Abstract: An electrode material includes an alloy having a Gd3Ni8Sn16 type crystal structure.

Abstract: There are provided a sputtering target and a process for producing a sputtering target. The sputtering target includes a first layer located on its side to be sputter treated and a second layer located on its side not to be sputter treated. The first and second layers are bonded to each other through a bonding interface between the first layer and the second layer. The sputtering target satisfying the following requirements X and Y: requirement X: A/B?1.5 and requirement Y: A/C?1.5, wherein A represents an oxygen peak value for the bonding interface; B represents an oxygen peak value for the first layer; and C represents an oxygen peak value for the second layer. The sputtering target is advantageous in that a spent sputtering target can be recycled to utilize resources and can form a thin film while effectively preventing the occurrence of abnormal discharge and splash.

Abstract: An electrode material includes an alloy having a Gd3Ni8Sn16 type crystal structure.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a negative electrode material is provided. The negative electrode material is capable of storing and releasing lithium, and exhibits at least one peak of heat generation in the range of 200° C. to 450° C. in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at a temperature rise speed of 10° C./min. and a peak derived from a crystalline phase in the X-ray diffraction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a permanent magnet which comprises an alloy containing a hard magnetic phase having a ThMn12 type tetragonal structure and a nonmagnetic phase. The alloy is represented by a general formula given below: [R1-a(M1)a][T1-b-c(M2)b(M3)c]dx&agr; where R is at least one rare earth element (including Y), Ml is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf, T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni, M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Bi, Sn, Mg, In and Pb, M3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Ge, Zn, B, P and S, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Mo, Ta and W, and the atomic ratios of a, b, c, d and &agr; fall within the ranges of 0≦a≦0.6, 0.01≦b≦0.20, 0≦c≦0.05, 6≦d≦11, and 0.5≦&agr;≦2.0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a permanent magnet which comprises an alloy containing a hard magnetic phase having a ThMn12 type tetragonal structure and a nonmagnetic phase.

Abstract: There is provided a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for battery comprising a rapidly-quenched alloy having the composition represented by a general formula ANi.sub.a M.sub.b M'.sub.c T.sub.d (where, A is composed of La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Y, an amount of La content in A is 50-99 wt %, an amount of Ce content is 1-30 wt %, an amount of Pr content is 0-10 wt %, an amount of Nd content is 0-10 wt % and an amount of Y content is 0-10 wt %; M is at least one element selected from Co, Fe and Cu; M' is at least one element selected from Mn and Al; T is at least one element selected from B, Si, S, Cr, Ga, Ge, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, In, Sn, Sb, Bi, P, V, Nb, Ta and W; and a, b, c and d are atomic ratios and satisfy 3.2.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.4.0, 0.4.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.1.0, 0.3.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.8, 0.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.0.2, 4.9.ltoreq.a+b+c+d.ltoreq.5.4), characterized in that a hydrogen equilibrium pressure when the number of hydrogen atoms absorbed by one atom of the alloy at a temperature of 60.degree. C. is 0.4 is 0.05-0.6 atm.

Abstract: A thermal conductivity sheet is provided which is superior all in heat radiating characteristics (thermal conductivity) in the direction of sheet thickness, close-contact with respect to parts to be cooled, and electrical insulation. In a thermal conductivity sheet 1 in which a plurality of highly thermally conductive insulators 3 are dispersed in a matrix insulator 2, the highly thermally conductive insulators 3 are oriented obliquely or erectly in the direction of thickness of the thermal conductivity sheet 1 such that at least one end faces of the highly thermally conductive insulators 3 are exposed to a surface of the matrix insulator 2. Preferably, a ratio of the total sectional area of the highly thermally conductive insulators 3 to the total surface area of the thermal conductivity sheet 1 is set to be equal to or larger than 1%.