Abstract: Hot working a nickel-chromium alloy that contains by weight percent, 42 to 65 chromium, 0.002 to 0.1 calcium, 0.002 to 0.1 magnesium, 0 to 2 aluminum, about 0 to 5 cobalt, 0 to 3 copper, 0 to 5 iron, 0 to 5 manganese, 0 to 3 molybdenum, 0 to 3 niobium, 0 to 2 silicon, 0 to 3 tantalum, 0 to 5 titanium, 0 to 5 tungsten, 0 to 5 vanadium, 0 to 1 zinc, 0 to 0.2 carbon 0 to 0.1 silver, 0 to 0.1 cerium, 0 to 0.1 phosphorus, 0 to 0.1 sulfur, less than 0.005 total boron, rare earths and zirconium and balance nickel and incidental impurities, at a temperature of at least 800.degree. C. improves formability for .alpha.-phase chromium alloys.

Abstract: Valve metal articles such as wire, sheet or powder having a second metal, preferably in a peripheral margin, prepared by coating the valve metal with a salt solution of the metal additive and heat treating in the presence of an oxygen getter to remove the oxygen from the valve metal and the anion of the metal salt to form the metal additive. For tantalum wire a preferred second metal is nickel. A preferred oxygen getter is magnesium. Nickel-containing tantalum wire is useful for enhance bonding to sintered pressed tantalum powder pellets in the production of electrolytic capacitors.

Abstract: A process of preparing a titanium-tantalum alloy including forming a suite mixture of essentially pure titanium powder and essentially pure tantalum powder, melting the mixture of titanium powder and tantalum powder by plasma torch melting under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a titanium-tantalum solution, and casting the molten solution of titanium-tantalum to form a solid homogeneous titanium-tantalum product is disclosed.The process can further include hot-rolling the cast solid homogeneous titanium-tantalum product to form a sheet of the titanium-tantalum product.

Abstract: A method for controlling oxygen in valve metal materials. The method includes deoxidizing a valve metal material, typically tantalum, niobium, or alloys thereof, and leaching the material in an acid leach solution at a temperature lower than room temperature. In one embodiment of the present invention, the acid leach solution is prepared and cooled to a temperature lower than room temperature prior to leaching the deoxidized valve metal material. The method of the present invention has been found to lower both the oxygen and fluoride concentrations in valve metal materials, as the use of reduced acid leach temperatures provide lower oxygen for a given quantity of a leach acid, such as hydrofluoric acid.

Abstract: An alloy on the basis of .gamma.-TiAl with an addition of the elements Re and Pd, which have a low oxygen affinity and/or one of elements X consisting of Ag, Cu, and Au, which are capable of forming compounds of the type AlX.sub.4 with aluminum and, if present, are present in the amounts of 2.5-20 At- % Re, 5-20 At- % Cu, or 5-20 At- % Ag, such an alloy having excellent oxidation resistance in combination with low density and high strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to eutectic alloy systems, such as white irons, in which a primary phase grows out of the melt when the melt is cooled below the liquidus temperature and comprises pouring the molten metal alloy at a temperature at or above the liquidus in a stream into a casting mould to form a casting and introducing a particulate material into the stream of molten metal to extract heat from the molten metal alloy to undercool the molten metal alloy from the pour temperature into the primary phase solidification range between the liquidus and the solidus temperatures of the alloy and thereby initiate primary phase nucleation and restrict primary phase growth. The primary function of the particulate material is to act as a heat sink but the particulate material may at least partially dissolve in the melt and may act as a seeding agent for the primary phase. The invention is described with particular reference to high chromium hypereutectic white irons.

Abstract: An alpha-beta titanium alloy preform is processed in the beta phase field, by heat treating or beta forging. The processed preform is thereafter heated into the alpha-beta phase field, and a preselected portion is forged, leaving a nonselected portion that is not forged in the alpha-beta phase field. The resulting article has a beta-processed structure in the nonselected portion, and a beta-processed plus alpha-beta forged structure in the preselected portion. In one application, the preform has the shape of a disk useful in the manufacture of an aircraft gas turbine engine. Depending upon specific requirements, either the center or the rim of the disk may be the selected portion.

Abstract: A chromium target is disclosed for use in the formation of chromium films or sheets of reduced thickness by means of sputtering. The target has a recrystallized structure represented by the equation, A/B.ltoreq.0.6, where A is the diffraction intensity of the (110) planes as determined by X-ray diffraction of a sputtered surface, and B is the diffraction intensity as determined from the sum of the (110), (200) and (211) planes. The target preferably has a deflective strength of above 500 MPa and an average crystal grain of below 50 .mu.m. The chromium target is produced by subjecting a starting chromium material to at least one stage of plastic working at a temperature of not higher than 1,000.degree. C., and subsequently by heat-treating the resulting chromium material for recrystallization at a temperature of higher than the recrystallization temperature of the chromium material but not higher than 1,200.degree. C.

Abstract: High temperature melting molybdenum-chromium-silicon alloys having good high temperature strength and specific stiffness are described which comprise Mo--Cr--Si alloys in the Mo-rich (Mo, Cr)--(Mo, Cr).sub.3 Si two-phase field.

Abstract: A method for producing a refractory metal foil from a workpiece fabricated of a refractory metal material includes the step of heat treating the workpiece for a first time period of approximately 1.5 hours at a first temperature of approximately 2,650.degree. Fahrenheit and subsequently for a second time period of approximately 2.0 hours at a second temperature of approximately 2,200.degree. Fahrenheit. The next step is forming the workpiece into a sheet of refractory metal material having a first sheet thickness of approximately one inch. The next step is heat treating the sheet of refractory metal material for a third time period of approximately 2 hours at a third temperature of approximately 2,200.degree. Fahrenheit. The next step is compressing the sheet of refractory metal material into a second sheet thickness of approximately 0.040 inches. The next step is annealing the sheet of refractory metal material for a first annealing time period for approximately 2.

Abstract: Method for heat treating a metal in which argon gas is selectively injected into the cooling zone of a heat treating apparatus when the temperature therein is above the level at which significant nitriding will occur.

Abstract: A fuel assembly avoiding the generation of irradiation damage, a Zr alloy used for the same, and a manufacturing method thereof. According to one embodiment, a super-saturated solid-solution Zr alloy powder having a crystal grain size in the range of 1000 nm or less and containing Fe, Ni and Cr is prepared by mechanical alloying, and the alloy powder is subjected to HIP, hot-working, cold-working and final heat-treatment.

Abstract: A process for making a spinneret from a single body of metal with a yield strength of more than 350 MPa involving drilling lead spinneret holes into the mass of the body, annealing only a thin layer of the body opposite the lead holes, and forming capillary spinneret holes through the annealed layer to connect with the lead holes.

Abstract: A fuel rod has a cladding including a thicker inner layer and a thin outer layer being metallurgically bound thereto. In view of the conditions prevailing on the inside of the cladding tube and the mechanical properties of the entire cladding tube, the inner layer is formed of zircaloy having a comparatively high Sn content and a low Fe and Fe+Cr content. The outer layer also contains virtually only zircaloy constituents, but in view of corrosion, H2 take-up and sensitivity to Li dissolved in the cooling water, the Fe and Fe+Cr content is greater than or at most equal to that of the inner layer, the chosen Sn content is less than 1.3% and the chosen Sn+Fe+Cr content is more than 1.0%. Low failure rates of the cladding tube are thereby achieved even for long service lives.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a sheet, band or strip of zirconium alloy or hafnium alloy, comprising hot roughing of an ingot into a blank, then hot rolling of this blank in the alpha domain, this hot rolling including several passes which follow one or more reheatings in a furnace at one or more temperatures (TR), each of which improves the formability of this blank, then cold rolling which consists of one or more cycles of rolling pinch passing/heat treatment. The hot rolling pass following the last furnace reheating is followed by reheating of the hot rolled blank by at least 100.degree. C. at more than 4.degree. C./s by infrared heating means with a wavelength between 0.8 and 5 micrometers. The hot rolling is then continued until the thickness at the end of the hot rolling is less than or equal to 0.8 times the thickness of the hot rolled blank. The product obtained is used for the manufacture of zirconium or hafnium alloy parts for water-type nuclear reactors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heavy metal alloy comprising from about 85 to 98 weight-% tungsten that is essentially present in the form of globular tungsten grains, and nickel and cobalt in a Ni/Co weight ratio approximately between 1.6 and 3.5 as binder elements in an austenitic binder phase which also contains tungsten in solid solution, wherein the alloy sintered from the appropriate powders is subjected to a heat treatment, and a method for its production. The alloy permits the attainment of very high strength values with the retention of high ductility.

Abstract: A hafnium alloy consisting essentially of hafnium and containing Sn by 0.1-1.5 weight %, O by 0.03-0.2 weight %, Fe by 0.01-0.15 weight %, Zr by 0.02-2.0 weight %, and (1) Cr by 0.01-0.15 weight %, and Ni by less than 0.10 weight %, (2) Cr by 0.01-0.15 weight %, Ni by less than 0.10 weight %, and Mo by 0.01-0.2 weight %, (3) Nb by 0.2-1.0 weight %, or (4) Nb by 0.2-1.0 weight %, and Mo by 0.01-0.2 weight % has high neutron-absorbing capacity, high resistance to uniform and nodular corrosion, high tensile and creep strength, and good wear resistance, and is suited to be used as neutron absorber for nuclear power reactors.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a channel box for use in a nuclear reactor, Zr-alloy sheet material is formed into a tubular channel box. The method includes solution heat treatment of the Zr-alloy sheet material including quenching from a temperature at which .beta.-phase is present. After the solution heat treatment, portions of the Zr-alloy sheet are thinned relative to other portions by a non-stressing thinning process, such as chemical etching in a bath. The corrosion resistance imparted by heat treatment is retained, and the heat treatment itself is easily performed on material of uniform thickness.

Abstract: A process for producing an amorphous alloy material characterized by imparting ductility to an amorphous alloy having a supercooled liquid region by giving a prescribed amount of strain at a prescribed strain rate to the alloy in the glass transition temperature region of the alloy. The amorphous alloy may be in the form of spherical or irregular-shaped powders or thin ribbons or in the form of primary consolidated shapes thereof or an amorphous alloy casting. The amount of strain and strain rate are preferably 50% or greater and 2.times.10.sup.-2 /sec or higher, respectively, and the worked amorphous alloy material is preferably allowed to cool in a furnace or spontaneously. Suitable examples of the amorphous alloy to be employed include Al-TM-Ln, Mg-TM-Ln, Zr-TM-Al and Hf-TM-Al alloys, wherein TM is a transition metal element and Ln is a rare earth metal element. The thus obtained amorphous alloy is greatly improved in the prevention of embrittlement in hot working peculiar to the alloy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contact for a vacuum interrupter obtained by processing a contact-forming material comprising from 20% to 60% by weight of Cr, Bi in an amount of from 0.05% to 1.0% by weight of the total amount of Cu and Bi, and the balance substantially Cu into the shape of a contact, and thereafter subjecting the processed material to vacuum heat treatment. The contact for the vacuum interrupter has both excellent anti-welding characteristics and excellent voltage withstanding characteristics.

Abstract: A method of hardening the surface of titanium and its alloys, and other structural metals which form hard carbides, by treating the surface thereof with a moving, discontinuous carbon arc.The metal surface to be hardened, and a carbon electrode are made opposite poles of an electric current source, and moved and/or rotated with respect to each other so that a multiplicity of discontinuous electric arcs are produced between the carbon electrode and the metal surface.Carbon particles transfer through the arc and alloy within craters of the instantly liquified and chilled substrate, producing a surface layer which, in the case of titanium, is hard and tough and adherent enough to form the working surface of abrasive cutting tools.The process improves the appearance and durability of consumer items and reduces friction and wear on machine parts.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides a process for decreasing the resistivity of an electrical conductor.The process involves the application of high temperature and an external field to a conductor to induce a current flow and physicochemical transition in the conducting matrix.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a low carbon ferrochrome with a high chromium content of at least 70 weight % Cr comprising the steps of at least once nitriding and crushing a low carbon ferrochrome to form a crushed ferrochrome nitride and subjecting the crushed ferrochrome nitride to an acid treatment comprising introducing the crushed ferrochrome nitride into an acid solution and stirring the resultant mixture of the ferrochrome nitride and the acid solution, to remove iron. The acid treated ferrochrome nitride is denitrided by heating in a vacuum.