Damping Elements and Methods of Manufacture and Use

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This patent discloses a method for producing porous damping elements made of NiTi (nickel-titanium) shape memory alloys, using a metal injection molding (MIM) process. The porosity and hence the damping properties of the element can be precisely controlled by varying the amount of spacer added during manufacturing. The elements exhibit reversible pseudo-elastic damping (up to 8% compression), unlike traditional metallic foams that deform plastically. The alloy composition can also be tailored to specific needs by incorporating additional metals such as zirconium, hafnium, neodymium, copper, platinum, or palladium.

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• Vibration and shock absorption components in machinery and vehicles
• Noise reduction and anti-vibration mounts for motors or heavy equipment
• Damping elements for machine tool holders, especially for tools with long overhangs
• Energy-absorbing structural components in automotive crash protection systems
• Implantable medical devices where both mechanical resilience and porosity (for tissue ingrowth) are required
• Precision engineering applications requiring materials with tunable mechanical and damping properties

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• High level of energy absorption due to adjustable porosity and pseudo-elastic properties
• Reversible compression up to 8%, enabling repeated use without permanent deformation
• Customizable shape and material composition allows adaptation to diverse application requirements
• Greater control over mechanical and damping characteristics compared to conventional metal foams
• Can be formed into complex shapes thanks to the metal injection molding process
• Addition of specific elements (like Cu, Zr, Hf, etc.) allows further tuning of performance traits such as transition temperatures and material stability
• Potential for lightweight solutions with high mechanical resilience

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to the production of a porous damping element based on a NiTi shape memory alloy. The damping element is produced in a near net-shaped manner by means of a metal injection molding (MIM) process. The porosity and the damping property of the damping element can be specifically adjusted by using an adequate amount of a spacer. The produced damping element comprising a porous NiTi shape memory alloy that has a porosity ranging from 10 to 80 percent by volume, especially 30 to 70 percent by volume, can be made of pure NiTi or a ternary or quaternary NiTi-X alloy. The disclosed method for producing a damping element from a NiTi alloy particularly has the following advantages: - the damping effect is obtained by means of pseudo-elasticity, i.e. a maximum compression of 8 percent is reversible, whereas conventional porous aluminum, titanium, or magnesium structures undergo plastic deformation; - the damping element can be shaped in a relatively free manner by means of the MIM process; and - the composition of the shape memory alloy can be varied in the form of NiTi-X, X being at least one element from the group comprising zirconium, hafnium, neodymium, copper, platinum, or palladium, thus allowing the properties to be specifically adjusted to a specific functional range.