Abstract: A method of removing tenacious oxide film from particulates, such as submicron sized superconductor powder, to enhance the electrical characteristics of superconductor wire fabricated from the powder. The method includes removing the oxide film with an alkali metal, or a hydroxide of an alkali metal, and coating or plating the particles with a metal whose oxide is easily reduced just prior to use, such as by annealing the coated particulate in hydrogen.

Abstract: Virgin metal and metal alloy components are welded with and without filler material using a laser without cleaning the surfaces to be joined of mill scale and/or surface oxides, paints grease and other forms of contamination, and without edge preparation. The uncleaned, unprepared surfaces are placed in contact with each other, and a 100% through the thickness laser keyhole weld without filler metal is made in one pass, full penetration is achieved by two laser keyhole welds without filler metal (one made from each side), or resistively heated filler wire is fed into the metal pool of a laser conduction weld in one or more passes along each side of the confronting surfaces to be joined. Quality welds are made despite gaps of varying size up to about 0.125 inches between the parts to be joined.

Abstract: This is an improved process for fabricating a turbine blade for use in land based or marine combustion turbines and in particular is a thin ceramic coating applied to at least the portion of the blades which is designed to operate in the 1100.degree.-1500.degree. F. temperature range and especially in turbines designed to be useable with contaminated fuels. The invention utilizes a 1-4 mil thick ceramic coating on at least a portion of the blade designed to operate in the 1100.degree.-1500.degree. F. temperature range and utilizes a process in which the blade is controlled to a temperature of at least 1200.degree. F. during the application of the ceramic coating.