Abstract: To provide a titanium alloy having corrosion resistance that is as high as or higher than before, and high corrosion resistance in a bromine-ion-containing environment, the alloy being able to be manufactured at low cost. [Solution] Provided is a titanium alloy to be used in a bromine-ion-containing environment, the titanium alloy consisting of, in mass %, a platinum group element: greater than or equal to 0.01% and less than or equal to 0.10%, a rare earth element: greater than or equal to 0.001% and less than 0.02%, O: greater than or equal to 0% and less than 0.1%, and the balance: Ti and impurities. The titanium alloy may contain, instead of part of Ti, one or more selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mo, V, Cr, and W. The platinum group element is desirably contained in, in mass %, greater than or equal to 0.01% and less than or equal to 0.05%. The rare earth element is desirably contained in, in mass %, greater than or equal to 0.001% and less than 0.02%.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a titanium alloy material containing a platinum group metal, the titanium alloy material being able to sufficiently suppress corrosion accompanying surface roughening. [Solution] Provided is a titanium alloy material including a platinum group metal. When an average value of intensity of background signals in surface mapping analysis using an EPMA surface analysis apparatus is N and N+3N1/2 is maximum intensity of the background signal of an Fe or S characteristic X-ray, an area ratio at which a signal of an Fe or S characteristic X-ray exceeding the maximum intensity is obtained is 0.1% or less.

Abstract: A titanium material for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell separator consists of, by mass %, a platinum group metal: 0.005% to 0.15% and a rare earth metal: 0.002% to 0.10%, with the balance being Ti and impurities. The titanium material of the present invention is provided with a film formed of a titanium oxide and a platinum group metal on the surface thereof. It is preferred that the film has a thickness of 50 nm or less, and that the concentration of the platinum group metal on the surface of the film is 1.5% by mass or more. With the thus formed film, the titanium material of the present invention is capable of achieving a reduction in initial contact resistance and ensuring good corrosion resistance. In the titanium material of the present invention, the rare earth metal is preferably Y, and the platinum group metal is preferably Pd.

Abstract: A titanium alloy including by mass %, a platinum group metal: 0.01 to 0.15% and a rare earth metal: 0.001 to 0.10%, with the balance being Ti and impurities. The titanium alloy preferably includes as a partial replacement for Ti, Co: 0.05 to 1.00% by mass, and the content of the platinum group metal is preferably in the range of 0.01 to 0.05% by mass. Furthermore, it is preferred that the platinum group metal be Pd and the rare earth metal be Y. Consequently, it is possible to provide a titanium alloy having corrosion resistance comparable to or better than that of the conventional art as well as good workability while offering an economic advantage with a lower content of platinum group metal or an advantage of less likelihood of corrosion growth originating at defects such as flaws that occurred in the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a duplex stainless steel having excellent resistance to alkalis and particularly corrosion resistance against high-temperature concentrated alkali solutions and excellent weldability. The duplex stainless steel has a chemical composition comprising, in mass %, C: at most 0.03%, Si: at most 0.5%, Mn: at most 2.0%, P: at most 0.04%, S: at most 0.003%, Cr: at least 25.0% to less than 28.0%, Ni: at least 6.0% to at most 10.0%, Mo: at least 0.2% to at most 3.5%, N: less than 0.5%, W: at most 3.0%, and a remainder of Fe and impurities.

Abstract: The clad material comprises outer layers each consisting of Ni or Ni alloy and a base layer consisting of Cu or Cu alloy, and is characterized in that peeling-off at a clad boundary is not recognized in cross section observation made after the clad material has been subjected to a 90° reverse bend test ten times, and the number of reverse bend cycles before rupture is 17 cycles or more. The clad material has with both of excellent corrosion resistance against electrolytic solution and high electric conductivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a duplex stainless steel having excellent resistance to alkalis and particularly corrosion resistance against high-temperature concentrated alkali solutions and excellent weldability. The duplex stainless steel has a chemical composition comprising, in mass %, C: at most 0.03%, Si: at most 0.5%, Mn: at most 2.0%, P: at most 0.04%, S: at most 0.003%, Cr: at least 25.0% to less than 28.0%, Ni: at least 6.0% to at most 10.0%, Mo: at least 0.2% to at most 3.5%, N: less than 0.5%, W: at most 3.0%, and a remainder of Fe and impurities.

Abstract: A stainless steel member for a separator of a solid polymer fuel cell which has excellent cell properties with little deterioration in performance over long periods of operation without worsening of the corrosion resistance of a stainless steel separator is provided. A stainless steel member has a stainless steel base metal, and a passive film and electrically conductive precipitates both provided on a surface of the stainless steel base metal. The electrically conductive precipitate penetrates the passive film and includes a substance originating from the stainless steel base metal. An electrically conductive layer comprising a nonmetallic electrically conductive substance is preferably provided on the surface of the passive film, and the electrically conductive layer is preferably electrically connected to the stainless steel base member through the electrically conductive precipitates.

Abstract: A stainless steel member comprising a stainless steel base metal; an oxide film located on the surface of the stainless steel base metal; an electroconductive layer located on the surface of the oxide film and comprising a nonmetallic electroconductive material; and an electroconductive material which is located so as to penetrate the oxide film and which electrically contacts the stainless steel base metal and the electroconductive layer is provided as a stainless steel member for a separator of a solid polymer fuel cell having excellent properties such that a degradation in performance is low even after prolonged operation. A solid polymer fuel cell using the stainless steel member is also provided.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high discharge capacity and a good cycle life is made from alloy particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1-50 ?m and including Si phase grains 40 and a phase of a solid solution or an intermetallic compound of Si and other element selected from Group 2A elements, transition elements, Group 3B elements, and Group 4B elements from the long form periodic table (for example, an NiSi2 phase 42 and an [NiSi2+NiSi] phase 41) at least partially enveloping the Si phase grains. 5-99 wt % of this material is Si phase grains. The alloy particles can be manufactured by rapid solidification (such as atomization or roller quenching) of a melt including Si and the other element, or by adhering the other element to Si powder by electroless plating or mechanical alloying and then performing heat treatment.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high discharge capacity and a good cycle life is made from alloy particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1-50 &mgr;m and including Si phase grains 40 and a phase of a solid solution or an intermetallic compound of Si and other element selected from Group 2A elements, transition elements, Group 3B elements, and Group 4B elements from the long form periodic table (for example, an NiSi2 phase 42 and an [NiSi2+NiSi] phase 41) at least partially enveloping the Si phase grains. 5-99 wt % of this material is Si phase grains. The alloy particles can be manufactured by rapid solidification (such as atomization or roller quenching) of a melt including Si and the other element, or by adhering the other element to Si powder by electroless plating or mechanical alloying and then performing heat treatment.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/&mgr;m and not more than 1500/&mgr;m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 Å, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high discharge capacity and a good cycle life is made from alloy particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1-50 &mgr;m and including Si phase grains 40 and a phase of a solid solution or an intermetallic compound of Si and other element selected from Group 2A elements, transition elements, Group 3B elements, and Group 4B elements from the long form periodic table (for example, an NiSi2 phase 42 and an [NiSi2+NiSi] phase 41) at least partially enveloping the Si phase grains. 5-99 wt % of this material is Si phase grains. The alloy particles can be manufactured by rapid solidification (such as atomization or roller quenching) of a melt including Si and the other element, or by adhering the other element to Si powder by electroless plating or mechanical alloying and then performing heat treatment.

Abstract: A graphite powder has surface closed-end structures in which the graphite c-plane layers of the graphite layer crystal lattices have closed-ends on the surface of the graphite powder by linking the ends of one or more pairs of the c-plane layers, leaving interstices which are open on the surface of the graphite. The number of open interstices is at least 100 and at most 1500 per micrometer in a c-axis direction of the graphite. Preferably, the graphite powder has a specific surface area of 1.0 m2/g or less. Such a graphite powder can be prepared either by graphitizing a carbon material, which has been pulverized at a high speed under well-controlled conditions before and/or after the carbonization, or by subjecting a carbon material, which has been pulverized under well-controlled conditions before and/or after the carbonization, to graphitization and then to oxidative heat treatment at a temperature of 600-800° C. and finally to heat treatment at a temperature of 800° C. or higher in an inert gas.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/&mgr;m and not more than 1500/&mgr;m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 Å, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.