American Superconductor has patented a process for producing a cube textured foil. This involves providing a cube textured metal foil, electroplating an epitaxial nickel alloy layer that replicates the texture, and then adding a non-epitaxial layer before separating the electro-formed alloy to achieve a textured surface. GlobalData’s report on American Superconductor gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on American Superconductor, Bi-directional power converter was a key innovation area identified from patents. American Superconductor's grant share as of July 2024 was 58%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Process for producing cube textured metal foil
The granted patent US12048253B2 outlines a novel process for producing a cube textured foil, which involves several key steps. Initially, a cube textured metal foil, composed of materials such as copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), or nickel-iron (NiFe) alloys, is provided. The process includes electroplating an epitaxial, non-magnetic layer of a nickel alloy onto this foil, ensuring that the epitaxial layer closely replicates the cube texture of the underlying metal foil. Following this, at least one non-epitaxial, non-magnetic layer of the nickel alloy is electroplated on top of the epitaxial layer. The patent specifies various compositions for the nickel alloy, including specific atomic fractions for elements B and C, which can be tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), or chromium (Cr).
Further details in the claims describe the electroplating process, including the configuration of the metal foil as a cathode in the electroplating baths, the thickness ranges for both the epitaxial and non-epitaxial layers, and the potential for the cube textured metal foil to have a length between 10 to 2000 meters. The patent also addresses the removal of the combined layers through various methods, such as spalling or etching, and notes the possibility of including a sacrificial layer on the metal foil's surface. Additionally, the claims highlight the importance of maintaining a low lattice mismatch between the epitaxial layer and the metal foil to ensure structural integrity and performance. Overall, this patent presents a comprehensive approach to creating advanced cube textured foils with specific material properties and applications.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
