Abstract: A magnetoresistance sensor structure includes a magnetoresistance sensor having a sensor surface plane and having a free layer. An upper antiferromagnetic layer overlies at least a portion of the free layer, and an upper ferromagnetic layer overlies and contacts at least a portion of the upper antiferromagnetic layer on a contact face lying parallel to the sensor surface plane, so that the upper antiferromagnetic layer lies between the upper ferromagnetic layer and the free layer. The magnetoresistance sensor may be a giant magnetoresistance sensor or a tunnel magnetoresistance sensor.

Abstract: An article is formed as a substrate having a projection extending outwardly therefrom. The article may be a magnetic recording head and the projection a write pole. The projection has a width in a thinnest dimension measured parallel to a substrate surface of no more than about 0.3 micrometers and a height measured perpendicular to the substrate of not less than about 5 times the width. The article is fabricated by forming an overlying structure on the substrate with an edge thereon, depositing a replication layer lying on the edge, depositing a filler onto the edge and the substrate, so that the filler, the replication layer, and the overlying structure in combination comprise a continuous layer on the substrate, selectively removing at least a portion of the replication layer from a free surface of the continuous layer inwardly toward the substrate, to form a defined cavity, and depositing a projection material into the defined cavity to form the projection.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance sensor includes a substrate and a sensor structure deposited upon the substrate and having a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The sensor structure includes a layered transverse biasing structure, a free layer deposited upon the layered transverse biasing structure, and a cap layer deposited upon a central portion of the free layer but not upon a side portion of the free layer adjacent to each lateral side. Longitudinal hard biasing structures are disposed laterally adjacent to the lateral sides of the sensor structure. Each longitudinal hard biasing structure has a magnetic seed layer deposited upon the substrate, the respective lateral side of the sensor structure, and the respective side portion of the free layer. A magnetic hard bias layer is deposited upon the seed layer.

Abstract: A projection structure is deposited on a substrate having a top surface by applying a negative photoresist overlying the substrate, and positioning a mask overlying the substrate and lying in a mask plane generally parallel to the top surface. The mask is a negative mask that is opaque in a region defining a location where the projection structure is to be deposited. The method further includes exposing the negative photoresist through the mask, baking and developing the exposed negative photoresist, and depositing the projection structure through the exposed and etched negative photoresist.

Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system is fabricated by providing an article substrate having a substrate surface, thereafter depositing a bond coat on the substrate surface, the bond coat having a bond coat surface, and thereafter processing the bond coat to flatten the bond coat surface. A thermal barrier coating is deposited overlying the bond coat surface. The thermal barrier coating is yttria-stabilized zirconia having a yttria content of from about 3 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight of the yttria-stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: An environmental coating is applied to the surface of a titanium-base alloy substrate to protect the surface from oxidation, corrosion, erosion, and other damage. The coating is a mixture of a metal and a ceramic, each selected to contribute to the protective function. The proportions of the metal and the ceramic in the coating are selected such that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the coating is about the same as the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate.

Abstract: An article having a protective coating is fabricated by providing an article substrate having a substrate surface; and thereafter producing a flattened protective coating on the substrate surface. The step of producing the flattened protective coating includes the steps of depositing a protective coating on the substrate surface, the protective coating having a protective-coating surface, and processing the protective coating to achieve the flattened protective-coating surface. The protective coating is thereafter optionally controllably oxidized. The article substrate and protective coating have an average sulfur content of less than about 10 parts per million by weight at depths measured from the protective-coating surface to a depth of about 50 micrometers below the protective-coating surface.

Abstract: A gas turbine component such as a turbine blade is clamped into a fixture having a base upon which a remainder of the fixture is supported, a stop which limits the movement of the gas turbine component, and two clamp arms affixed to the base and controllably clamping against the lower side of the platform of the gas turbine component to force the gas turbine component against the stop. When the gas turbine component is clamped in this position, its root may be readily shaped as by grinding.

Abstract: A turbine blade or turbine vane includes a metallic nonfoam region, and a ceramic foam region joined to the metallic region. The ceramic foam region is an open-cell solid ceramic foam made of ceramic cell walls having an intracellular volume therebetween. The ceramic is preferably alumina. The intracellular volume may be empty porosity, or an intracellular metal such as an intracellular nickel-base superalloy.

Abstract: A structure protected by a ceramic coating is prepared by providing a substrate having a surface, and depositing a layer of a sacrificial ceramic precursor material, preferably silica, onto the surface of the substrate. The method further includes furnishing a reactive gas, preferably an aluminum-containing gas, that is reactive with the sacrificial ceramic to produce a protective ceramic different from the sacrificial ceramic, and contacting the reactive gas to the layer of the precursor material to produce a protective ceramic layer.

Abstract: A knife has an implement lying in an implement plane and an attachment structure lying in the implement plane. The attachment structure is integral with the knife body with a fixed portion extending laterally from the top of the knife body. A gate is pivotably attached to a first part of the fixed portion of the attachment structure and pivotable in the implement plane between a closed position and an open position. When the gate is opened, the attachment may be clipped to another article, and the knife is releasably attached to the other article when the gate is closed.

Abstract: A method for welding an article includes producing welding filler metal by the steps of furnishing a powder of a welding-filler-metal composition, preferably a titanium aluminide or a nickel-base superalloy, providing a continuous casting mold having a welding-filler-metal diameter, and melting the powder into a top of the continuous casting mold, while withdrawing a continuous length of the welding filler metal from a bottom of the continuous casting mold. The melting is preferably accomplished using a laser to achieve a concentrated heating zone. The welding filler metal is used to weld an article, by applying an overlay layer or by joining articles together.

Abstract: An article such as a gas turbine blade or vane has a superalloy substrate, and a coating system deposited on the substrate. The coating system includes a protective layer overlying the substrate, and, optionally, a ceramic thermal barrier coating layer overlying the bond coat. The protective layer has an uppermost layer with a composition including platinum, aluminum, and, in atom percent, from about 0.14 to about 2.8 percent hafnium and from about 2.7 to about 7.0 percent silicon, with the atomic ratio of silicon:hafnium being from about 1.7:1 to about 5.6:1.

Abstract: A nickel-base superalloy article has a protective layer on a surface of the substrate. The protective layer has a composition including nickel, aluminum, and at least two modifying elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, hafnium, yttrium, and silicon. The protective layer is preferably predominantly beta (&bgr;) phase NiAl composition. Each of the modifying elements which is present is included in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 5 percent by weight of the protective layer in the case of zirconium, hafnium, and silicon modifying element, and in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 1 percent by weight of the protective layer in the case of yttrium modifying element.

Abstract: An article protected by a protective coating system is fabricated by providing an article substrate having a substrate surface; and thereafter producing a protective coating having a flattened, pre-oxidized protective-coating surface on the substrate surface by depositing a protective coating on the substrate surface, the protective coating having a protective-coating surface, processing the protective coating to achieve a flattened protective-coating surface, and controllably oxidizing the protective-coating surface. A thermal barrier coating may be deposited overlying the flattened, pre-oxidized protective coating.

Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.

Abstract: A gaseous alternative fuels vehicle has a vehicle body with an engine and a gas fuel tank. A gaseous fuel supply system establishes gas communication between the engine and the gas fuel tank. The gaseous fuel supply system includes a valve having a valve body with a housing having a first unvalved port and a second unvalved port. A through-flow channel extends between the first unvalved port and the second unvalved port. The through-flow channel provides continuous gaseous communication between the first unvalved port and the second unvalved port. A valved port is in gaseous communication with the gas fuel tank, and a valving channel extends between the valved port and the through-flow channel. The valving channel provides valved gaseous communication between the valved port and the through-flow channel. A flow controller has a valve element within the valving channel at a valve location.

Abstract: A missile system includes a launcher having a built-in pulse power source and an electrical connection to a missile. The pulse power source is used to send activation and firing pulses to the missile. The pulse power source utilizes a piezoelectric crystal which produces a pulse of energy when struck by a spring-loaded hammer that is released by an operator. In one version, a first piezoelectric crystal produces a first pulse to activate the system when struck by a first hammer, and a second piezoelectric crystal produces a second pulse to fire the missile when struck by a second hammer. The energy pulses are conducted from the launcher to the missile through an inductive coupling between a primary induction coil in the launcher and a facing secondary induction coil in the missile.

Abstract: To prepare a thermally sprayed composite material, a precomposited powder is first prepared and then thermally sprayed at an ambient pressure of no less than about 0.75 atmosphere in an oxidation-preventing atmosphere. The precomposited powder has a plurality of powder particles, and each powder particle is formed of a matrix and reinforcing particles distributed within and encapsulated by the matrix. The matrix has a composition of a matrix metal such as molybdenum, hafnium, zirconium titanium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, or tungsten, and a matrix non-metal of silicon, boron, or carbon. The reinforcement particle is silicon carbide, boron carbide, silicon nitride, or boron nitride.

Abstract: A knife-and-sheath combination includes a knife with a blade having two opposing broad faces and an opening through the blade extending between the broad faces, and a handle extending from the blade. The combination also includes a sheath including a sheath body having a receptacle sized to receive the blade therein, and a positive lock operable to lock the knife to the sheath. The positive lock includes a locking element engagable to the opening in the blade of the knife, and a lock release accessible to a user of the knife-and-sheath combination, the lock release being operable to disengage the locking element from the opening in the blade of the knife.