Abstract: There are provided a method, between a diffusion process and a quenching process, a normalizing process of performing step cooling in which a temperature lowering treatment and a temperature keeping treatment are alternately repeated plural times so that a temperature history from the first temperature to a predetermined temperature satisfies a predetermined condition; an after-normalizing maintaining process of maintaining the temperature of the whole workpiece for a predetermined time after the normalizing process so that the whole workpiece becomes the predetermined temperature, thereby producing fine crystal grains in the workpiece; and a reheating process of raising the temperature of the workpiece to the second temperature, after the after-normalizing keeping process.

Abstract: There is provided a gold alloy wire for a ball bonding. The gold alloy consists of 10 to 50 ppm by mass of magnesium (Mg); 5 to 20 ppm by mass of europium (Eu); 2 to 9 ppm by mass of calcium (Ca); and a remaining portion being gold (Au) having a purity of a minimum of 99.998% by mass. In the gold alloy wire for a ball bonding, an addition amount of calcium (Ca) is a maximum of half that of europium (Eu).

Abstract: A wire rod which is mainly composed of pearlite and has an area fraction of 5% or less of a non-pearlite structure composed of pro-eutectoid ferrite, degenerate-pearlite or bainite in a section, or has an area fraction of 10% or less of a non-pearlite structure in a portion from the surface to a depth of 100 ?m.

Abstract: Object: To provide a hydrogen generation apparatus, a laser reduction apparatus, an energy conversion apparatus, a hydrogen generation method and an electric power generation system. Means for Solving the Problems: A hydrogen generation apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes: a reaction vessel 12 for retaining a metal element; a water reservoir 16 for supplying water into the reaction vessel 12; and a hydrogen recovery tube for recovering hydrogen gas and reaction energy generated by reaction of the metal element with the water. The present invention may further include a hydrogen storage device 26 for storing recovered hydrogen gas. Further, in the present invention, an oxide or a hydroxide of the metal element generated by reducing the hydrogen gas may be subjected to laser reduction to regenerate the metal element. A solar light pumped laser may be used for laser reduction.

Abstract: A copper alloy material has a rolled surface having a plurality of crystal faces parallel to the rolled surface. The crystal faces includes at least one crystal face selected from a group consisted of {011}, {1nn} (n is an integer, n?1), {11m} (m is an integer, m?1), {023}, {012}, and {135}. Diffraction intensities of the crystal faces in an inverse pole figure obtained by crystal diffraction measurement of the rolled surface as a reference satisfy the relationships of: {011}>{155}>{133}, {011}>{023}>{012}, and {011}>{135}>{112}.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer is provided, where a decrease in conversion efficiency due to uneven characteristics of semiconductors is resolved and a decrease in adhesion strength between each element unit and an electrode due to a heat expansion coefficient between the respective thermoelectric transducers. In addition, an improvement of electro thermal conversion efficiency is intended by modifying the structure of the single device. Single element unit (13), which are made off semiconductor of the same type constructed of sintered body cells each containing oxide of a metal element, an oxide of a rare-earth element, and manganese are arranged on a board (5, 12) of a thermoelectric transducer (10). Film-shaped thin-film electrodes are arranged on cooling and heating surfaces so to be integral with the sintered body cell. On these sides, lead wires (16) are connected to each other in series.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric material having an improved relative dielectric constant and an electric-field-induced strain is provided. The method is a process in which a formed body of powder particles constituted of a composition of (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 is fired to produce the (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric material, and a constant temperature is kept in a range of 850 to 1000° C. for a constant time before heating to a firing temperature.

Abstract: An R-T-B system sintered magnet is provided which achieves both a high residual magnetic flux density and a high coercive force. The R-T-B system sintered magnet comprises main-phase grains 1 each having a core-shell structure comprising an inner shell part 2 and an outer shell part 3 surrounding the inner shell part 2, wherein the concentration of the heavy rare earth element in the inner shell part 2 is lower by 10% or more than the concentration of the heavy rare earth element in the periphery of the outer shell part 3, and (L/r)ave falls within a range from 0.03 to 0.40 in the main-phase grains 1 each comprising the inner shell part 2 and the outer shell part 3, wherein L represents the shortest distance from the periphery of the main phase grain 1 to the inner shell part 2, r represents the equivalent diameter of the main phase grain 1, and (L/r)ave represents the average value of L/r for the main-phase grains 1 present in the sintered body and having the core-shell structure.

Abstract: An immersion nozzle for continuous casting including a tubular body, the tubular body having at the upper end an inlet from which molten steel is introduced into a passage extending from the inlet downward inside the tubular body, the tubular body having a bottom and being depressed in cross section at least at a lower section, the lower section having two narrow sidewalls and two broad sidewalls, the narrow sidewalls having a pair of opposing first outlets communicating with the passage, the bottom having a pair of second outlets communicating with the passage. The lower section has ridges projecting into the passage respectively from the inner surfaces of the broad sidewalls between the pair of first outlets. The second outlets are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the tubular body such that the axes of the second outlets cross each other within the passage.

Abstract: Solids injection lances for injecting solids into a metallurgical vessel are normally supplied with cooling water from a cooling water circuit through water supply lines and return lines. Supply lines are provided with spaced pairs of connectors and bypass valves, and return lines are provided with similar pairs of spaced connectors and bypass valves. Flexible hoses can be connected between the pairs of connectors to establish supply and return flows of cooling water which bypass segments of the main supply and return lines which can be isolated and removed to allow withdrawal and subsequent replacement of the lances.

Abstract: A white bronze alloy consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about 0.3-1.5 wt % aluminum, about 0.5-2.0 wt % bismuth, about 61-66 wt % copper, about 0.0-0.5 wt % iron, about 11-15 wt % manganese, about 4.0-6.0 wt % nickel, about 0.5-2.0 wt % tin, and about 16-20 wt % zinc, as well as incidental amounts of impurities. The alloy is expected to have antimicrobial properties which make the alloy desirable for fabrication into food handling equipment and products for hospitals, bathrooms, and kitchens.

Abstract: A pulverized coal/coke (PC) boiler combusts carbon-based fuel with substantially pure oxygen and a flue gas recirculation stream (containing predominately carbon dioxide) at varied ratios to achieve a desired boiler temperature profile while producing captured sulfur, a high purity captured CO2 and electric power. The boiler includes at least one of (a) a mechanism for admixing a pulverized solid carbon-based fuel with an alkali metal salt and (b) injecting alkali metal salt into the boiler combustion zone containing a pulverized solid carbon-based fuel.

Abstract: A method of production of conductive particles able to suppress growth of the conductive particles at the firing stage, able to effectively prevent spheroidization and electrode disconnection, able to effectively suppress a drop in electrostatic capacity, and able to efficiently produce core particles covered by thin coating layers without abnormal segregation of the coating layer metal particularly even when the internal electrode layers are reduced in thickness. A method of producing conductive particles comprising cores 51 having nickel as their main ingredients and coating layers 52 covering their surroundings. A core powder, a water-soluble metal salt containing a metal or alloy forming the coating layers 52, and a surfactant (or water-soluble polymer compound) are mixed to deposite by reduction a metal or alloy for forming the coating layers 52 on the outer surfaces of the core powder.

Abstract: In a forming mold equipped with a cooling channel for circulation of a refrigerant composed of a cooling gas and a atomized cooling liquid, any increase of back pressure attributed to evaporation of the refrigerant fed to the cooling channel is inhibited to thereby attain cooling acceleration, and further any occurrence of rust or scale by the refrigerant circulated through the cooling channel is prevented. Accordingly, a channel for supply of the refrigerant to the cooling channel of the forming mold is provided with air pressure source for trapping of air in the supply channel and pressure feeding of the same; oxygen separation means for separation removal of oxygen from the pressure fed air to thereby lower the oxygen concentration of the air; and atomizing means for spraying of the cooling liquid into the air with oxygen concentration lowered.

Abstract: Methods for the introduction of a reactive material into a vacuum chamber while minimizing or eliminating the simultaneous introduction of contaminating materials or substances. As a result, contaminating materials and substances that can interfere with any measurements or other processes that occur in the vacuum chamber are minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: Provided is a hot-rolled thin steel sheet having a thickness of less than 6 mm and having high strength showing a tensile strength of 440 MPa or more, excellent formability, and excellent strength and toughness after heat treatment and a method of manufacturing the same. A steel base material containing 0.10 to 0.20% of C, and Si, Mn, Al, P, S, and N adjusted to suitable amount ranges, and 0.01 to 0.15% of Ti and 0.0005 to 0.0050% of B is hot rolled so as to have a finishing temperature of finish rolling of 820 to 880° C.; after the completion of the rolling, the hot-rolled thin steel sheet is cooled to a surface temperature range of 550 to 650° C. at a surface cooling rate of 15 to 50° C./s; and the hot-rolled thin steel sheet is coiled at the temperature range.

Abstract: The present invention discovers a new structural design technique which provides clearances between refractories 13 and fills the clearances with various types of refractories or refractory materials like in the past and, furthermore, uses another method to secure the heat expansion absorption function and provides a hearth structure of a rotary furnace hearth 1 able to prevent contact between the hearth structure and furnace side walls 3 and 4 caused by heat expansion of the refractories 13 and realize safe and smooth operation, that is, a hearth structure of a rotary furnace hearth laying two or more layers of refractories between side blocks 9 and 10 built at the inner circumferential end and outer circumferential end of a hearth refractory bed 7 of a rotary furnace hearth 1 and laying a powder or pellet hearth material 16 on its top surface, the hearth structure of a rotary furnace hearth 1 characterized by using refractories having a compressive strength of 0.1 to 5 MPa at 800 to 1500° C.

Abstract: A rapidly-solidified non-oriented electrical steel sheet having high magnetic flux density and low core loss is provided. The method of producing the non-oriented electrical steel sheet excellent in magnetic properties comprises casting a steel strip by using a traveling cooling roll surface(s) to solidify a steel melt of a prescribed chemical composition, which melt contains one or both of REM and Ca at a total content of 0.0020 to 0.01% and is cast in an atmosphere of Ar, He or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A steel pipe is prepared, which contains, by mass, at most 0.009% C, at most 1.0% Mn, at most 1.0% Si, at most 0.04% P, at most 0.005% S, 0.01 to 0.2% Ti, 0.01 to 0.10% V, 0.001 to 0.1% Al, at most 0.1% N, 4.0 to 8.0% Ni, 9.0 to 15.0% Cr, and 1.5 to 7.0% Mo, the balance being Fe and impurities. The prepared steel pipe is bent into a bend pipe. The bend pipe is quenched at a quenching temperature lower than 950° C. The quenched bend pipe is tempered. Accordingly, the bend pipe in accordance with the present invention has excellent SSC resistance.

Abstract: A filler-metal weld rod of a filler-metal composition is prepared by providing a mass of metallic powders, mixing the metallic powders with a temporary thermoplastic binder to form an injection-moldable mixture, and thereafter injection molding the injection-moldable mixture at an injection-molding temperature above the thermoplastic temperature of the thermoplastic binder to form an injection-molded rod. Any excess thermoplastic binder is removed from the injection-molded rod, and the injection-molded rod is thereafter sintered to form a filler-metal weld rod, with the temporary thermoplastic binder removed in the step of sintering.