Abstract: Disclosed is a steel alloy that includes as alloying ingredients carbon, silicon, manganese, aluminum, and oxygen. In accordance with this embodiment of the disclosed invention, carbon is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 0.77 wt. %; silicon is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 1.20 wt. %; manganese is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 1.20 wt. %, aluminum is present in an amount ranging from 0.003 to 0.060 wt. %; and oxygen is present in an amount ranging up to 0.0030 wt. %. Also disclosed is a railway wheel that comprises a hub, a rim, and a connecting plate. In accordance with this embodiment of the disclosed invention, at least the rim, and preferably the entire railway wheel, is composed of the disclosed steel composition.

Abstract: (1) A nickel-base alloy product having, on the surface thereof, an oxide film comprising at least two layers, namely a first layer mainly composed of Cr2O3 and having a chromium content of not less than 50% relative to the total amount of metal elements and a second layer occurring outside the first layer and mainly composed of MnCr2O4, wherein the grain size of Cr2O3 crystals in the first layer is 50 to 1,000 nm and the total oxide film thickness is 180 to 1,500 nm. (2) A method of producing the nickel-base alloy product as specified above under (1) which comprises subjecting a nickel-base alloy product to oxide film formation treatment by maintaining the same at a temperature of 650 to 1,200° C. in a hydrogen atmosphere or hydrogen-argon mixed atmosphere showing a dew point of −60° C. to +20° C. for 1 to 1,200 minutes.

Abstract: In pulling a single crystal by CZ method, stable pulling up is carried out in a pulling rate as fast as possible while a crystal deformation is controlled to an aimed value and density of grown-in defects is suppressed to a value below an upper limit value. As an index of deformation of the single crystal from a perfect circle, the aimed value of the crystal deformation is previously determined. The upper limit value of a pulling rate necessary to suppress a defect density to an allowable range is previously calculated from distribution of grown-in defects in the crystal section, the single crystal is pulled up according to a predetermined pulling rate, and then deviation of the achieved value from the aimed value of the crystal deformation in pulling is calculated. The deviation is converted to a correction of the pulling rate. This correction is added to a set value of the pulling rate in the pulling and the result is used as a temporary set value of the pulling rate in the next pulling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a steel alloy that includes as alloying ingredients carbon, silicon, manganese, aluminum, and oxygen. In accordance with this embodiment of the disclosed invention, carbon is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 0.77 wt. %; silicon is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 1.20 wt. %; manganese is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 1.20 wt. %, aluminum is present in an amount ranging from 0.003 to 0.060 wt. %; and oxygen is present in an amount ranging up to 0.0030 wt. %. Also disclosed is a railway wheel that comprises a hub, a rim, and a connecting plate. In accordance with this embodiment of the disclosed invention, at least the rim, and preferably the entire railway wheel, is composed of the disclosed steel composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a steel alloy that includes as alloying ingredients carbon, silicon, manganese, aluminum, and oxygen. In accordance with this embodiment of the disclosed invention, carbon is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 0.77 wt. %; silicon is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 1.20 wt. %; manganese is present in an amount ranging from 0.40 to 1.20 wt. %, aluminum is present in an amount ranging from 0.003 to 0.060 wt. %; and oxygen is present in an amount ranging up to 0.0030 wt. %. Also disclosed is a railway wheel that comprises a hub, a rim, and a connecting plate. In accordance with this embodiment of the disclosed invention, at least the rim, and preferably the entire railway wheel, is composed of the disclosed steel composition.

Abstract: A method for easily and effectively preventing shattered-rim fracture in a railway wheel. Generally, the method comprises the steps of providing a railway wheel, measuring the maximum defect size within the rim of the railway wheel, and determining whether the maximum defect size is less than a predetermined maximum permissible defect size, the maximum permissible defect size being determined based on an analysis of the likelihood of Mode II crack propagation from the defect when the railway wheel has been subjected to the load. The disclosed invention also encompasses a method for grading railway wheels for maximum load suitability.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a semiconductor wafer temperature measuring method for use in reflector plate-equipped infrared annealing furnaces, infrared heating epitaxy furnaces, and other semiconductor wafer processing equipment that employs lamps as the heat source, the method affording easy and accurate measurement of substrate surface temperature, thereby enabling control of the heat source on the basis of these measurements. Characterizing features are the provision of a slit or small hole to the reflector plate and measuring light from the semiconductor wafer surface in the perpendicular direction by means of a scanning CCD sensor to allow substrate temperature to be measured on the basis of the radiant light distribution peak; and the provision of slits in a plurality of locations on the reflecting plate without impairing the function thereof, so that substrate temperature distribution can be measured accurately.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus and a plasma processing method used in etching, ashing, CVD, etc. in the manufacturing, etc. of large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs) and liquid crystal display panels (LCDs). The plasma processing apparatus includes a dielectric plate used for the passage of a microwave, a microwave window disposed to confront the dielectric plate, and a reaction chamber in which a sample stage is disposed to confront the microwave window. The apparatus is characterized in that the microwave window has a recess in the area confronting the sample stage. The plasma processing method is characterized by implementing a plasma process for a sample with the plasma processing apparatus. The method and apparatus are capable of raising the plasma density in the area confronting the sample, improving the plasma processing rate, improving the etch-through performance for fine hole patterns, and improving the yield of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat-resisting supporting member, such as a skid button, for supporting a heated material, such as a steel plate, in a high-temperature atmosphere within a heating furnace and the like and provides a heat-resisting supporting member in which a peripheral surface of a lower corner portion of a supporting aggregate formed of heat-resisting alloys with single ceramics, ceramic particles or ceramic bars dispersed therein or heat-resisting alloy-impregnated ceramics formed by impregnating air-pores of porous ceramics with heat-resisting alloys is coated with heat-resisting alloys so as to be capable of being welded to other members while the remaining peripheral surface of the supporting aggregate is coated with a shock-resisting substance formed of heat-resisting alloys, heat-resisting alloys with ceramic particles dispersed therein or heat-resisting alloy-impregnated ceramics.

Abstract: A wire rod is payed out from a pay-off stand and descaled in a descaling process. After preheating to a predetermined temperature by a preheating device, it is subjected to a lubrication pretreatment through a zinc calcium phosphate solution applied with ultrasonic wave in the lubrication pretreatment process. After rinsing process, the lubrication-pretreated wire rod is coated with a calcium stearate or a sodium stearate in lubricating process. Thereafter, the wire rod is dried sufficiently in drying process, and then added with a predies lubricant in wire drawing process and coiled by a coiler.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of high-strength, high-density carbon materials is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of pulverizing a carbonaceous raw material having a carbon content of at least 92% by weight, a volatile content of 7-20% by weight up to 900.degree. C., and linear shrinkage as a molded body of at most 6% during heating up to 500.degree. C. to an average particle diameter of greater than 10 .mu.m and at most 40 .mu.m, followed by molding and baking. An organic fiber after baking in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of at least 400.degree. C. may be mixed with the pulverized carbonaceous raw material.

Abstract: A process for producing an ultra-low phosphorus steel containing 0.010% or less of phosphorus is disclosed, which comprises charging a desiliconized pig iron into a top- and bottom-blowing oxygen converter, introducing a slag-forming agent in a powdered form onto the molten iron together with the top-blowing oxygen and introducing a bottom-blowing gas selected from the group consisting of an inert gas, nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, carbon monoxide gas, carbon dioxide gas and mixtures thereof during the oxygen top-blowing or during both the oxygen top-blowing and the subsequent tapping.

Abstract: A process for making carbon steel and low-alloy steel in a basic oxygen furnace is disclosed, which comprises preparing a molten metal suitable for producing the steel in said basic oxygen furnace, carrying out the top-blowing of oxygen gas and bottom-blowing of carbon dioxide gas and then tapping the resulting molten steel. The top-blowing oxygen gas is injected through a lance onto the molten metal at an outlet velocity of Mach 0.8-2.0.

Abstract: The present invention is an automatic sensitivity adjustment apparatus for calibration of a nondestructive inspection instrument with a reference standard. Calibration is performed by setting the gain of a variable gain amplifier while a reference standard containing a standard flaw is passed before the sensing means of the instrument. A discriminator circuit connected to the sensing means detects when the output of the sensing means exceeds a predeterminedlevel. A hold time controller sends a sampling enable signal to a peak hold circuit which is also connected to the sensing means to cause the peak hold circuit to sample the sensing means output. The hold time controller senses the peak in the response of the sensing means and causes the peak hold circuit to hold that peak value. The output of the peak hold circuit is applied to the input of a variable gain amplifier. A comparator compares the output of the variable gain amplifier with a reference voltage produced by a reference voltage setting means.