Abstract: There is proposed a novel method for manufacturing high-purity metallic chromium that can eliminate the problems of reduced heating capability of the furnace, contamination of produced metallic chromium and other disadvantages related to the operation of the furnace. According to the invention, one or more than one of easily sulfidable metals selected from Sn, Ni and Cu are added to crude metallic chromium containing impurities and the mixture is loaded into a vacuum furnace equipped with heating elements of graphite and heated to 1,200.degree. to 1,500.degree. C. in an atmosphere with reduced pressure of between 0.1 and 5 torr.

Abstract: A raw material for high oxygen chromium targets comprising chromium crystalline particles dispersed in metallic chromium wherein at least a portion of the surface of all the crystals constituting the oxide crystalline particles is in contact with the matrix of said metallic chromium. And a method of producing a raw material for high oxygen chromium targets comprising chromium oxide crystalline particles dispersed in metallic chromium characterized by heat-treating metallic chromium containing a solid solution of oxygen or oxide particles as a starting material, and precipitating or crystal-growing the oxygen or oxide particles as chromium oxide crystalline particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 100, .mu.m, thereby obtaining a raw material for chromium targets.

Abstract: There is proposed a novel method for manufacturing high-purity metallic chromium that can eliminate the problems of reduced heating capability of the furnace, contamination of produced metallic chromium and other disadvantages related to the operation of the furnace. According to the invention, one or more than one of easily sulfidable metals selected from Sn, Ni and Cu are added to crude metallic chromium containing impurities and the mixture is loaded into a vacuum furnace equipped with heating elements of graphite and heated to 1,200.degree. to 1,500.degree. C. in an atmosphere with reduced pressure of between 0.1 and 5 torr.

Abstract: An EL lamp having a higher luminescence efficiency and a process for manufacturing the same are provided. The EL element includes an aluminum foil having at least one specularly polished surface, an anodized oxide film formed on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, a light emitting EL layer formed directly on the film, and a transparent electrode formed on the light emitting EL layer. The process for manufacturing an EL lamp includes the steps of polishing specularly at least one of the surfaces of an aluminum foil, forming an anodized oxide film on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, and forming directly on the aluminum oxide film a light emitting EL layer and a transparent electrode.

Abstract: Chromium carbide powder and/or powder of an easily sulfidable metal are added to powdered crude metallic chromium to form a mixture thereof, which is then heated in vacuum to remove S, N and O by degassing so that consequently the crude metallic chromium is free from impurities to a possible maximum extent.Alternatively, powdered crude metallic chromium is heated in an atmosphere of inert gas to temperature between 800 and 1,400.degree. C. and then an easily sulfidable metal is added thereto to form a mixture thereof. Subsequently, the mixture is, directly or after adding carbon or chromium carbide, heated again in vacuum or in an atmosphere of inert gas to eliminate S, N and O by degassing so that the crude metallic chromium is free from impurities to a possible maximum extent.Still alternatively, powdered crude metallic chromium is washed with inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or nitric acid or organic acid such as acetic acid to remove metal impurities such as Fe.

Abstract: Ceramic composite articles having dispersed whiskers or platelets oriented parallel to an outer surface of the articles and in two-dimensionally random directions thereof. The articles may be made by forming and sintering under a pressure of about 1 to 10 atmospheres without using hot press methods or hot isostatic pressing methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are high strength magnesium-based alloys consisting essentially of a composition represented by the general formula (I) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.d, (II) Mg.sub.a Ln.sub.c X.sub.d or (III) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b Ln.sub.c X.sub.d, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cu, Al, Zn and Ca; Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Sm and Nd or a misch metal (Mm) which is a combination of rare earth elements; X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba and Ga; and a, b, c and d are, in atomic percent, 55.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 3.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.25, 1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.30, the alloy being at least 50 percent by volume composed of an amorphous phase.

Abstract: A thermite process for producing a pure metal or alloy by charging a reactor furnace with a mixture primarily containing a powdered metallic oxide and a reducing agent such as powdered aluminum, wherein a batch of the mixture of the starting materials is divided into a plurality of loading lots. The amount of heat generated by each of the loading lots of the starting materials is so regulated that the amount of heat generated by each loading lot differs from the amount of heat generated by other loading lots and the loading lots are sequentially arranged. The lots are loaded into a furnace to form layers for thermite reaction in an ascending order of heat generation.

Abstract: Disclosed are high strength magnesium-based alloys consisting essentially of a composition represented by the general formula (I) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.d, (II) Mg.sub.a Ln.sub.c X.sub.d or (III) Mg.sub.a M.sub.b Ln.sub.c X.sub.d, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cu, Al, Zn and Ca; Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Sm and Nd or a misch metal (Mm) which is a combination of rare earth elements; X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba and Ga; and a, b, c and d are, in atomic percent, 55.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 3.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.25, 1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.30, the alloy being at least 50 percent by volume composed of an amorphous phase.

Abstract: High-purity metallic chromium is produced by a method of initially preparing a mixture of chromium oxide, aluminum, carbon and an easily sulfidable metallic powder, and subsequently providing a thermite-reaction with the mixture to produce thermite-crude metallic chromium and a solid solution of carbon and easily sulfidable metal. Residual impurities in the thermite-crude metallic chromium are subsequently removed by heat treating the crude metallic chromium. This method produces high-purity metallic chromium advantageous for preparing corrosion and heat resistant chromium-containing alloys.

Abstract: In a method of preparing high-purity manganese compounds, wherein the method comprises adding a member selected from ferromanganese and metallic manganeses to an aqueous electrolyte-containing solution, dissolving said member while stirring and maintaining a pH of 2 to 9, and then removing insolubles by filtration and recovering solubles by precipitation, heavy metal elements as well as non-metllic elements, such as P, Si, etc. can be removed efficiently, and high-purity manganese compounds of stable quality can be prepared.

Abstract: A method of drilling a well by utilizing AE/MA measurement which has the steps of monitoring an AE wave emitted at the periphery of the well, and drilling the well without lost circulation by providing lost circulation preventing means in the well if the energy of the AE wave emitted at the periphery of the well increases. Thus, the method can confirm a lost circulation layer, i.e., the size, the place and the direction of the underground crack to further determine whether further drilling is necessary or not.

Abstract: The specification discloses a polycrystalline boron nitride of high purity and high density consisting essentially of rhombohedral crystals in which the three-fold rotation axes, parallel to the c-axis in the notation of hexagonal crystal system, of the crystals have a preferred orientation. The polycrystalline rhombohedral boron nitride can be obtained as bulk or thin film articles with desired shapes by chemical vapor deposition including the steps of introducing a source gas of boron and a source gas into a reactor containing a heated substrate and depositing boron nitride onto the heated substrate, wherein a diffusion layer of the source gas of nitrogen and/or the carrier gas is formed around the substrate. The polycrystalline rhombohedral boron nitride such obtained is very useful in applications such as crucibles for melting semiconductors, various jigs for high temperature services, high-frequency insulator, microwave transmission window and source material of boron for semiconductor.

Abstract: A transparent BN-type ceramic material comprising 10 to 40 wt. % of boron (B), 35 to 55 wt. % of nitrogen (N) and 3 to 40 wt. % of silicon (Si) as the main component elements, and 1 to 10 wt. % of sub-component elements, with the property of not being crystallized by heat treatment at 1600.degree. C. for one hour, and a method of producing the above ceramic material by reacting a boron-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing compound and a silicon-containing compound at deposition temperatures in a range of more than 1300.degree. C. to less than 1700.degree. C. with the total gas pressure within a reaction furnace maintained in the range from 10 Torr to 100 Torr by use of a chemical vapor deposition method are disclosed.

Abstract: A material for storage of hydrogen, consisting essentially of an alloy represented by the following general formula:LmNiawhere Lm signifies rare earth metals which contain 40 to 70% by weight of lanthanum, 0.1 to 20% by weight of cerium and other metals such as neodymium, praseodymium, and/or samarium; and a signifies a range of 4.8<a<5.5. Thus, improved hydrogen absorption under relatively low pressure at room temperatures and also improved hydrogen absorption pressure and release equilibrium pressure can be provided.

Abstract: A method of collecting geothermal steam using Acoustic Emission Microseismic Activity (AE/MA) measurement includes the steps of (a) surveying an AE wave emitted in subsurface cracks to obtain the size of a water permeable geothermal reservoir by analyzing the AE wave, (b) further surveying the AE wave emitted in and around the periphery of the geothermal reservoir, (c) operating the wellhead valve of the geothermal well connected with the geothermal reservoir, thereby extending or preventing the extension of the geothermal reservoir in accordance with the information obtained in step (a) and/or step (b), thereby stably obtaining a predetermined quantity of steam of high quality. Thus, the method can stably obtain geothermal steam of high quality by accurately surveying or monitoring subsurface cracks by an AE measurement technique and propagating the subsurface cracks or suppressing the propagation of the cracks.

Abstract: A process for producing an anolyte and a catholyte for redox cells which comprises the steps of heating chromium ore together with carbonaceous substances to produce a pre-reduced chromium product produced a part of iron and chromium in chromium ore, dissolving the pre-reduced chromium product in hydrochloric acid and/or sulfuric acid iron and chromium. Thus, the dissolving step can be simplified, the predetermined concentration can be simply regulated.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing a high-manganese iron alloy from a manganese ore and/or a pre-reduced product thereof in a top and bottom blown converter type reaction vessel holding molten iron or a molten manganese iron alloy, together with a molten slag, said molten iron or alloy and said molten slag being the products of a separate smelting furnace, gas being blown into said vessel through a bottom blowing nozzle, said process comprising charging said vessel with a supply of raw materials including at least one source of manganese and iron selected from a manganese ore containing manganese oxide and iron oxide and a pre-reduced product thereof, a solid carbonaceous substance and a slag forming agent, while simultaneously blowing gas selected from oxygen and a gas containing oxygen into said vessel through a top blowing lance to burn said carbonaceous substance so as to heat, melt and reduce said raw materials to form a melt containing manganese oxide and iron oxide; supplying an additional carbo

Abstract: A mounting structure for chemical injection tube for a geothermal well which is used to generate power from geothermal energy is provided. A chemical injection tube is wound spirally along the outer surface of a vertical pipe. A double structure of a casing pipe of the geothermal well including the injection tube, which is inserted between the pipes, extends deep in the well below, the flashing point of the well. A plug is inserted at the lower end of the tube. The plug is removed by compressed air or water prior to the injection of scale inhibiting chemicals from the top of the tube. Thus, the chemical injection tube protects the well from the deposition of carbonate scale thereby providing a stable power plant operation.

Abstract: An electrocardiographic amorphous alloy electrode is manufactured from an iron-based (or nickel-based) amorphous alloy containing chromium as a metallic element and also containing at least one member of a group consisting of phosphorus, carbon, silicon and boron as a non-metallic element or semi-metallic elements.