Abstract: A hard wear-resistant film is formed on a substrate in an atmosphere of an inert gas by using a target of a composition of Al.sub.a Ti.sub.b (wherein "a" and "b" stand for atomic percentages respectively in the ranges of 62 at %.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.85 at % and 15 at %.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.38 at %, providing a+b=100 at %) or Al.sub.c Ta.sub.d (wherein "c" and "d" stand for atomic percentages respectively in the ranges of 60 at %.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.80 at % and 20 at %.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.40 at %, providing c+d=100 at %) and by a sputtering process or ion plating process while varying continuously or stepwise the feed rate of a nitrogen-containing reaction gas into a chamber. The film consequently formed has a composition and structure thereof continuously or stepwise varied from a substantially amorphous metal of a part being in contact with the substrate to an (Al, Ti)N or (Al, Ta)N crystalline ceramic phase with the nitrogen content continuously or stepwise increased in the direction of the surface of the film.

Abstract: A process for producing amorphous alloy materials having high toughness and high strength from various alloy powders, thin ribbons or bulk materials consisting of an amorphous phase by heating them to a temperature at which intermetallic compounds or other compounds are not produced. During this heating, fine crystal grains consisting of a supersaturated solid solution made of a main alloying element and additive elements and having a mean grain diameter of 5 nm to 500 nm are precipitated and uniformly dispersed in a volume percentage of 5 to 50% throughout an amorphous matrix. In the process, when deformation, pressing or other working is simultaneously conducted with the heating, consolidation or combining of the resultant alloy materials can also be effected in the same production procedure. The amorphous alloy used in the production process preferably comprises Al, Mg or Ti as a main element and, as additive elements, rare earth elements and/or other elements.

Abstract: A high-strength magnesium-based alloy possessing a microcrystalline composition represented by the general formula: Mg.sub.a Al.sub.b M.sub.c or Mg.sub.a,Al.sub.b M.sub.c X.sub.d (wherein M stands for at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ga, Sr, and Ba, X stands for at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ce, Zr, and Ca, and a, a', b, c, and d stand for atomic percents respectively in the ranges of 78.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.94, 75.ltoreq.a'.ltoreq.94, 2.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.12, 1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.10, and 0.1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.3). This alloy can be advantageously produced by rapidly solidifying the melt of an alloy of the composition shown above by the liquid quenching method. It is useful as high-strength materials and highly refractory materials owing to its high hardness, strength, and heat-resistance. It is also useful as materials with high specific strength because of light weight and high strength.

Abstract: A superplastic aluminum-based alloy material consisting of a matrix formed of aluminum or a supersaturated aluminum solid solution, whose average crystal grain size is 0.005 to 1 .mu.m, and particles made of a stable or metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed of the main alloying element (i.e., the matrix element) and the other alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of the other alloying elements and distributed evenly in the matrix, the particles having a mean particle size of 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.m. The superplastic aluminum-based alloy material is produced from a rapidly solidified material consisting of an amorphous phase, a microcrystalline phase or a mixed phase thereof by optionally heat treating the material at a prescribed temperature for a prescribed period of time and then subjecting it to a single or combined thermomechanical treatment. The superplastic aluminum-based alloy material of the present invention is suited for superplastic working.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for forming an amorphous alloy material capable of showing glass transition, which comprises holding the material between frames arranged in combination; and heating the material at a temperature between its glass transition temperature (Tg) and its crystallization temperature (Tx) and, at the same time, producing a pressure difference between opposite sides of the material, whereby the material is brought into close contact against a forming mold disposed on one side of the material. As an alternative, the forming mold is brought into close contact against the amorphous material in a direction opposite to the pressing direction for the amorphous material. By the above processes, precision-formed products of amorphous alloys can be manufactured and supplied at low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process comprising the steps of forming a cast amorphous alloy from an alloy which exhibits glass transition behavior, heating the amorphous alloy to a temperature between Tg and Tx while subjecting the alloy to drawing to obtain a wire and cooling the wire to (Tg-50 K) or lower. By this process, it is possible to produce an amorphous alloy wire at a low cost and provide an ultrafine wire having high strength and high corrosion resistance as well as flexibility. The amorphous alloy wire can be utilized as a reinforcing wire for a composite material, a variety of reinforcing members, a woven fabric and the like.

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.