Abstract: Improved targets for use in DC magnetron sputtering of nickel or like ferromagnetic face-centered cubic (FCC) metals are disclosed for forming metallization films having effective edge-to-edge deposition uniformity of 5% (3&sgr;) or better. Such targets may be characterized as having: (a) a homogeneous texture mix that is at least 20% of a <200> texture content and less than 50% of a <111>texture content, (b) an initial pass-through flux factor (%PTF) of about 30% or greater; and(c) a homogeneous grain size of about 200 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: Processes for producing gray cast iron and the resulting gray cast iron exhibiting consistently good surface finish with prolonged tool life during finish machining with cubic boron nitride and silicon nitride cutting tools at high cutting speeds and low feed rates are provided comprising (1) adding microalloying elements with strong affinity for nitrogen to a gray iron melt; (2) adding microalloying elements with strong affinity for carbon to said melt; and (3) adding microalloying elements with strong affinity for oxygen to said melt, to form a chemically stable, high melting or refractory oxide protective layer at the cutting edge of the tool during metal cutting, thereby suppressing chemical wear.

Abstract: A method for producing hardened parts of steel from an air-hardening steel comprising the steps of heating the steel is heated to a temperature above 1,100° C., hot-working the steel parts until they reach the A1 emperature, cooling the steel parts in air to about 280° C. under simultaneous thermo-mechanical sizing treatment, then cooling the steel parts in air to room temperature, stress relief treating the steel parts at 150-250° C., and hard-machining the steel parts.