Abstract: A method of manufacturing an air-conditioning apparatus serving as a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: performing an operation test in a factory under a state in which inert gas (nitrogen) is sealed into respective devices mounted on an outdoor unit (such as a compressor and a four-way valve) and an outdoor pipe connecting the devices in place of refrigerant having flammability; and shipping the air-conditioning apparatus under the state in which the inert gas remains sealed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an air-conditioning apparatus serving as a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: performing an operation test in a factory under a state in which inert gas (nitrogen) is sealed into respective devices mounted on an outdoor unit (such as a compressor and a four-way valve) and an outdoor pipe connecting the devices in place of refrigerant having flammability; and shipping the air-conditioning apparatus under the state in which the inert gas remains sealed.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered alloy having improved thermal and mechanical strength is provided. The iron-based sintered alloy with dispersed hard particles comprises: a matrix comprising, by weight, 0.4 to 2% silicon (Si), 2 to 12% nickel (Ni), 3 to 12% molybdenum (Mo), 0.5 to 5% chromium (Cr), 0.6 to 4% vanadium (V), 0.1 to 3% niobium (Nb), 0.5 to 2% carbon (C), and the reminder of iron (Fe); and hard particles comprising 60 to 70% molybdenum (Mo), 0.3 to 1% boron (B), 0.1% or less carbon (C), and the reminder of iron (Fe). The hard particles are dispersed in the matrix in an amount in the range of 3 to 20% based on the entire alloy. They are sintered to produce the iron-based sintered alloy. Addition of boron into the ferromolybdenum hard particles enhances the wettability of the ferromolybdenum hard particles to prevent the hard particles from falling off the matrix.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered alloy having improved thermal and mechanical strength is provided. The iron-based sintered alloy with dispersed hard particles comprises: a matrix comprising, by weight, 0.4 to 2% silicon (Si), 2 to 12% nickel (Ni), 3 to 12% molybdenum (Mo), 0.5 to 5% chromium (Cr), 0.6 to 4% vanadium (V), 0.1 to 3% niobium (Nb), 0.5 to 2% carbon (C), and the reminder of iron (Fe); and hard particles comprising 60 to 70% molybdenum (Mo), 0.3 to 1% boron (B), 0.1% or less carbon (C), and the reminder of iron (Fe). The hard particles are dispersed in the matrix in an amount in the range of 3 to 20% based on the entire alloy. They are sintered to produce the iron-based sintered alloy. Addition of boron into the ferromolybdenum hard particles enhances the wettability of the ferromolybdenum hard particles to prevent the hard particles from falling off the matrix.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered alloy, which consists of from 0.5 to 5% of Ni, from 0.5 to 4% of Cr, from 0.5 to 2% of C, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and which has a micro-structure comprising an iron-based matrix containing Ni and a part of Cr as solutes and carbides containing the other part of Cr and dispersed in the matrix. The iron-based sintered alloy is appropriate for use as a valve seat of an internal combustion engine. Wear resistance is maintained at a moderate level while the additive amount of alloying elements is decreased to attain low cost.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered alloy, which consists of from 0.5 to 5% of Ni, from 0.5 to 4% of Cr, from 0.5 to 2% of C, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and which has a micro-structure comprising an iron-based matrix containing Ni and a part of Cr as solutes and carbides containing the other part of Cr and dispersed in the matrix. The iron-based sintered alloy is appropriate for use as a valve seat of an internal combustion engine. Wear resistance is maintained at a moderate level while the additive amount of alloying elements is decreased to attain low cost.

Abstract: An iron base sintered alloy with dispersed hard particles is provided which comprises by weight 3 to 15% nickel (Ni), 0.5 to 5% chromium (Cr), 0.5 to 2.0% carbon (C), the remainder iron (Fe) and unavoidable impurities. At least a part of nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo) and chromium (Cr) is contained in solid solution of an iron base matrix. At least a part of molybdenum (Mo) and chromium (Cr) is dispersed within the iron base matrix to form fine carbides or intermetallic compounds thereof. Uniformly dispersed within the iron base matrix are hard particles of 3 to 20% contain 50 to 57% chromium (Cr), 18 to 22% molybdenum (Mo), 8 to 12% cobalt (Co), 0.1 to 1.4% carbon (C), 0.8 to 1.3% silicon (Si) and the remainder iron (Fe) to strengthen the dispersion and remarkably improve wear resistance.

Abstract: In a method for producing by a powder-metallurgical method a wear-resistant iron-based sintered alloy, which essentially consists of from 0.3 to 2.5% by weight of C, from 1 to 8% of Cu, from 3 to 14% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo, W, V, Nb, and Ta, and Fe and the unavoidable impurities in balance, and which has a micro-structure such that a majority of the alloying elements are uniformly dissolved as solutes of the iron matrix and fine Cu phase is uniformly dispersed, a composite powder which consists of iron or iron alloy and Cu which is present mainly on the surface of the composite powder is used in the raw-material powder.

Abstract: A material for valve seats comprising a wear resisting sintered ferro alloy formed by dispersing particles of a high speed steel in a matrix in which hard alloy particles are dispersed. Steps for forming include mixing particles of a matrix material, carbide material and a hard alloy, and blending the mixture with high speed steel particles, pressurizing and compacting the mixture after blending, then sintering them at 1000.degree. to 1200.degree. C. In the preferred method, at least one element of Fe, C, Ni, Co, Si or Mn is included as the matrix material, and at least one element of Fe, Cr, Mo or V as the carbide material and at least one element of Fe, Cr, Mo, Co, C or W as the hard alloy are prepared. Furthermore, the ferro alloy preferably includes the following amounts of the above mentioned elements, 0.5 to 2.0 wt % of C, 1 to 25 wt % of one or more of Cr, Mo, V, or W and 1 to 15 wt % of one or more of Co, Ni, Mn, or Si.