Abstract: A sintered cermet of a rotary tool has a hard phase with a first hard phase and a second hard phase comprising a carbide, a nitride, and a carbonitride of at least one of group 4, 5, and 6 metals of the periodic table of which metals the metal titanium is a main component. The result of an X-ray diffraction measurement in a surface region of the sintered cermet provides a first peak intensity Ib on a high angle side that is attributable to a (220) plane of the first hard phase and a second peak intensity Ia on a low-angle side that is attributable to a (220) plane of the second hard phase, and an intensity ratio Ib/Ia of the first peak intensity Ib to the second peak intensity Ia is in the range of 0.5 to 1.5.

Abstract: A process for growing a substrate (24) as a melt pool (28) solidifies beneath a molten slag layer (30) An energy beam (36) is used to melt a powder (32) or a hollow feed wire (42) with a powdered alloy core (44) under the slag layer The slag layer is at least partially transparent (37) to the energy beam, and it may be partially optically absorbent or translucent to the energy beam to absorb enough energy to remain molten As with a conventional ESW process, the slag layer insulates the molten material and shields it from reaction with air A composition of the powder may be changed across a solidification axis (A) of the resulting component (60) to provide a functionally graded directionally solidified product.

Abstract: Methods for the low-temperature synthesis of an integrated, corrosion-resistant coating structure for metal substrates by means of multi-component pack cementation are provided. The synthesis of the integrated coating structures at low temperatures can avoid or minimize degradation of the mechanical properties of the substrates. The integrated coating structures can increase the lifetime of high temperature steels under severe steam environments and, therefore, provide a technological enabler for the high-temperature operation of steam power generation plants.

Abstract: A steel wire having a stainless steel exterior; the steel wire includes a core region that comprises at least 55 wt. % iron which is metallurgically bonded to a stainless steel coating that consists of a stainless steel region and a bonding region. The stainless steel region can have a thickness of about 1 ?m to about 250 ?m, and a stainless steel composition that is approximately consistent across the thickness of the stainless steel region. The stainless steel composition includes an admixture of iron and about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % chromium. The bonding region is positioned between the stainless steel region and the core region, has a thickness that is greater than 1 ?m and less than the thickness of the stainless steel region, and has a bonding composition.

Abstract: A steel wire having a stainless steel exterior; the steel wire includes a core region that comprises at least 55 wt. % iron which is metallurgically bonded to a stainless steel coating that consists of a stainless steel region and a bonding region. The stainless steel region can have a thickness of about 1 ?m to about 250 ?m, and a stainless steel composition that is approximately consistent across the thickness of the stainless steel region. The stainless steel composition includes an admixture of iron and about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % chromium. The bonding region is positioned between the stainless steel region and the core region, has a thickness that is greater than 1 ?m and less than the thickness of the stainless steel region, and has a bonding composition.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy component is protected by an electrodeposited aluminum coating. An electrodeposited intermediate aluminum-transition metal alloy and/or rare earth metal alloy layer between the aluminum alloy substrate and the protective coating enhances coating adhesion and corrosion resistance. The intermediate layer is formed by room temperature electrodeposition in ionic liquids.

Abstract: A composite steel plate includes at least two steel sheets rolled to form a plate. One of the sheets has a composition that varies in a depthwise direction, between nanocrystalline and micron grained. The plate is made by treating a steel sheet to produce a composition in the sheet that varies in a depthwise direction of the sheet between nanocrystalline and micron grained, stacking the treated sheet with at least one other steel sheet, and rolling the stacked sheets to form the plate.

Abstract: Wear resistance and chipping resistance are both highly established for a surface-coated cutting tool. The surface-coated cutting tool of the present invention includes a base material and a coat film formed on the base material. A first coat layer at a chamfer portion has residual stress that exhibits a minimal value at a depth A within 2 ?m from the surface, and that is greater than or equal to ?7 GPa and less than or equal to ?1 GPa.

Abstract: A MCrAlY alloy, methods to produce a MCrAlY layer and a honeycomb seal are provided. The MCrAlY alloy includes chromium, aluminum, yttrium and iron and optionally titanium, hafnium or silicon. The honeycomb seal includes a substrate, honeycomb cells and a protective coating on side walls of the honeycomb cells or a diffusion area inside side walls of the honeycomb cells, the protective coating or the diffusion area including the MCrAlY alloy.

Abstract: The invention discloses a semi-finished product for making plug-in contacts in plug-in connectors for electric DC power systems in motor vehicles which are operated at a nominal voltage at which electric arcing may occur, having an electrically conductive main body made of a non-precious metallic material that carries, at least in part, a contact-making coating of a material more precious than the material of the main body. It is provided according to the invention that the coating has thickness of at least 0.3 ?m and consists of silver or of a silver-based alloy with an addition that will not form an alloy with silver or with the silver-based alloy, or will at best form a precipitation alloy, and which has a higher melting point than silver.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an aluminum alloy product having a first outer layer, a central layer, and a second outer layer. The central layer of the aluminum alloy product has a higher concentration of particulate matter than said first or second outer layers. The particular matter has a size of at least about 30 microns. And, the aluminum alloy product has a thickness ranging from between about 0.004 inches to about 0.25 inches.

Abstract: A seamless composite metal tube comprises an inner layer (1) consisting of copper or a copper alloy, an outer layer (5) consisting of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, and at least three different intermediate intermetallic layers (2, 3, 4) each consisting of copper and aluminium, wherein the concentration of copper decreases from the inner layer (1) to the outer layer (5) in the radial direction of the tube.

Abstract: A steel manufacturing process can include forming an iron oxide layer on a hot band during hot rolling; reducing the iron oxide layer on the hot band to form a sponge iron layer that includes pores; the sponge-iron layer having a thickness in a range of about 0.05 ?m to about 1000 ?m, about 0.1 ?m to about 100 ?m, or about 5 ?m to about 25 ?m; and depositing an alloying element into the pores of the sponge iron layer to form an impregnated sponge-iron layer. The process can further include annealing the impregnated sponge-iron layer to produce an iron alloy layer carried by the substrate.

Abstract: An insulating layer provided metal substrate, including a metal substrate having a metallic aluminum on at least one surface and a composite structure layer formed of a porous aluminum oxide film provided on the metallic aluminum by anodization and an alkali metal silicate film covering pore surfaces of the porous aluminum oxide film, in which the mass ratio of silicon to aluminum in the composite structure layer is 0.001 to 0.2 at an arbitrary position within a region between a position 1 ?m to the composite structure layer side in thickness from the interface between the composite structure layer and the metallic aluminum and a position 1 ?m to the composite structure layer side in thickness from the interface between the composite structure layer and an upper layer on the opposite side of the metallic aluminum.

Abstract: A method for producing a thermal barrier in a multilayered system for protecting a metal part made of superalloy, by producing a thermal treatment by flash sintering protection materials in layers superposed on the metal part in an SPS machine enclosure. The layers contain, on a superalloy substrate, at least two layers of zirconium-based refractory ceramics. A metal part is produced according to a SPS flash sintering method and contains a superalloy substrate, a metal sub-layer, a TGO oxide layer and the thermal barrier formed by the method. A first ceramic is an inner ceramic designed to have a substantially higher expansion coefficient. An outer ceramic is designed to have at least lower thermal conductivity, and at least one of a sintering temperature or maximum operating temperature that is substantially higher. The thermal barrier has a composition and porosity gradient from the metal sub-layer to the outer ceramic.

Abstract: A sliding member has a sliding surface of a different form than a conventional sliding surface, and exhibits stable sliding characteristics even under a high surface pressure. The sliding member has a sliding surface formed on a surface of a metal base material, and includes two surface textures: a hard part and a tough part. The tough part contacts with the hard part and has a hardness lower than that of the hard part. The sliding surface includes the surface texture, in which the hard part and the tough part that supports the hard part are present in a mixed fashion with a micro-meso region level, and stably exhibits excellent wear resistance.

Abstract: A multilayer coating includes a bond coat layer, a first barrier layer applied on the bond coat layer, and a second barrier layer applied on the first barrier layer. The first barrier layer has a compositional gradient comprising a majority of a first rare earth stabilized zirconia material proximate the bond coat layer to a majority of a second rare earth stabilized zirconia material away from the bond coat layer. The first and second rare earth stabilized zirconia materials are different. The second barrier layer has a compositional gradient comprising a majority of the second rare earth stabilized zirconia material to 100 wt % of a third rare earth stabilized zirconia material away from the first barrier layer.

Abstract: In an Sn-plated strip in which a copper alloy containing 15 to 40 mass % of Zn in terms of an average concentration is used as an alloy strip and the layers of an Sn phase, an Sn—Cu alloy phase and an Ni phase constitute a plating film from the surface to the alloy strip, the Zn concentration of the surface of the Sn phase is adjusted to a range of 0.1 to 5.0 mass %. The alloy may further contain 0.005 to 3.0 mass % in total of an arbitrary constituent selected from Sn, Ag, Pb, Fe, Ni, Mn, Si, Al and Ti. Moreover, the alloy may be a copper base alloy containing 15 to 40 mass % of Zn, 8 to 20 mass % of Ni, 0 to 0.5 mass % of Mn and a balance of Cu and unavoidable impurities, and may further contain 0.005 to 10 mass % in total of the above arbitrary constituent. There is provided a Cu/Ni double layer base reflowed Sn-plated Cu—Zn alloy strip in which generation of whiskers is suppressed.

Abstract: Provided is a copper foil for a printed circuit with an electrodeposited ternary-alloy layer composed of copper, cobalt and nickel formed on a surface of the copper foil, wherein the electrodeposited layer comprises dendritic particles grown on the copper foil surface, and the entire surface of the copper foil is covered with particles having an area as seen from above the copper foil surface of 0.1 to 0.5 ?m2 at a density of 1000 particles/10000 ?m2 or less, particles exceeding 0.5 ?m2 at a density of 100 particles/10000 ?m2 or less, and particles less than 0.1 ?m2 as the remainder. Roughening particles formed dendritically in a roughening treatment based on copper-cobalt-nickel alloy plating are inhibited from shedding from the copper foil surface, and the phenomenon known as powder falling and uneven treatment are thereby inhibited.

Abstract: Mechanical component having a surface at least one part of which has been surface hardened by induction heating. A cross section of the mechanical component through the surface exhibits a hardness Hsurface at the surface, and remains substantially equal through a first region, a hardness Hcore at the non-hardened core of the mechanical component and remains substantially equal through a third region and a transition, second region spanning between the first and third regions. The hardness profile in the first region has an average hardness Y1, and the hardness profile in the third region has an average hardness Y3. If a line is drawn on the hardness profile in the second region between the points (formula) and (formula), where 0<K<2, the hardness of the mechanical component in the second region determined along the line decreases by less than 50 HRC per mm.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium adapted for high recording density and high data recording rate comprises a non-magnetic substrate having at least one surface with a layer stack formed thereon, the layer stack including a perpendicular recording layer containing a plurality of columnar-shaped magnetic grains extending perpendicularly to the substrate surface for a length, with a first end distal the surface and a second end proximal the surface, wherein each of the magnetic grains has: (1) a gradient of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy field Hk extending along its length between the first end and second ends; and (2) predetermined local exchange coupling strengths along the length.

Abstract: A coating system for a turbine engine component having a substrate includes a multi-layer bond coat applied to the substrate. The multi-layer bond coat has an oxidation resistant layer and a spallation resistant layer deposited over the oxidation resistant layer. Processes for forming the coating system are described.

Abstract: A method of forming a shaped product from an initial blank comprises subjecting the initial blank to a hot forming and press hardening operation to form the shaped product with substantially a uniform first tensile strength. Subsequently, the shaped product is at least partially immersed into a fluidized bed that is maintained within a known range of operating temperatures. While the shaped product is immersed into the fluidized bed, a first region of the shaped product is heated selectively to above a known temperature. The first region is then cooled, such that the first region attains a second tensile strength that is substantially less than the first tensile strength.

Abstract: Adhesiveness between a metallic substrate and a metal oxide layer is made to increase. A superconducting thin film (1) includes a metallic substrate (10), a metallic layer (22) that is formed on a main surface of the metallic substrate (10) and includes a metal element capable of being passivated as a main component, a metal oxide layer (24) that is formed on the metallic layer (22) and includes the passivated metal element as a main component, and a superconducting layer (40) that is formed on the metal oxide layer (24) directly or through an intermediate layer and includes an oxide superconductor as a main component.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate made of carbon fiber and zirconium diboride composites; an chromium layer deposited on the substrate; an chromium diffusing layer formed between the substrate and the chromium layer; and a iridium layer deposited on the chromium layer opposite to the chromium diffusing layer.

Abstract: Free standing articles or articles at least partially coated with substantially porosity free, fine-grained and/or amorphous Co-bearing metallic materials optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein, are disclosed. The electrodeposited metallic layers and/or patches comprising Co provide, enhance or restore strength, wear and/or lubricity of substrates without reducing the fatigue performance compared to either uncoated or equivalent thickness chromium coated substrate. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings comprising Co are particularly suited for articles exposed to thermal cycling, fatigue and other stresses and/or in applications requiring anti-microbial properties.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a joined structural body for mounting an electronic component on the body which is provided with a first member, a second member and a joining portion. The joining portion is provided between the first member and the second member so as to connect the first member and the second member with each other mechanically. The joining portion contains at least one metal of a tin, an indium or a zinc, and a copper. The content of the metal in the joining portion decreases toward a side of at least one of the first member and the second member, and the content of the copper in the joining portion increases in the same direction as the decreasing direction of the content of the metal.

Abstract: A process for joining a stainless steel part and a silicon carbide ceramic part comprising: providing a SUS part, a SiC ceramic part, a Mo foil and a Ni foil; depositing a nickel coating on a surface of the SiC ceramic part; placing the SiC ceramic part, the Mo foil, the Ni foil, and the SUS part into a mold, the Mo foil and the Ni foil located between the SiC ceramic part and the SUS part; placing the mold into a chamber of an hot press sintering device, heating the chamber and pressing the SUS part with the nickel coating, the SiC ceramic part, the Mo foil, and the Ni foil at least until the SUS part, the SiC ceramic part, the Mo foil and the Ni foil form a integral composite article.

Abstract: A structural component suitable for use as refinery and/or petrochemical process equipment and piping is provided. The structural component has improved corrosion, abrasion, environmental degradation resistance, and fire resistant properties with a substrate coated with a surface-treated amorphous metal layer. The surface of the structural component is surface treated with an energy source to cause a diffusion of at least a portion of the amorphous metal layer and at least a portion of the substrate, forming a diffusion layer disposed on a substrate. The diffusion layer has a negative hardness profile with the hardness increasing from the diffusion surface in contact with the substrate to the surface away from the substrate.

Abstract: A coated article is described. The coated article includes a stainless steel substrate, a bonding layer formed on the substrate, and a hard layer formed on the bonding layer. The bonding layer is a nickel-chromium alloy layer. The hard layer is a nickel-chromium-boron-carbon-nitrogen layer. The mass percentages of carbon and nitrogen within the hard layer are gradually increased from the area near the bonding layer to the area away from the bonding layer. A method for making the coated article is also described.

Abstract: A coated article is described. The coated article includes a stainless steel substrate, a bonding layer formed on the substrate, and a hard layer formed on the bonding layer. The bonding layer is a nickel-chromium alloy layer. The hard layer is a nickel-chromium-boron-nitrogen layer. The mass percentage of nitrogen within the hard layer is gradually increased from the area near the bonding layer to the area away from the bonding layer. A method for making the coated article is also described.

Abstract: A process for joining a brass part and a silicon carbide ceramic part comprising: providing a brass part, a SiC ceramic part, a Ti foil and a Ni foil; placing the SiC ceramic part, the Ti foil, the Ni foil, and the brass part into a mold, the Ti foil and the Ni foil located between the SiC ceramic part and the brass part, the Ti foil abutting against the SiC ceramic part, the Ni foil abutting against the brass part and the Ti foil; placing the mold into a chamber of an hot press sintering device, heating the chamber and pressing the brass part, the SiC ceramic part, the Ti foil, and the Ni foil at least until the brass part, the SiC ceramic part, the Ti foil and the Ni foil form a integral composite article.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article comprising a plurality of domains fused together; wherein the domains comprise a core comprising a first metal; and a first layer disposed upon the core; the first layer comprising a second metal; the first metal being chemically different the second metal. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising rolling a sheet in a roll mill; the sheet comprising a first metal and having disposed upon each opposing face of the sheet a first layer that comprises a second metal; the second metal being chemically different from the first metal; cutting the sheet into a plurality of sheets; stacking the plurality of sheets; and rolling the stacked sheets in the roll mill to form a blank.

Abstract: A process for joining a stainless steel part and a silicon carbide ceramic part comprising: providing a SUS part, a SiC ceramic part, a Mo foil and a Ti foil; placing the SiC ceramic part, the Mo foil, the Ti foil, and the SUS part into a mold, the Mo foil and the Ti foil located between the SiC ceramic part and the SUS part, the Mo foil abutting the SiC ceramic part, the Ti foil abutting the SUS part and the Mo foil; placing the mold into a chamber of an hot press sintering device, heating the chamber and pressing the SUS part, the SiC ceramic part, the Mo foil, and the Ti foil at least until the SUS part, the SiC ceramic part, the Mo foil and the Ti foil form a integral composite article.

Abstract: A nitrided metal includes a metal core with a first microstructure and a nitrogen-containing solid solution region on the metal core. The nitrogen-containing solid solution region is free of nitride compounds and includes a second microstructure which is equivalent to the first microstructure. The first microstructure and the second microstructure are a tetragonal crystal structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal strip which is produced from steel by hot rolling and by cold rolling of the metal strip. The invention also relates to a blank produced from the metal strip, the use of the metal strip, and to a method of producing it. The object of providing metal strip from which components of minimum weight which are adapted to specific loads can be produced with little cost or complication is achieved by metal strip of the generic kind which, after the cold rolling, is of constant thickness and has, section by section, regions whose mechanical properties vary. What “after the cold rolling” means, for the purposes of the present invention, is that, immediately on completion of the cold rolling, i.e. without any further treatment such as heat treatment, regions whose mechanical properties vary are present in the metal strip.

Abstract: A composite material for an electrical/electronic part, which is used as a material for use in an electrical/electronic part, containing: a metal base material having at least a surface formed of Cu or a Cu alloy; and an insulating film provided on at least a part of the metal base material; wherein a metal layer having Cu diffused in Ni or a Ni alloy is interposed between the metal base material and the insulating film; and wherein the ratio of the number of Cu atoms to the number of Ni atoms (Cu/Ni) obtained by analyzing the outermost surface of the metal layer by Auger electron spectroscopy is 0.005 or more.

Abstract: Provided are methods and initial structures for fabricating corrosion resistant steels that incorporate an aluminum rich corrosion resistant surface layer. The initial structures utilize layering and/or patterning for reducing the effective diffusion length Deff to a value well below the total thickness of the aluminum alloy protective layer X1 by providing vertical and/or lateral laminated structures that provide ready sources of Fe atoms during subsequent heat treatment processes.

Abstract: To provide a heat sink material that not only is excellent in heat sink properties, but also allows molded articles of various shapes made of a variety of materials to be used as a base substrate of the heat sink material. The heat sink material is also excellent in durability when in use as a heat sink material and can be thinned, and can be conveniently utilized for semiconductor devices, particularly for cell phones, personal computers and the like. The heat sink material includes a composite electroplated film having a plated metal film as a matrix wherein diamond particles are co-deposited in the matrix in such a way that a co-deposition amount of the particles gradually changes in a thickness direction of the plated metal film.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for electrophoretic deposition of a three-dimensionally patterned green body includes suspending a first material in a gelling agent above a patterned electrode of an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) chamber, and gelling the suspension while applying a first electric field to the suspension to cause desired patterning of the first material in a resulting gelation. In another embodiment, a ceramic, metal, or cermet includes a plurality of layers, wherein each layer includes a gradient in composition, microstructure, and/or density in an x-y plane oriented parallel to a plane of deposition of the plurality of layers along a predetermined distance in a z-direction perpendicular to the plane of deposition.

Abstract: A thermally sprayed coating, coating system and coated article are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments of the thermally sprayed coating, coating system and coated article use a customized ceramic powder comprising ceramic powder particles having an average particle size of about 25 to about 75 microns. In particular, the ceramic powder particles contain from about 70 to about 95 percent by weight of a zirconia-based component, with the balance being an (alumina+silica)-based component and wherein said ceramic powder particles comprise micronized sub-particles of the zirconia-based component and the (alumina+silica)-based component.

Abstract: A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—C—N layer. Then, Nd ions are implanted in the Al—C—N layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of N and C in the Al—C—N gradient layer gradually increase from the side of Al—C—N gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—C—N gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.

Abstract: A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloys substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloys substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—O—N layer. Then, Gd ions is implanted in the Al—O—N layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of N and O in the Al—O—N gradient layer gradually increase from the bottom of the layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloys substrate to the top of the layer away from aluminum or aluminum alloys substrate by physical vapor deposition. The housing has a higher corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.

Abstract: A heat-resistant member is provided that includes a Ni-base superalloy substrate coated with at least one substance. The substrate and the substance are formed of materials that are substantially in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium, or in a state similar to a state of thermodynamic equilibrium, so that interdiffusion is suppressed. The heat-resistant member therefore inhibits interdiffusion of elements at the substrate/coating interface even at elevated temperatures of 1,100° C. and higher.

Abstract: The invention is directed at composite materials, articles including the composite materials, and methods for producing and using them. The composite material includes regions that differ in one or more properties. The composite material generally includes a first metallic sheet, a second metallic sheet; one or more metallic inserts interposed between the first and second metallic sheets; and a polymeric layer (e.g., a core layer) interposed between the first and second metallic sheets. The polymeric layer preferably includes a thermoplastic polymer. Preferably, the composite material includes a first region having an insert interposed between the metallic sheets so that the first region (relative to the second region) has a high tensile strength, a high thickness, a high density, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A multilayer substrate includes a base layer, a coating layer and an intermediate layer positioned between the base layer and the coating layer. The intermediate layer contains chromium and nitrogen. A content of the chromium in the intermediate layer gradually decreases from the base layer to the coating layer.

Abstract: A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—C—N layer. Then, Ce ions are implanted in the Al—C—N layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of N and C in the Al—C—N gradient layer gradually increase from the side of Al—C—N gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—C—N gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.

Abstract: A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—O layer. Then, Nd ions are implanted in the Al—O layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of O in the Al—O gradient layer gradually increases from the side of Al—O gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—O gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.

Abstract: A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—C—N layer. Then, Gd ions is implanted in the Al—C—N layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of N and C in the Al—C—N gradient layer gradually increase from the side of Al—C—N gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—C—N gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to hard-metal body comprising a hard-metal, the hard-metal comprising tungsten carbide grains and metal binder comprising cobalt having a concentration of tungsten dissolved therein, the body comprising a surface region adjacent a surface and a core region remote from the surface, the surface region and the core region being contiguous with each other; the mean binder fraction of the core region being greater than that of the surface region; the mean carbon concentration within the binder being higher in the surface region than in the core region; to tools comprising same and methods of making same.