Abstract: A method for producing a case-hardened martensitic stainless steel article includes: providing an article comprised, at least in part, of a martensitic stainless steel, carburizing the article within a temperature range of 1625° F.-1680° F. (885° C.-916° C.), and then carbo-nitriding the article within a temperature range of 1575° F.-1625° F. (857° C.-885° C.). An article, such as a bearing ring, comprising such a case-hardened martensitic stainless steel is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carbonitriding facility (IC) which includes: a heating chamber (CC), for heating at least one steel part (PA) to a first temperature, in the presence of a neutral gas and under a selected pressure; a first enriching chamber (CE1) for enriching the heated part with nitrogen, by nitriding same in ?-phase at a second temperature no higher than the first temperature; a second enriching chamber (CE2) for enriching the nitrogen-enriched part with carbon, by carburising same at a third temperature higher than the second temperature; a quench chamber (CT) for quenching the nitrogen- and carbon-enriched part under pressure; a transfer airlock (ST) communicating with the chambers and suitable for temporarily receiving the part in a controlled atmosphere; and transfer means (MT) for transfer-ring the part from one chamber to another chamber via the transfer airlock (ST).

Abstract: A method of case hardening a titanium part, including placing the titanium part within a chamber; evacuating or purging the chamber; heating the titanium part placed within the chamber; introducing a gas containing cyanogen into the chamber; and exposing the titanium part placed within the chamber to the introduced gas containing cyanogen.

Abstract: System for securing a part in a vehicle differential housing may have a differential housing having an interior wall and an exterior wall. The interior wall defines a cavity within the housing. The system may also have an axially inwardly extending feature integrally formed, unitary and one piece with the differential housing interior wall. The feature may define a first arm extending parallel a portion of the interior wall adjacent where the feature is connected to the interior wall. The feature may define a second arm extending transverse the first arm and a third arm extending transverse the second arm. A non-magnetic material may cover an end portion of the third arm.

Abstract: A hollow spring member and hollow spring member production method can be provided, which can save the time and energy necessary for carburization, thus requiring no dedicated carburizing furnace or the like for carburization, and further can make the interior space of a steel tube a rust-prevention atmosphere. A hollow stabilizer for a vehicle includes a steel tube sealed at one end and another end thereof and a carburizing gas sealed in the interior space of the steel tube.

Abstract: A hollow stabilizer production method of a hollow stabilizer used for a vehicle includes attaching a first mounting member and a second mounting member respectively to one end and another end of a formed steel tube and heating the steel tube. The method includes feeding a carburizing gas into the interior space of the heated steel tube through the first mounting member, and collecting the air and/or the surplus carburizing gas from the interior space through the second mounting member to thereby carburize the steel tube inner surface. The method includes rapidly cooling the heated steel tube to thereby quench the steel tube continuously from the carburization.

Abstract: An auger useable for creating an opening in the ground for a soil sensor housing wherein the sensor housing has a predetermined volume and a tapered outer surface, includes an auger made in accordance with the methods described and defined in this specification. The auger having a shaft having an outer surface of circular cross-section having an larger outer diameter at one end than the other end and a strip material having a helical shape with an inner wall having a larger inner diameter at one end than the other end of the helical shape wherein the helically shaped material is fixed over the outer diameter of the shaft to form a tapered auger with helical flighting. The volume of the opening created by an auger in the ground will provide a matching volume for a sensor housing of a predetermined volume such that substantially the full length of the tapered outer surface of the sensor is adjacent the ground along the full length/depth of the created opening.

Abstract: A device, for example a medical implant, and a method of making the same, the device having a metal or metal alloy substrate, for example cobalt chrome, and a diffusion hardened metallic surface, for example a plasma carburized surface, contacting a non-diffusion hardened surface or a diffusion hardened surface having a diffusion hardening species different from that of the opposing surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ferritic stainless steel product includes forming a carburized layer on a workpiece made of ferritic stainless steel, and forming a nitrided layer on a surface of the workpiece by heating the workpiece at a temperature equal to or higher than a transformation point of the ferritic stainless steel in an atmosphere containing an N2 gas.

Abstract: In a process for carbonitriding metallic components (1), provision is made of at least one carburization phase (C1, C2), in which the metallic component (1) is carburized with a carbon-donating gas. In addition, provision is made of a nitriding phase (C1, C2, C3), which is assigned to the carburization phase (D1, D2) and precedes the carburization phase (D1, D2). Here, in the nitriding phase, the metallic component (1) is nitrided by means of a nitrogen-donating gas at least superficially at at least one surface region (4) of the metallic component (1). It is thereby possible to avoid an excessive concentration of carbon, and therefore component failure is prevented and it is possible to dispense with costly remachining steps, e.g. grinding.

Abstract: A method for producing a case-hardened martensitic stainless steel article includes: providing an article comprised, at least in part, of a martensitic stainless steel, carburizing the article within a temperature range of 1625° F.-1680° F. (885° C.-916° C.), and then carbo-nitriding the article within a temperature range of 1575° F.-1625° F. (857° C.-885° C.). An article, such as a bearing ring, comprising such a case-hardened martensitic stainless steel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for heat treating a steel component, which comprises the steps of: (a) carbonitriding the steel component, and (b) austenitically nitrocarburizing the steel component.

Abstract: A material that is useful as a wear-resistant member, a highly functional photocatalytic material, a photoelectric conversion element material, etc., is produced without the need for complicated processes or complicated handling, which are problems of the prior art. Provided is a method for producing a surface-treated metallic titanium material or titanium alloy material, the method comprising the steps of (1) forming titanium nitride on the surface of a metallic titanium material, and (2) heating the metallic titanium material with titanium nitride formed on the surface thereof obtained in step (1) in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of forming a wear protection layer for a machine component that forms a slide pairing with a further machine component includes gas-carbonitriding at least one of the machine components in order to minimize wear. The gas-carbonitriding includes forming a thin uniform bonding layer and a comparatively thick diffusion layer thereunder. The gas-carbonitriding is performed at a low temperature and for a long duration.

Abstract: A method for the low-pressure carbonitriding of steel parts, in particular parts used in the manufacture of automobiles comprises a heating step that includes a simple heating phase (M) followed by an initial nitridation phase (Ni) from a temperature between 700° C. to 750° C. to a temperature between 860° and 1000° C. carried out using a reduced temperature gradient relative to the simple heating phase. The method further includes alternate cementing (C1-Cn) and nitridation (N1-Nn) steps at constant temperature, wherein the final nitridation step is accompanied with a decrease in temperature immediately before quenching (T).

Abstract: A tool die for forming a green ceramic body. The tool die has a wear resistant coating that is deposited on a substrate and has an outer or free surface having a morphology that provides a mean roughness in a range from about 0.03 ?m up to about 0.8 ?m Rq. In one embodiment, the wear resistant coating has multiple alternating layers of fine grained and coarse grained materials. Methods of making the tool die and wear resistant coating are also provided.

Abstract: A method for the low-pressure carbonitriding of steel parts, in particular parts used in the manufacture of automobiles comprises a heating step that includes a simple heating phase (M) followed by an initial nitridation phase (Ni) from a temperature between 700° C. to 750° C. to a temperature between 860° C. and 1000° C. and carried out using a reduced temperature gradient relative to the simple heating phase. Additionally, alternate cementing (C1-Cn) and nitridation (N1-Nn) steps are performed at constant temperature, wherein the final nitridation step is accompanied with a decrease in temperature immediately before quenching (T).

Abstract: A rolled steel bar has a composition consisting, by mass percent, of C: 0.27 to 0.37%, Si: 0.30 to 0.75%, Mn: 1.00 to 1.45%, S: 0.008% or more and less than 0.030%, Cr: 0.05 to 0.30%, Al: 0.005 to 0.050%, V: 0.200 to 0.320%, and N: 0.0080 to 0.0200%, the balance being Fe and impurities. The contents of P, Ti and O in the impurities are, by mass percent, P: 0.030% or less, Ti: 0.0040% or less, and O: 0.0020% or less. Y1 expressed by the formula <1> is 1.05 to 1.18. Y1=C+(1/10)Si+(1/5)Mn+(5/22)Cr+1.65V?(5/7)S??<1>. C, Si, Mn, Cr, V, and S in the formula represent mass percent of the elements. A hot-forged part having a tensile strength of 900 MPa or higher and a transverse endurance ratio of 0.47 can be obtained by the rolled steel bar.

Abstract: A furnace of heat treatment capable of keeping a stable nitriding quality for a long period of time is provided. The furnace of heat treatment performs a halogenation treatment and a nitriding treatment by heating a steel material under a predetermined atmosphere. An alloy containing Ni ranging between 50 mass % or more and 80 mass % or less and Fe ranging between 0 mass % or more and 20 mass % or less is used as a material of surfaces of core internals exposed to a treatment space where the nitriding treatment is performed. Accordingly, a nitriding reaction is hardly caused on the surfaces of the core internals, and the halogenation treatment and the nitriding treatment to an article to be treated can be stably executed for a long period of time. Further, a nitrided layer can be stably formed according to purposes on any types of steel materials including a steel type hard to be nitride.

Abstract: A golf club component, such as a golf club head and/or a golf club shaft, can comprise a golf club component substrate having an outer layer of titanium carbide, typically comprising at least forty percent (40%) carbon content. Alternatively, a golf club component can comprise a golf club component substrate, at least a portion of which is enveloped by a first coating layer of, for example, electroplated nickel, a second coating layer of, for example, electroplated chromium or palladium, and a third coating layer of titanium carbide applied by physical vapor deposition. The titanium carbide layer is durable and can provide the golf club component with a desired aesthetic appearance, such as a black color. Additionally, the golf club component can be coated with a fourth coating layer, such as a layer comprising a sealant or clear coat material.

Abstract: A process for the surface treatment of a metal part comprises: exposing a surface (1) of the metal part to a stream of substantially spherical particles, so that any portion of said surface receives said particles along several primary incidences, the primary incidences of the particles on a portion of the surface being essentially distributed in a cone or a conical film which has an outer half apex angle between 10° and 45°, until a surface layer (3) of nanostructures having an average thickness of several tens of microns is obtained, the particles having a diameter of less than 2 mm and greater than 0.1 mm and being projected at a speed between 40 m/s and 100 m/s. A thermochemical treatment is then applied, in particular a low-temperature treatment of the nitriding type or a high-temperature treatment of the low-pressure carbonitriding type.

Abstract: In the rolling bearing of the present invention, at least one of the bearing rings is obtained by applying a induction heat treatment to a spheroidizing annealed steel material having a DI value of 1.0 or more to form a hardened layer having a hardness of 550 HV or more on at least a raceway surface and a fitting surface, and in the induction heat-treated bearing ring, (A) an average retained austenite amount is 12 vol % or less, (B) the raceway surface has a retained austenite amount of 12 vol % or more and a residual compressive stress of ?100 MPa or less, and (C) a difference between a hardness of the raceway surface and a minimum hardness of a region having a hardness of less than 550 HV is 150 HV or more.

Abstract: A carbonitriding method that can improve the nitrogen permeating rate to render the carbonitriding process effective includes an atmosphere control step, and a heating pattern control step. The atmosphere control step includes an undecomposed NH3 partial pressure control step, and a CO/CO2 partial pressure control step. The undecomposed NH3 partial pressure control step and the CO/CO2 partial pressure control step are carried out in the atmosphere control step such that ac* defined by the following equation (1) is at least 0.88 and not more than 1.27, and ? defined by equation (2) is at least 0.012 and not more than 0.020, where PN is the undecomposed ammonia partial pressure and PH is the hydrogen partial pressure in the heat treatment furnace, wherein a c * = ( Pco ) 2 ? K × Pco 2 ( 1 ) PCO: partial pressure of carbon monoxide (atm), PCO2: partial pressure of carbon dioxide (atm) K: equilibrium constant at <C>+CO2 2CO ? = P N 0.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbonitrided part comprising the steps of preparing a base steel part, having a composition comprising, in mass percent, C: 0.10 to 0.24%, Si: 0.15 to 1.0%, Mn: 0.30 to 1.0%, Cr: 0.40 to 2.0%, S: 0.05% or less, with the balance being Fe and impurities and performing the following steps 1-4 in sequence. Step 1 is carburizing the base steel part under a carburizing atmosphere at a temperature of 900 to 950° C. Step 2 is carbonitriding the base steel part carburized according to step 1 under a carbonitriding atmosphere at a temperature of 800 to 900° C. with a nitrogen potential of 0.2 to 0.6%. Step 3 is quenching the base steel part carbonitrided according to step 2. Step 4 is tempering the base steel part quenched according to step 3 at a temperature of more than 250° C. to not more than 350° C.

Abstract: On the contact surface of the rolling bearing part made of alloy steel containing appropriate amounts of Cr and Mo, the C+N content is 0.9 to 1.4 mass % and the area ratio of carbide is 10% or less. At the depth of 1% of the diameter of the rolling element from the contact surface, the hardness is 720 to 832 in Hv, the amount of retained austenite is 20 to 45 volume %, and the compressive residual stress is 50 to 300 Mpa. At the depth of 1 to 3% of the diameter of the rolling element from the contact surface, the average value of the prior austenite grain size is 20 ?m or less and the maximum value of the prior austenite grain size is 3 times or less the average value, and the hardness of the core portion is 400 to 550 in Hv.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for adjusting the pore size of a porous metal material and the pore structure of a porous metal material. The method comprises: permeating at least one element into the surface of the pores of the material to generate a permeated layer on the surface of the pores, so that the average pore size of the porous material is reduced to within a certain range, thus obtaining a pore structure of the porous metal material having the pores distributed on the surface of the material and the permeated layer provided on the surface of the pores.

Abstract: A method for producing a case-hardened martensitic stainless steel article includes: providing an article comprised, at least in part, of a martensitic stainless steel, carburizing the article within a temperature range of 1625° F.-1680° F. (885° C.-916° C.), and then carbo-nitriding the article within a temperature range of 1575° F.-1625° F. (857° C.-885° C.). An article, such as a bearing ring, comprising such a case-hardened martensitic stainless steel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-held work implement having a tool has a braking device for the tool that includes a brake band which wraps around a brake drum. The brake band and the brake drum undergo friction as they move relative to one another during braking. At least one of the band or drum comprises an austenitic steel, a duplex steel, super duplex steel, a nickel-base alloy or a cobalt-base alloy and has a base body and a marginal layer. The hardness of the marginal layer is approximately 150% to approximately 600% of the hardness of the base body and the carbide proportion in the marginal layer is less than approximately 0.5% by weight. A process for production of the foregoing includes diffusing carbon and/or nitrogen into a marginal layer at a temperature of less than 500° C.

Abstract: A method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized.

Abstract: The present invention provides spring use heat treated steel which is cold coiled, can achieve both sufficient atmospheric strength and coilability, has a tensile strength of 2000 MPa or more, and can improve the performance as a spring by heat treatment after spring fabrication, that is, high strength spring-use heat treated steel characterized by containing, by mass %, C: 0.45 to 0.9%, Si: 1.7 to 3.0%, and Mn: 0.1 to 2.0%, restricting N: to 0.007% or less, having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, and satisfying, in terms of the analyzed value of the extracted residue after heat treatment, [amount of Fe in residue on 0.2 ?m filter/[steel electrolysis amount]×100?1.1.

Abstract: A method for producing a steel component by performing the treatments of the following sequentially steps 1 and 2 to a steel material containing, by mass %, C: 0.15 to 0.25%, Si: 0.01 to 0.10%, Mn: 0.50 to 0.80%, S: 0.003 to 0.030%, Cr: 0.80 to 1.20%, Mo: 0.30 to 0.45%, Al: 0.015 to 0.050%, and N: 0.010 to 0.025%, wherein Cr/Mn is 1.3 to 2.4, the balance being Fe and impurities, and contents of P and O among the impurities are P: not more than 0.010%, and O: not more than 0.0020%: step 1: a treatment which holds the steel material at a temperature of 850 to 1000° C. in a carburizing atmosphere or carbonitriding atmosphere, and step 2: a treatment which quenches the carburized or carbonitrided steel material, by using quenching oil having a temperature of 40 to 80° C. and a kinetic viscosity of 20 to 25 mm2/s at 40° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant stainless steel part for a nuclear reactor is provided. This method comprises steps of providing a blank in stainless steel; shaping the blank; finishing the blank to form the part in stainless steel, the finishing step allowing the prevented onset or the removal of work hardness on the outer surface of the part; hardening the outer surface of the part via diffusion of one or more atomic species.

Abstract: A method for the low-pressure carbonitriding of steel parts, in particular parts used in the manufacture of automobiles comprises a heating step that includes a simple heating phase (M) followed by an initial nitridation phase (Ni) from a temperature between 700° C. to 750° C. to a temperature between 860° and 1000° C. and carried out using a reduced temperature gradient relative to the simple heating phase. Additionally, alternate cementing (C1-Cn) and nitridation (N1-Nn) steps are performed at constant temperature, wherein the final nitridation step is accompanied with a decrease in temperature immediately before quenching (T).

Abstract: Method for heat treating a steel component (28, 36) comprising the steps of: a) carbonitriding the steel component (28, 36) at a temperature of 930-970° C., b) cooling the steel component (28, 36), d) re-heating the steel component (28, 36) to a temperature of 780-820° C. and d) quenching the steel component (28, 36). The method comprises the step of either e) performing a bainite transformation at a temperature just above the martensite formation temperature, transforming 25-99% of the austenite into bainite at the temperature and then increasing the temperature to speed up the transformation of the remaining austenite into bainite, or f) holding the steel component (28, 36) at an initial temperature (T1) above the initial martensite formation temperature (Ms), and lowering the initial temperature (T1) to a temperature (T2) that is below the initial martensite formation temperature (Ms) but above the actual martensite formation temperature during the bainite transformation.

Abstract: A method for carbonitriding a steel part arranged in an enclosure maintained at a reduced internal pressure, the part being maintained at a temperature level, comprising an alternation of first and second steps, a carburizing gas being injected into the enclosure during the first steps only and a nitriding gas being injected into the enclosure only during at least part of at least two second steps.

Abstract: A surface processing method includes the step of increasing a surface hardness of a metal having a nominal composition that includes about 0.21-0.25 wt % carbon, about 2.9-3.3 wt % chromium, about 11-12 wt % nickel, about 13-14 wt % cobalt, about 1.1-1.3 wt % molybdenum, and a balance of iron from a first hardness to a second hardness. For example, the method is used to produce a surface-hardened component that includes a core section having a first hardness between about 51 HRC and 55 HRC and a case section having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.

Abstract: A process for the surface treatment of a metal part comprises: exposing a surface (1) of the metal part to a stream of substantially spherical particles, so that any portion of said surface receives said particles along several primary incidences, the primary incidences of the particles on a portion of the surface being essentially distributed in a cone or a conical film which has an outer half apex angle between 10° and 45°, until a surface layer (3) of nanostructures having an average thickness of several tens of microns is obtained, the particles having a diameter of less than 2 mm and greater than 0.1 mm and being projected at a speed between 40 m/s and 100 m/s. A thermochemical treatment is then applied, in particular a low-temperature treatment of the nitriding type or a high-temperature treatment of the low-pressure carbonitriding type.

Abstract: A carbonitriding method that allows the permeating rate of nitrogen to be increased to improve the efficiency of the carbonitriding process is directed to carbonitriding a workpiece formed of steel containing at least 0.8 mass % of carbon, including an atmosphere control step of controlling the atmosphere in a heat treatment furnace, and a heating pattern control step of controlling the temperature history applied to a workpiece. The atmosphere control step includes an undecomposed ammonia concentration control step of controlling the undecomposed ammonia concentration in the heat treatment furnace, and a partial pressure control step of controlling the partial pressure of at least one of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the heat treatment furnace.

Abstract: An outer ring, an inner ring and a roller serving as a bearing component that adopts as a source material a steel ensuring a large fracture toughness value and also having an alloy element added thereto in a reduced amount and also provides sufficient wear resistance, are configured of a steel containing 0.15-0.3% by mass of carbon, 0.15-0.7% by mass of silicon, and 0.15-1.0% by mass of manganese, with a remainder of iron and an impurity, and have a raceway/rolling contact surface included in a region having a carbon enriched layer and a nitrogen enriched layer. In the nitrogen enriched layer the raceway/rolling contact surface has a nitrogen concentration equal to or larger than 0.3% by mass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for method for formation of expanded austenite and/or expanded martensite by solution hardening of a cold deformed workpiece of a passive alloy, which method comprises a first step of dissolving at least nitrogen in the workpiece at a temperature T1, which is higher than the solubility temperature for carbide and/or nitride and lower than the melting point of the passive alloy, and a subsequent second step of dissolving nitrogen and/or carbon in the work piece at a temperature T2, which is lower than the temperature at which carbides and/or nitrides form in the passive alloy. The invention further relates to a member, such as a lock washer for securing bolts or nuts prepared using the method.

Abstract: Provided is a gas nitrocarburizing method forming a nitride layer in a surface layer portion of a workpiece made of steel by heating the workpiece within a heat treatment furnace into which a heat treatment gas is introduced, the heat treatment gas containing ammonia gas and at least one of carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas, and having a remainder formed of an impurity.

Abstract: A method for improving surface mechanical properties of non-austenitic stainless steels comprises steps of: providing a non-austenitic stainless steel material; placing the non-austenitic stainless steel material in an environment containing at least one austenite-stabilizing element, and implanting the austenite-stabilizing elements into a surface of the non-austenitic stainless steel material to form a modified layer enriched with the austenite-stabilizing elements; and placing the non-austenitic stainless steel material in a carbon-bearing atmosphere to make the modified layer in contact with the carbon-bearing atmosphere, and maintaining the non-austenitic stainless steel material at a carburizing temperature below 600° C. to implant carbon into the modified layer to form a carburized layer.

Abstract: A bearing constituent member includes a surface layer, at least one of particles composed of vanadium nitride having a particle diameter of 0.2 to 2 ?m and particles composed of vanadium carbonitride having a particle diameter of 0.2 to 2 ?m are present in the surface layer ranging from the surface to a depth of 10 ?m and at least one of the area ratio of the particles composed of vanadium nitride having a particle diameter of 0.2 to 2 ?m and the particles composed of vanadium carbonitride having a particle diameter of 0.2 to 2 ?m in the surface layer ranging from the surface to a depth of 10 ?m is 1 to 10%.

Abstract: Ferritic nitrocarburized surface treatment of cast iron brake rotors providing oxidation resistance, good braking performance and absence of distortion. Machined brake rotors are pre-heated, then immersed into a high temperature molten nitrocarburizing salt bath for a first predetermined dwell time. After removing the brake rotors from the nitrocarburizing salt bath, the brake rotors are directly immersed into an oxidizing salt bath at a lower temperature than the nitrocarburizing salt bath so that the brake rotors are thermally quenched. After a predetermined second dwell time in the oxidizing salt bath, the brake rotors are removed therefrom and further cooled to room temperature, either by water application thermal quenching or slow cooling in air. A fixture provides stable holding the brake rotors with a minimum of contact during placement in the salt baths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an implant, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a body containing metallic material, preferably iron. For controlling the degradation of the implant the method includes the following steps: (a) providing a first part of the implant body; and (b) performing heat treatment which alters the carbon content and/or the boron content and/or the nitrogen content in the structure of a near-surface boundary layer in the first part of the implant body in such a way that strain on the lattice or a lattice transformation, optionally following a subsequent mechanical load, is achieved in the near-surface boundary layer. Such an implant is also described.

Abstract: A method for increasing wear resistance of a turbocharger includes exposing at least a bearing surface of a center housing of the turbocharger to a gas nitrocarburizing process or a plasma nitrocarburizing process, thereby forming a conversion coating impregnated onto the at least the bearing surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a deep groove ball bearing which exhibits a long life even in a high-temperature environment or an environment involving the penetration of water in spite of its low alloying element content. The outer race, inner race and ball constituting the bearing are made of a steel which contains 0.3 to 0.4% of carbon, 0.3 to 0.7% of silicon, 0.3 to 0.8% of manganese, 0.5 to 1.2% of nickel, 1.6 to 2.5% of chromium, 0.1 to 0.7% of molybdenum and 0.2 to 0.4 of vanadium with the balance consisting of iron and impurities and in a total content of silicon and manganese of 1.0% or below, a total content of nickel and chromium of 2.3% or above and a total content of chromium, molybdenum and vanadium of 3.0% or below.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an implant, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a body containing metallic material, preferably iron. For controlling the degradation of the implant the method includes the following steps: (a) providing a first part of the implant body; and (b) performing heat treatment which alters the carbon content and/or the boron content and/or the nitrogen content in the structure of a near-surface boundary layer in the first part of the implant body in such a way that strain on the lattice or a lattice transformation, optionally following a subsequent mechanical load, is achieved in the near-surface boundary layer. Such an implant is also described.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for nitriding martensitic stainless steel and the alloy produced thereby comprising heating a stainless steel alloy to a temperature of from about 900° F. (480° C.) to about 2500° F. (1370° C.) in a vacuum furnace in the presence of hydrogen or argon gas in order to clean the surface. After the hydrogen or argon gas is removed from the chamber, nitrogen gas, or a different nitrogen gas derivative is injected into said furnace as a pulsed injection at a partial pressure of from about 500 torr to about 1000 torr. The steel is nitrogen alloyed at a temperature of from about 1400° F. (760° C.) to about 2200° F. (1205° C.) and then quickly quenched at ambient temperature. Preferably, after a sufficient period of time, the temperature is raised a second time from about 900° F. (480° C.) to about 2500° F. (1370° C.) prior to cooling the final product.

Abstract: In a process for carbonitriding metallic components (1), provision is made of at least one carburization phase (C1, C2), in which the metallic component (1) is carburized with a carbon-donating gas. In addition, provision is made of a nitriding phase (C1, C2, C3), which is assigned to the carburization phase (D1, D2) and precedes the carburization phase (D1, D2). Here, in the nitriding phase, the metallic component (1) is nitrided by means of a nitrogen-donating gas at least superficially at at least one surface region (4) of the metallic component (1). It is thereby possible to avoid an excessive concentration of carbon, and therefore component failure is prevented and it is possible to dispense with costly remachining steps, e.g. grinding.