Abstract: A heat treating method for promoting directional recrystallization in objects in general and, more particularly, forgings having relatively low length to thickness ratios. The objects are partially embedded in containers having insulating material therein. The containers are placed into furnaces wherein the rate of the advancing isotherm travelling through the objects are controlled. This process may be used in lieu of zone annealing and static recrystallization heat treatments.

Abstract: A method of producing a hardened non-magnetizable roller bearing element made of an austenitic material comprising carburizing the near-surface material layer of a roller bearing element in an oxygen-free atmosphere at high temperatures and then cooling the roller bearing element and the element produced by the process having a load bearing capacity equal to steel roller bearing elements but still non-magnetizable.

Abstract: An annealing operation is performed with controlling tension force to be exerted on a metal strip depending upon thermal crown of hearth rolls. The thermal crown magnitude is assumed based on various factors influencing for the magnitude of the effective crown.

Abstract: A method for producing metal by the reduction of a metal halide by a reducing metal agent capable of continuously producing homogeneous metal of high purity. In the method, particles of the same metal as the metal to be produced are charged into a reaction vessel and the metal halide and the reducing metal agent both in vapor form, are ejected upwards into the reaction vessel from its lower portion to form a fluidized bed of the metal particles in the vessel. The reducing reaction between the two vapors takes place on the surface of the metal particles at a temperature below the melting point of the metal product and at a pressure below a vapor pressure of each of the reducing metal agent and the metal halide at that temperature, resulting in depositing and growing the metal product on the surface of the particles.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for heating, cooling and stretching a metal specimen as it is being elongated, according to a temperature curve selected to provide a finished product having a predetermined microstructive, ultimate tensile strength, yield point and cross-section.

Abstract: Workpieces of metal are treated with a high temperature, ambient pressure argon arc plasma system to facilitate surface and through hardening.The argon flame is directed against the outer surface of the rotating workpiece. The surface temperature is monitored by a non contact I.R. temperature sensor and controlled by varying the inert gas flowrate through the plasma generator and/or varying the electrical power input to the plasma generator.

Abstract: A cobalt bonded tungsten carbide powder is produced by a method comprising preparing a mixture consisting of a first tungsten carbide powder having a particle size of -5 microns, a second tungsten carbide powder having a particle size of -44+10 microns, a cobalt powder having a particle size of -5 microns and a carbon powder having a particle size of -1 micron. The mixture has proportions, by weight totaling 100%, of about 10% to 30% first tungsten carbide, 40% to 80% second tungsten carbide, 8% to 25% cobalt and 0.5 to 3% carbon. The mixture is processed by compacting, sintering, crushing, and classifying to produce the cobalt bonded tungsten powder in a size range -100+10 microns.

Abstract: A method of forming a nitride or carbonitride layer on the surface of an iron or iron alloy article, which comprises the steps of: (a) disposing in a fluidized bed furnace a treating agent comprising a refractory powder, a metal powder of at least one selected from the group consisting of chromium, vanadium, titanium and a metal containing at least one of the chromium, vanadium and titanium, and a halide powder; (b) introducing a nitrogen-containing gas into the fluidizied bed furnace; (c) heating the fluidized bed furnace; and (d) disposing the article in the fluidized bed furnace during or after the steps (a) to (c). In this method, the article is preferably treated at a temperature not higher than 650.degree. C. The step (c) may precede the step (b). The halide powder may be supplied to the fluidized bed furnace from outside in the form of green compact or a gas.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus for the direct heat treatment of a medium- to high-carbon steel rod in a lower quench line and the treatment of low carbon steel in an upper quench line. A hot-rolled rod is transported on a conveyor in the form of a sequence of non-concentric rings, the conveyor, being operative between a first position in contact with the lower quench line and a second position in the upper cooling line. In the lower quench line the rod is subjected to controlled cooling in a coolant so that the greater part of any austenite in the entire length of the rod is substantially uniformly transformed to a fine pearlite structure. A heat holding vessel is operated under conditions that transforms any residual defects into pearlite.

Abstract: A vacuum furnace for heat treatment of metallic workpieces wherein the heat conductors are formed as conduits fitted with bore holes and connected by electrical insulators to coolant gas distributor.

Abstract: A method for preparing cast composite materials of nonmetallic carbide particles in a metallic matrix, wherein the particles are roasted and then mixed into a molten metallic alloy to wet the molten metal to the particles, and the particles and metal are sheared past each other to promote wetting of the particles by the metal. The particles are roasted in air or other source of oxygen to remove the carbon from the near-surface region of the particles and to produce an oxide surface diffusion barrier, resulting in a reduction of carbide formation in the molten matrix. The mixing occurs while minimizing the introduction of gas into the mixture, and while minimizing the retention of gas at the particle-liquid interface. Mixing is done at a maximum temperature whereat the particles do not substantially chemically degrade in the molten metal during the time required for processing, and casting is done at a temperature sufficiently high that there is no solid metal present in the melt.

Abstract: In a device for heat-treating, in particular annealing, a continuously advanced metal wire, a heating chamber (1) which is substantially closed on all sides and whose wall has entry and exit openings (9) for the wire (8), which is wound in a multiplicity of adjacent windings around the two deflection drums (5), is arranged between two wire deflection drums (5) which are rotatably mounted at a distance from one another and axially parallel and have discrete wire guiding grooves (6) on their shell surfaces, at least one of the two deflection drums (5) being driven by a motor and heating elements (10) being arranged in the heating chamber (1) along the two groups (8a, 8b) of wire lengths passing back and forth through it (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A bell furnace (2) and hardening vat (3) arrangement comprises charge (4) supporting means (14, resp. 29, 32, 33) connected to the bell and extending toward the center of the bell. It comprises means (18, 18', resp. 28) for imparting solely to the bell either a vertical and rotary movement or only solely a vertical movement, while the vat (3) is under the furnace (1), in such a way that the bell can be brought against the top plane of the vat, the bell/vat unit forming a tight enclosure at the time of hardening. A lift can introduce into the bell, and the means (18, 18;, resp. 31, 34, 37) co-operate at the same time in the release of the charge and in the placing of the latter on the supporting means (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to contact material for vacuum interrupter, and in order to be splendid in the breakdown voltage ability and increase the interrupting ability, a contact material is constituted by containing copper and chromium, and moreover adding one component selected from silicon, titanium, zirconium and aluminum as another component, and is used in a vacuum interrupter.

Abstract: Four groups of advanced hydrogen hydride storage and hydride electrode materials, consisting of two common elements, titanium and nickel. In the first group of materials, zirconium and chromium are added with the common elements. The second group of materials contain three additional elements in addition to the common elements, namely, chromium, zirconium and vanadium. The third group of materials contain also, in addition to the common elements, zirconium and vanadium. The fourth group of materials adds manganese and vanadium with the common elements. The preparation methods of the materials, as well as their hydride electrode are disclosed. Electrochemical studies indicate that these materials have high capacity, long cycle life and high rate capability.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing the outer quenching and the inner quenching of tubular pieces, notably of steel tubes, characterized in that it includes successively, in the advancement direction of the tubes:slanting rollers allowing the tubes delivered continuously to move forward successively by rotating about their axis;an outer quenching system;a clamping and locking system for the tube;a retractable carrier supporting an injection lance for carrying out the inner quenching, said carrier being provided with said clamping and locking system for the tube;means allowing the carrier to move backward with the tube clamping system in order to accompany said tube in movement while the outer quenching is carried out; andretractable rollers which come in position to support the tube as the carrier moves backward while disengaging the tube from the outer quenching system.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing the inner and outer quenching of tubular metallic pieces and more particularly of steel tubes, characterized in that it includes successively in the direction of movement of said tubes:a series of primary quenching annuli through which progresses the tube to be quenched,a weir tank filled with quenching liquid and formed with an inlet orifice for the tube to be quenched, said orifice being provided with a tight closing shutter and at least on high pressure quenching annulus,a plurality of guiding cylinders and rollers placed in the weir tank for the rotating progress of the tube travelling through the tank,means for providing for the inner quenching under pressure of the tube travelling through the tank andmeans for the recovery of the quenching liquid discharged from the weir tank, its filtration, its return and new rises in pressure for, on the one hand feeding the tank and, on the other hand, feeding under a high pressure the quenching annuli and inner pressure quenching means.

Abstract: A novel method of producing a silver, tin-indium oxide contact material is disclosed. The material is fabricated by alloying silver with tin and indium, hermetically joining two sheets of such alloy with a layer of release material therebetween to form a multilayer structure, internally oxidizing the structure at elevated pressure and separating it into component parts. The inventiive process produces a member substantially free of oxide depleted regions about at least one surface.

Abstract: A thin film semiconductor device, for example a transistor, is fabricated by depositing layers of materials of appropriate electrical characteristics on an insulating substrate 1. To manufacture a transistor, firstly an insulating base layer 2 is applied which is then followed by a gate electrode 3, an insulation layer 4 and a semiconductor layer 5. Source and drain electrodes 6 and 7 are then applied and finally a protective layer 8 encapsulates the device. In order to improve the life of the device it is annealed firstly in a reducing atmosphere and then in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hardening the interior surface of a long, thin-walled, small inside diameter, tubular member, such as a tube which would be used to form a downhole pump barrel. More particularly, it relates to a process involving progressive heating with an internally positioned, electro-magnetic induction coil, followed by immediate quenching with a quench ring assembly, to develop a martensitic case on the inner surface of the tube. The invention further extends to the apparatus utilized in conducting the process, and to the product tube itself.