating the elongated strip material at a temperature of about 1900-2000° F.; and then heating the elongated strip material at a temperature of about 900° F. to about 950° F.

7 . A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first heating step comprises heating the alloy at a temperature of about 1900-1950° F. and the method comprises the following steps between the heating steps:
rapidly cooling the alloy to about −100° F.; and then holding the alloy at about −100° F. for a period of time to substantially completely transform any austenite in the alloy to martensite.

8 . A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the step of mechanically working the ingot comprises the steps of:
pressing the ingot to form a billet; and then hot rolling the billet to form the elongated strip material.

9 . A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the step of mechanically working the ingot comprises hot rolling the ingot to form the elongated strip material.

10 . A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the hot rolling step comprises heating the billet to about 1900-2250° F.

11 . A method of making a golf club head comprising the steps of
casting a corrosion resistant alloy comprising, in weight percent, about

C
0.03
max.

Mn
1.0
max.

Si
0.75
max.

P
0.040
max.

S
0.020
max.

Cr
10.9-11.1

Ni
10.9-11.1

Mo
0.9-1.1

Ti
1.5-1.6

Al
0.25
max.

Nb
0.7-0.8

Cu
1
max.

B
0.010
max.

N
0.030
max.

and the balance being iron and usual impurities to form an ingot;
mechanically working said ingot to form an elongated strip material;
heat treating said elongated strip material under conditions of time and temperature to improve the machinability and processability of the material;
cutting said elongated strip material to form a faceplate for a golf club head;
forming a golf club head body from a corrosion resistant precipitation hardenable steel alloy;
bonding said faceplate to said golf club head body to form a golf club head assembly; and then
heat treating said golf club head assembly under conditions of time and temperature to provide hardness and strength in the golf club head assembly and an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 280 ksi at room temperature in said faceplate.

12 . A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step of heat treating the golf club heat assembly comprises the steps of:
heating the elongated strip material at a temperature of about 1900-2000° F.; and then heating the elongated strip material at a temperature of about 900° F. to about 950° F.

13 . A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first heating step comprises heating the golf club heat assembly at a temperature of about 1900-1950° F. and the method comprises the following steps between the heating steps:
rapidly cooling the golf club head assembly to about −100° F.; and then holding the golf club head assembly at about −100° F. for a period of time to substantially completely transform any austenite in the alloy to martensite.

14 . A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step of mechanically working the ingot comprises the steps of
pressing the ingot to form a billet; and then hot rolling the billet to form the elongated strip material.

15 . A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step of mechanically working the ingot comprises hot rolling the ingot to form the elongated strip material.

16 . A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the hot rolling step comprises heating the billet to about 1900-2250° F.

17 . A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step of heat treating the elongated strip material comprises the step of overaging the strip material at about 1100-1350° F.

18 . A method as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the step of mechanically working the ingot comprises the steps of:
pressing the ingot to form a billet; hot rolling the billet to form the elongated strip material; and then cold rolling the elongated strip material to reduce its thickness to final or near final dimension.

19 . A method as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the step of mechanically working the ingot comprises the steps of:
hot rolling the ingot to form elongated strip material; and then cold rolling the elongated strip material to reduce its thickness to final or near final dimension.

20 . A method as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the hot rolling step comprises heating the ingot or billet to about 1038-1232° C.

21 . A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the hot rolling step comprises heating the ingot or billet to about 1038-1232° C.

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