Abstract: A ceramic member is produced by performing a laser treatment on a ceramic substrate as a pretreatment for a surface treatment such that grooves that can be substantially uniformly filled with a surface treatment material are formed in the surface of the ceramic substrate. Through laser irradiation of the surface grooves with recessed surfaces formed to extend in at least one direction are provided. Flat surfaces are formed at areas between the grooves that are adjacent to each other. Pitches between the adjacent grooves are set to a range of 0.05 mm to 0.30 mm. One of the grooves has a width that progressively decreases as the depth increases and is opened on one side in the depth direction at a maximum width. The one of the grooves has an aspect ratio in a range of 0.5 to 1.3 and an opening ratio of equal to or greater than 70%.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal spray powder for forming an abradable thermal spray coating. The thermal spray powder includes NiCr alloy particles and synthetic mica particles. The synthetic mica particles are contained at 40 volume % or less with respect to a total volume of the thermal spray powder.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal spray powder for forming an abradable thermal spray coating. The thermal spray powder includes NiCr alloy particles and synthetic mica particles. The synthetic mica particles are contained at 40 volume % or less with respect to a total volume of the thermal spray powder.

Abstract: An alloy for building up a valve according to the present invention comprises: with respect to the total weight of the alloy taken as 100%, 30 to 40% by weight of chromium; 15 to 31% by weight of nickel; 7 to 20% by weight of molybdenum; 0.7 to 2.2% by weight of carbon; 1.5% or less by weight of silicon; and balance of iron and inevitable impurities. The alloy is superior in hardness at high temperatures, PbO resistance and PbO+PbSO.sub.4 resistance. In addition, the alloy is suitable for powder buildup welding.

Abstract: An alloy for building up a valve according to the present invention comprises: with respect to the total weight of the alloy taken as 100%, 30 to 40% by weight of chromium; 15 to 31% by weight of nickel; 7 to 20% by weight of molybdenum; 0.7 to 2.2% by weight of carbon; 1.5% or less by weight of silicon; and balance of iron and inevitable impurities. The alloy is superior in hardness at high temperatures, PbO resistance and PbO+PbSO.sub.4 resistance. In addition, the alloy is suitable for powder buildup welding.

Abstract: Light alloy articles comprising a body of light alloy having a composite fiber/light alloy layer, a sprayed heat-resistant alloy layer, and a sprayed ceramic base layer formed on the body in this sequence exhibit improved heat resistance and insulation and are very useful in the manufacture of internal combustion engine pistons. A method for producing such a coated light alloy article by spraying is also provided.

Abstract: A method for making a cylinder head cast from an aluminum alloy intended for use in internal combustion engines, and more particularly, a method for improving a portion of the cylinder head by a local heat treatment, comprises casting a cylinder head body from an aluminum alloy, directing a high density energy, such as TIG arc, laser, plasma arc or electron beam, to the surface of at least one region of the cylinder head body where a high strength is required, thereby rapidly remelting a surface layer in that region, and subsequently removing the irradiating energy and allowing the molten aluminum alloy of the surface layer to be rapidly cooled and solidified through heat transfer therefrom to the underlying matrix thereby forming a remelted, solidified layer.

Abstract: A light metal composite material reinforced by alumina-silica fibers and a method for producing same. The composite material can have high mechanical qualities such as high workability and high wear resistance as well as high thermal qualities such as high fatigue resistance and high thermal conductivity and can also have high mating performance not to cause much wear of the mating member when the assemblage of alumina-silica fibers incorporated in the composite material as reinforcing members includes not more than 17 wt. % non-fibered particles, particularly not more than 7 wt. % of non-fibered particles of not smaller than 150 microns diameter, and has a virtual density of 0.08-0.3 g/cm.sup.3. The efficiency of production of the composite material is improved by binding the alumina-silica fibers provisionally with one another by an inorganic binder to have a compression strength no lower than 0.2 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: An engine piston is formed with a top crown surface and a top ring groove. An upper annular land surface is defined between the top ring groove and the edge of the top crown surface. The upper annular land surface and the side walls of the top ring groove are defined by a part of the piston which is formed of a matrix metal reinforced with inorganic fibers. The proportion of the inorganic fibers by volume in the reinforced part of the piston may optionally be approximately between 2% and 10%.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced metal type composite material. The reinforcing fiber is alumina fiber formed from at least 80% by weight alumina and the remainder silica, with the alpha alumina content of the alumina approximately between about 5% and about 60% by weight of the total amount of alumina. The matrix metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, and their alloys. Thereby mechanical strength, resistance to wear, and workability of the fiber reinforced metal type composite material are good, and also friction wear on elements which frictionally rub against and mate with components made of the fiber reinforced metal type composite material is low.

Abstract: An exhaust system means for automobiles composed of a plurality of members joined together at joining portions by welding. The welded portion and a surrounding portion are covered with a protective metal layer formed by spraying a molten metal thereon.