Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing metallic semi-finished products by means of remelting and/or remelt-alloying. Here, the material is melted selectively locally in a melting capillary in the material volume by means of high-energy, focused radiation, the melting capillary is moved through the material and the material is cooled down at a high cooling rate by means of a cooled heat sink, which is located close to the melting capillary and coupled to the material in a well heat-conductive manner.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing metallic semi-finished products by means of remelting and/or remelt-alloying. Here, the material is melted selectively locally in a melting capillary in the material volume by means of high-energy, focused radiation, the melting capillary is moved through the material and the material is cooled down at a high cooling rate by means of a cooled heat sink, which is located close to the melting capillary and coupled to the material in a well heat-conductive manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to connecting elements for mechanically connecting constructive elements (2, 3). It is proposed to use an elastically deformable tensioning element (10), comprising a spring material consisting of a superelastic shape memory alloy, in particular a nickel-titanium alloy, elastically expanded in the tensioning element (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow nickel titanium profiles with a small external diameter and/or small wall thickness by means of deformation, especially extrusion. According to the inventive method, a composite block is formed, comprising a solid core and one or several hollow blocks surrounding said core. The core and the hollow blocks are made of nickel titanium. The parts of the composite block are separated after deformation to obtain a wire (3a), a tube (1a) with a small diameter and a tube (5a) with a larger diameter.

Abstract: Spark plug with an insulator, a center electrode placed in the insulator, a casing provided on the outside off the insulator and a casing electrode attached to the casing. The center electrode and/or the casing electrode are made using a platinum-nickel fiber composite material consisting of a platinum matrix in which nickel fibers are embedded or of a nickel matrix in which platinum fibers are embedded.

Abstract: A central electrode for spark plugs of internal-combustion engines, comprising a core of a highly heat-conductive base metallic material which is provided in the region of the firing tip with a precious metal casing consisting of silver or a silver alloy with predominantly silver content. At the boundary surface between the core material and the casing at least one interlayer is provided which is oxygen-impermeable and/or prevents the formation of a eutectic between the core material and the material of the casing.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a formed contact part of a metal alloy, wherein the formed part is shaped in one or more manufacturing operations without the removal of metal to produce a contact element, the improvement which comprises forming from the alloying constituents a composite material in which the alloying constituents are heterogeneously embedded, the composite material being formed into the contact part without the removal of metal and, after forming, heating the contact part so as to convert the composite material into a homogeneous alloy. The process is particularly applicable to silver-palladium alloys where the alloy would not itself be suitable for the forming operation.

Abstract: A shaped part made of a composite material having shape memory properties is intended to be assembled in such a way that various changes in shape, including complex changes, take place in dependence on the temperature. This is achieved by providing that the shaped part has several sections which have shape memory properties and which are coupled together with one another in such a way that independent results of the shape memory effect cause temperature-specific changes in the shape of the shaped part, in the course of which the shaped part assumes the same number of permanent and/or reversible shapes as the number of sections having shape memory properties.

Abstract: An electrode is made of a metallic composite material including a matrix with embedded tubes having high burn-off resistance. A filler material, which differs from the material of the matrix and tubes, is used as a core material for the tubes. Such filler material promotes the emission of electrons from the electrode surface.

Abstract: A contact element is formed wherein at least one layer, containing a noble metal and/or noble metal alloy, is applied to a carrier of base metal by the action of high-energy light radiation. The layer and carrier are fused to each other to form a connecting stratum produced with the aid of radiation of light of the completely fused layer.

Abstract: A spark plug center electrode comprises a core of material having good thermal conductivity surrounded by a sheath of corrosion resisting material. During manufacture of the electrode, the core is joined to the sheath by means of a welded joint which extends only over the zone of the inner basal surface of the sheath part.

Abstract: A thermocouple bimetal of the type made from a metallic component of high thermal expansion which is bonded to a component of low thermal expansion and in which said component of low thermal expansion consists of a thermally age-hardenable iron-nickel-titanium alloy with 26 to 55% nickel, 1-5% free titanium, 0-16% cobalt, remainder iron including impurities conditioned by the melt, and said component of high thermal expansion consists of a thermally age-hardenable iron-nickel-manganese-titanium alloy with 14-26% nickel, 3-10% manganese, 1-5% free titanium, remainder iron including impurities conditioned by the melt. An advantageous method of producing such a bimetal is also described.