Abstract: A guide wire includes a distal core member made of a ferrous alloy which has shape memory properties and superelasticity. The ferrous alloy preferably includes substantially two phases, and has a difference of 100° C. or less between an Af point and an Ms point in a thermal hysteresis of martensitic transformation and reverse transformation. The guide wire may include a proximal core member made of an iron-containing alloy and having a higher modulus of elasticity than the distal core member. The two core members may be joined together by welding to form a core of the guide wire.

Abstract: A Co-based alloy having a fundamental composition of Co—Al system containing 3-15% Al and having lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure ?-phase and ?(B2)-phase are superimposed on each other in layers, and the Co-based alloy is modified so as to have a porous surface layer region effective for chemical retaining capability, sustained release, biocompatibility, etc. through selective removal of either the ?-phase or the ?-phase from the surface layer. As a third component, at least one member selected from among Ni, Fe, Mn, Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be contained in a total amount of 0.001 to 60%.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a friction stir tool excellent in productivity, high temperature strength, and wear resistance at high temperatures. The friction stir tool is formed of a Co-based alloy comprising crystal grains containing a ?? precipitate phase dispersed and precipitated therein, and a crystal grain boundary region and a precipitate phase between adjacent crystal grains, in which the precipitate phase is at least one phase selected from a ? phase, a Laves phase and a carbide phase.

Abstract: A Co-based alloy having a fundamental composition of Co—Al binary system containing 3-15% Al and having lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure ?-phase and ?(B2)-phase are superimposed on each other in layers, which Co-based alloy is modified so as to have a porous surface layer region effective for chemical retaining capability, sustained release, biocompatibility, etc. through selective removal of either the ?-phase or the ?-phase from the surface layer. As a third component, at least one member selected from among Ni, Fe, Mn, Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be contained in a total amount of 0.001 to 60%.

Abstract: An elastic metal strip 10 aligning the longitudinal direction with the rolling direction of a cold-rolled plate is collected and processed to a shape comprising a correction plate 16 with the longitudinal direction of the elastic metal 10 as the width direction of nail and a plurality of tongue strips 11 protruded from the edge of the correction plate 16 near the nail tip. The tongue strip 11 is folded and bent to form a hooked claw 17 with a double structure of a folding part 18 and a bending part 19. A nail tip 21 of a deformed nail 20 is inserted between the hooked claw 17 and the correction plate 16 to apply a restoring force of elasticity in the correction plate to the deformed nail 20 as correction ability for deformed nails. A wrought wire rod can be used instead of a cold-rolled plate and a Cu—Al—Mn type shape-memory alloy may further be used as a raw material.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a ferromagnetic Fe-based alloy having a large reversible strain obtained by application and removal of a magnetic field gradient. The Fe-based alloy contains one or two or more types selected from Al: 0.01 to 11%, Si: 0.01 to 7% and Cr: 0.01 to 26%, or Al: 0.01 to 11%, Si: 0.01 to 7%, Cr: 0.01 to 26% and Ni: 35 to 50%. A twin crystal interface is introduced by working the Fe-based alloy at a working rate: 10% or more. An area ratio of the twin crystal interface to a crystal grain boundary is 0.2 or more. One or two or more types of Ti: 0.01 to 5%, V: 0.01 to 10%, Mn: 0.01 to 5%, Co: 0.01 to 30%, Ni: 0.01 to 10%, Cu: 0.01 to 5%, Zr: 0.01 to 5%, Nb: 0.01 to 5%, Mo: 0.01 to 5%, Hf: 0.01 to 5%, Ta: 0.01 to 5%, W: 0.01 to 5%, B: 0.001 to 1%, C: 0.001 to 1%, P: 0.001 to 1% and S: 0.001 to 1% may be added to the Fe-based alloy if needed.

Abstract: A Co based alloy including at least one member selected from among 0.01 to 10% Fe, 0.01 to 30% Ni and 0.01 to 25% Mn, which Co based alloy has a metal structure wherein ?-phase of h.c.p. structure having been generated by heat-induced or stress-induced transformation is formed in a ratio of 10 vol. % or more. According to necessity, there may be added at least one member selected from among 0.01 to 10% Al, 0.01 to 35% Cr, to 20% V, 0.01 to 15% Ti, 0.01 to 30% Mo, 0.01 to 10% Nb, to 3% Zr, 001 to 30% W, 0.01 to 10% Ta, 0.01 to 5% Hf, 0.01 to 8% Si, 0.001 to 3% C, 0.001 to 3% B, 0.001 to 3% P and 0.001 to 3% misch metal. The Co based alloy exhibits high elastic deformation capability and is good in ductility and workability. The Co based alloy is used as a functional material of, for example, sensor or actuator capable of displacement control by magnetic field application.

Abstract: A guide wire includes a distal core member made of a ferrous alloy which has shape memory properties and superelasticity. The ferrous alloy preferably includes substantially two phases, and has a difference of 100° C or less between an Af point and an Ms point in a thermal hysteresis of martensitic transformation and reverse transformation. The guide wire may include a proximal core member made of an iron-containing alloy and having a higher modulus of elasticity than the distal core member. The two core members may be joined together by welding to form a core of the guide wire.

Abstract: A Co-based alloy being useful as a spiral spring, common spring, wire, cable guide, steel belt, build-up material, guide wire, stent, catheter, etc. There is provided a Co-based alloy having a composition of Co—Al binary system containing 3-13% Al loaded with at least one workability enhancing element selected from among 001 to 50% Ni, 0.01 to 40% Fe and 0.01 to 30% Mn and having a lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure ?-phase and ?(B2)-phase are repeated in layers. The lamellar structure is so regulated that the occupancy ratio of the whole structure is 30 vol. % or above and the layer spacing is 100 ?m or less. The Co-based alloy may contain at least one optional component selected from among Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be added in a total amount of 0.01 to 60%.