Abstract: A high-rigidity composite material having a Young's modulus larger than 25,000 kgf/mm.sup.2 is disclosed, in which particles are dispersed in a matrix of a ferritic steel, and the degree of accumulation of {111} planes in a plane perpendicular to a given direction, in terms of X-ray diffraction intensity, is 30 times larger than that of equiaxial polycrystals.

Abstract: A stabilized sodium percarbonate particle includes a sodium percarbonate particle having at least one coating layer thereon, wherein the at least one coating layer includes (a) a silicate; (b) magnesium sulfate; and (c) an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates and alkali metal sulfate. The present sodium percarbonate particle is good in solubility and is excellent in its formulation stability with detergent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing connected sintered articles obtained by breaking a unitary preform.It is characterized in that:a) a preform is pressed from powdered metals while imprinting in it a superficial groove (3) located in a plane for the purpose of subsequent breakage,b) this preform is presintered in order to consolidate it mechanically, the preform however remaining brittle,c) it is optionally compacted by recompression,d) recesses for the members for the mechanical connection of the final parts are optionally machined in this preform,e) this preform is broken into at least two parts,f) final sintering is carried out,g) the articles are cooled.The invention is applicable in particular to the production of connecting rods and connecting rod covers or of annular articles with or without an undercut (broken in the axial plane).

Abstract: A TiCN-based cermet cutting insert superior in toughness with improved wear resistance includes a binding phase and at least two of four hard dispersion phases. One of the two hard dispersion phases includes at least one of a duplex or triplex phase structure with a core of a composite carbonitride solid solution and a single-phase structure of a composite carbonitride solid solution. The other hard dispersion phase includes one of a hard dispersion phase of titanium carbonitride and a hard dispersion phase which includes a single-phase structure of titanium carbonitride.

Abstract: A electroless plating method of an Ni--Al intermetallic compound includes steps of a) providing a reducing solution containing a reducing agent and reducing nickel ions, b) adding a proper amount of aluminum powder to the reducing solution, and c) permitting the reducing agent to reduce the reducing nickel ions to be deposited on the aluminum powder. Such electroless plating method permits the Ni--Al compound to be produced inexpensively/efficiently/fastly.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for in-situ powder metallurgy processing of a functionally gradient material (FGM) which uses a preceramic polymer binder system with the metal and/or ceramic powders used to produce the intermediate layers of the composite. The invention also provides a method for controlling shrinkage of the functionally gradient material during processing while still preserving the desired density of the intermediate layers by controlling the preceramic polymer binder content within the functionally gradient material.

Abstract: The present invention describes a plated component and plating method in which the plating adheres to the reinforcement particles on the surface of a composite component. This allows the component to be processed above 400.degree. C. without blistering. The plating method allows brazing, such as gold/tin and gold/germanium brazing, maintains hermeticity, and prevents corrosion over a sustained period of time. By utilizing an activator such as palladium, which can produce catalytic sites on which electroless nickel can be deposited, a component with a surface of exposed reinforcement particles can be plated to form a uniform surface without voids. It has been found that by using a combination of nickel-boron and a palladium activator, that Al/SiC composites can be plated with good adhesion when exposed to temperatures above 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an intermetallic compound comprises (a) preparing a powder, (b) canning said powder in a tube, (c) executing a first heat treatment to said tube-canned powder, and (d) treating said tube-canned powder for obtaining an intermetallic compound. This invention offers a simple, efficient, and inexpensive method for producing an intermetallic compound possessing excellent mechanical properties.

Abstract: There is disclosed a new process for binder phase enrichment. The process combines binder phase enrichment by dissolution of cubic phase with the requirements that cause formation of stratified layers, resulting in a unique structure. The new structure is characterized by, in comparison with the ones previously known, deeper stratified layers and less maximum binder phase enrichment. The possibility of combining dissolution of the cubic phase with formation of stratified layers offers new possibilities to optimize the properties of tungsten carbide based cemented carbides for cutting tools.The new process offers possibilities to combine the two types of gradients. The dissolution of cubic phase moves the zone with maximum amount of stratified binder phase from the surface to a zone close to and below the dissolution front.

Abstract: According to the method of making a magnetic coating material, 100 parts by weight of a magnetic metal powder, 1 to 10 parts by weight of fatty acid, 1 to 5 parts by weight of a dispersing agent, and a solvent are combined in the absence of a binding agent, wherein the solvent is present in sufficient amount to yield an admixture having a solids concentration of the magnetic metal powder in the range from 65 to 70 percent. The admixture is kneaded using a pressure kneader. The kneaded admixture is then blended with a binding agent to provide the magnetic coating material.

Abstract: A target for magneto-optical recording media having a microstructure having a matrix phase of a eutectic structure of a rare earth metal and an iron-group metal, particles I made of a pure iron-group metal or an alloy thereof and having an average diameter of 200 .mu.m or less and particles II made of a corrosion resistance-improving metal and an iron-group metal and having an average diameter of 200 .mu.m or less is produced by mixing rapidly-quenched powder A made of the rare earth metal and the iron-group metal and having a eutectic structure with powder B made of a pure iron-group metal or an alloy thereof and having an average diameter of 200 .mu.m or less, and powder C made of the corrosion resistance-improving metal and the iron-group metal and having an average diameter of 200 .mu.m or less, and pressure-sintering the resulting mixed powder at a temperature lower than a liquid phase-appearing temperature.

Abstract: A martensitic hot work tool steel die block for use in the manufacture of die casting die components and other hot work tooling components and a method for manufacturing the same. The article has a hardness within the range of 35 to 50 HRC and a minimum transverse Charpy V-notch impact toughness of 5 foot pounds when heat treated to a hardness of 44 to 46 HRC and when tested at both 72.degree. F. and 600.degree. F. The article is a hot worked, heat treated and fully dense consolidated mass of prealloyed particles of the composition, in weight percent, 0.32 to 0.45 carbon, 0.20 to 2.00 manganese, 0.05 to 0.30 sulfur, up to 0.03 phosphorous, 0.80 to 1.20 silicon, 4.75 to 5.70 chromium, 1.10 to 1.75 molybdenum, 0.80 to 1.20 vanadium, and balance iron. The alloy may be any conventional wrought AISI hot work tool steel or wrought maraging or precipitation-hardening steel having 0.05 to 0.30 percent sulfur, and having sulfide particles which exhibit a maximum size of 50 microns in their longest dimension.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal graphite brush comprises steps of preparing natural graphite powders of 60-70 wt %, electrolytic copper powders of 30-40 wt %, molybdenum disulfide and lead of 2.5 wt % and the mixed resin of novolak phenol resin and furfural resin powders of 1-15 wt % which are adhesives, wet-mixing graphite powders with adhesives, pulverizing mixed powders to diameters of less than 200 .mu.m, press-molding all the powders under a pressure of 2-3 ton/cm.sup.2 and heating at a temperature 700.degree. C., and attaching a lead wire thereto, simultaneously, wherein the average particle distribution of the powders is 27 .mu.m. The compound ratio of graphite powders: copper powders: molybdenum disulfide: lead is 62.5 wt %: 35 wt %: 1.5 wt %: 1.0 wt %, the adhesives comprising the mixed resin of novolak phenol resin and furfural resin by 50:50 is added by a weight ratio of 7.5 wt % to the graphite powders.

Abstract: Microcracks in fiber-reinforced/titanium aluminide matrix composite materials are inhibited by employing a matrix comprising a titanium aluminide alloy having (1) from ten to twelve atomic percent niobium and (2) a critical admixture of from two to six atomic percent of a member selected from a group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium. The tendency of the fiber/matrix interfacial reaction to increase the stability of the Alpha 2 phase in the matrix adjacent to the interface and the tendency to form a "beta phase depletion zone" are unexpectedly negated. Suppression of the beta depletion zone formation inhibits the formation and growth of interfacial microcracks, and allows the fabrication of crack-free titanium matrix composite materials. The need for an extraneous beta phase stabilization treatment at the fiber/matrix interface is eliminated.

Abstract: The process of forming an extruded product of tantalum or niobium requires a cold isostatic pressing of a charge of the powder to a density sufficient to form a green compact which is then placed in a capsule. The capsule is then sealed and heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to anneal the green compact. Thereafter, the capsule and encapsulated compact are subjected to a cold isostatic pressing to achieve a density of from 70% to 85%. This is followed by subsequent heating and extrusion of the heated capsule and encapsulated compact to form the extruded product. The outer layer on the capsule which has been formed by the capsule material can be removed, as by pickling, in the case of the capsule being a carbon steel.

Abstract: A powder-metallaurgically produced material or extruded semi-finished product for electric contacts of silver or a silver-based metal material with 0.5 to 10 wt. % carbon and 0 to 2 wt. % of an additional metal. The material contains powdered carbon in combination with carbon fibers in the mass ratio of 10:1 to 1:10, whereby the diameter of the powder particles is on average smaller than half the length of the fibers.

Abstract: Complex-shaped parts can be produced from powders, for example metal-matrix composites, by injection molding using a mixture of the powders with a suitable binder. The binder must be removed from the powder mixture before the final thermal treatment of the so-called green part. The present invention proposes to remove the binder by surrounding a cast part with a layer of a particulate material and to subject the cast part to isostatic pressure through the surrounding layer which can thus act as an absorbent. The surrounding layer is removed after the isostatic pressing and the part can be subjected to sintering. The method is suitable for example for aluminum-ceramic powder mixtures.

Abstract: A plunger charged as an electrode is received in a trough charged as a counter-electrode in order to heat material in the trough above the annealing temperature of metal material or the sintering temperature of ceramic-material. The trough and plunger are situated in a vacuum chamber separated from a condenser and pump stand by a valve. The plunger can be retracted into a cover of the chamber by a hydraulic drive on the cover. The cover, drive, and plunger are removable from the lower part of the chamber as a unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acicular fine particles obtained by reducing an iron carbide starting material and containing metal iron, iron carbide and free carbon, the acicular fine particles having a mean particle size (long axis) of 0.1 to 0.5 .mu.m and an average axial ratio of 3 to 15 and containing 15 to 80 wt. % of metal iron, 10 to 75 wt. % of iron carbide and 5 to 13 wt. % of free carbon, process thereof, magnetic coating composition and magnetic recording medium containing the same.

Abstract: There is provided a method for making diamond and CBN composites, under HP/HT conditions, which comprises bonding a thin refractory material layer on the planar face of the tungsten carbide substrate proximate the diamond or CBN layer. There is also provided a small quantity of fine particles of yet another refractory material admixed in the diamond or CBN layer. The cooperation of these two systems greatly aid in regulating the flow of molten carbide bond metal from the substrate into the diamond or CBN layer, which minimizes abnormal grain growth and bond metal depletion at the diamond/substrate interface.