Anodized inserts for coulomb damping or frictional damping

Abstract

A method comprising providing an insert having a portion capable of being oxidized and electrochemically anodizing the portion capable of being oxidized to provide a layer comprising an oxidized material thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising;
 providing an insert having a portion capable of being oxidized and electrochemically anodizing the portion capable of being oxidized to provide a layer comprising an oxidized material thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the layer may have a thickness ranging from about 100 nanometers to about 10 microns. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the layer is porous. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insert comprises aluminum and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of water to form a layer of Al 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insert comprises silicon and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of a hydrochloric acid solution. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insert comprises titanium and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of HF to form a layer of TiO 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the layer comprises titanium oxide tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxide forming material comprises tantalum. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising;
 providing an insert comprising a base body portion comprising a metal or silicon, and electrochemical anodizing the metal or silicon to provide a layer of oxide, on the base body portion, and casting a product with the insert as a portion thereof comprising flowing molten metal against the layer of oxide and wherein the thickness and properties of the layer of oxide are such that the molten metal does not bond to the layer of oxide and cooling the molten metal to provide a product having the insert received to provide coulomb damping of the product.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the insert comprises aluminum and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of a solvent to form a layer of alumina comprising aluminum and oxygen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the layer is porous. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the insert comprises silicon and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of a hydrochloric acid solution. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the insert comprises titanium and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of HF to form a layer of titania. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the layer comprises titanium oxide tubes. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising;
 providing an insert having a portion not easily capable of forming an oxide; providing an oxide forming material on the portion not easily capable of forming an oxide by electroplating, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, plasma assisted metal deposition, thermal spray coating, ion implanting, nitriding the surface thereof, or adhering or depositing a metal or alloy foil thereto or the like; and electrochemical anodizing the portion capable of oxidizing to provide a layer comprising an oxidized material thereon.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the oxide forming material comprises aluminum and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of water to form a layer of alumina comprising alumina and oxygen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the oxide forming material comprises silicon and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of a hydrochloric acid solution. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the layer is porous. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the oxide forming material comprises titanium and is electrochemically anodized in the presence of HF to form a layer of titania. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the layer comprises titanium oxide tubes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  where the oxide forming material comprises tantalum. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the oxide forming material is electrochemically anodized in 1M H 2 SO 4 +2 wt % HF. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the product is an automobile component. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the insert is constructed and arrange to physically support itself inside of a metal casting mold.