Metal compositions

Abstract

Described herein are metal compositions comprising a particles of a transition metal or transition metal oxide, characterized in that the metal composition exhibits a new series with improved qualities relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide; and methods of making and testing the same.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A metal composition comprising particles of a transition metal or transition metal oxide, characterized in that the composition exhibits improved strength relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         58 . The metal composition of  claim 57 , wherein the metal composition exhibits improved yield strength, improved tensile strength, improved corrosion resistance, improved lubricity, and/or improved elongation relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         59 . The metal composition of  claim 57 , wherein the metal composition exhibits reduced flammability, reduced smoking when burning, improved char yield after burning, improved recovery rate of a transition metal or transition metal oxide after burning, and/or improved shielding ability from external damaging forces relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         60 . The metal composition of  claim 58 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 1% to about 15% greater yield strength relative to a composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         61 . The metal composition of  claim 58 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 35% to about 95% greater tensile strength relative to a composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         62 . The metal composition of  claim 58 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 1% to about 10% improved lubricity relative to a composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         63 . The metal composition of  claim 58 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 1% to about 25% improved corrosion resistance relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         64 . The metal composition of  claim 59 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 1% to about 25% reduced flammability relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         65 . The metal composition of  claim 59 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 5% to about 95% reduced smoking when burning relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         66 . The metal composition of  claim 59 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 5% to about 95% improved char yield after burning relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         67 . The metal composition of  claim 59 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 5% to about 95% improved recovery rate of a transition metal or transition metal oxide after burning relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         68 . The metal composition of  claim 59 , wherein the metal composition exhibits about 5% to about 95% improved shielding ability from external damaging forces relative to a metal composition without the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide. 
     
     
         69 . The metal composition of  claim 57 , wherein the particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide are microparticles that are about 1 μm to about 50 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         70 . The metal composition of  claim 69 , wherein the metal composition comprises about 1% to about 5% by weight of particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide, selected from Mo, Zn, Cu, Au, and Ag, or an oxide thereof. 
     
     
         71 . The metal composition of  claim 70 , wherein the transition metal or transition metal oxide is or comprises molybdenum or an oxide of molybdenum selected from MoO 2 , MoO 3 , Mo 2 O 6 , and H 2 MoO 5 . 
     
     
         72 . The metal composition of  claim 57 , wherein the metal composition is a single metal composition comprising a single metal and particles of a transition metal or transition metal oxide, wherein the single metal is selected from copper, silver, iron, chromium, aluminum, and tin. 
     
     
         73 . The metal composition of  claim 57 , wherein the metal composition is an alloy metal composition comprising an alloy and particles of a transition metal or transition metal oxide, wherein the alloy is selected from stainless steel, bronze, and brass. 
     
     
         74 . The metal composition of  claim 73 , wherein the alloy is a stainless steel selected from austenite stainless steel, 304-type stainless steel, 316-type stainless steel, and duplex stainless steel. 
     
     
         75 . A method of preparing a metal composition comprising particles of a transition metal or transition metal oxide, the method comprising:
 adding particles of the transition metal or transition metal oxide to a first molten mixture to provide a second molten mixture, such that the transition metal or transition metal oxide remains in particle form after cooling of the second molten mixture,   wherein the metal composition exhibits at least one of improved yield strength, improved tensile strength, improved corrosion resistance, improved lubricity, improved elongation, reduced inflammability, reduced smoking when burning, improved char yield after burning, improved recovery rate of a transition metal or transition metal oxide after burning, and improved shielding ability from external damaging forces relative to a metal composition without particles of the transition metal or the transition metal oxide.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the first molten mixture comprises one or more components selected from iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, copper, carbon, manganese, phosphorous, sulfur, silicon, nitrogen, titanium, niobium, zirconium, cerium, and combinations thereof and wherein the first molten mixture is prepared in a furnace at a temperature of about 2500° F. to about 3000° F. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , further comprising:
 casting the second molten mixture into a semi-finished form by pouring the second molten mixture into a mold;   forming a pre-treated metal product from the semi-finished form by at least one of rolling, forging, pressing, piercing, and drawing, the semi-finished form, and extruding the semi-finished form into at least one of plates, strips, sheets, rolls, bars, and wires;   heat treating the pre-treated metal product in a controlled environment, wherein heat treating comprises at least one of annealing, quenching, and tempering the pre-treated metal product or descaling the pre-treated metal product, wherein descaling comprises pickling and electrocleaning;   cutting the pre-treated metal product, wherein cutting comprises at least one of plasma arc, water jet, and mechanical cutting, and wherein mechanical cutting comprises using at least one of guillotine knives, circular knives, blanking, nibbling, and high speed blades; and   surface finishing the pre-treated metal product to provide a smooth surface.