Abstract: A continuous vacuum carburizing process carburizes material such as a steel wire 7 with a carbon content equal to or less than a desired carbon content by passing it under reduced pressure continuously through a carburizing atmosphere 5 with constant pressure and constant gas composition. A continuous vacuum carburizing apparatus for carrying out this process has at least one furnace core tube 1, 11, or 12 and a feeding/taking-up mechanism 13, 14 for the steel wire 7 in a vacuum container 1. Carburizing medium gas is supplied to the furnace core tube 1 via pipes 2, 4 to form the carburizing atmosphere 5. A heater 10 heats the furnace core tube 1, thereby activating carbon of the carburizing medium gas. In this way, material having a small thickness of, for example, 0.02 mm to 3 mm is carburized with less variation in the amount of carburization and no surface oxidation or sooting.

Abstract: A cutting tool having cutting edges made of a high speed tool steel exhibiting very high wear and anti-chipping resistances, and sufficient toughness is provided. The high speed tool steel consists essentially of by weight C:0.6 to 1.8%, Si:1.2% max, Mn:0.5% max, Cr:3.5 to 5.0%, Mo:10% max, W:21% max, V:2 to 4% and Co:7 to 10%, the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, and the steel of the cutting edge comprise MC-type carbide grains each having a maximum equal value diameter of a circle ranging substantially 5 to 14 &mgr;m, and the MC-type carbide grains having an equal value diameter of the circle ranging substantially 5 to 14 &mgr;m have a ratio between short and long diameters ranging over substantially 0.3.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a wear resistant vane for alternate flow that is appropriate for a rotary compressor that employs HFC flow as an alternate refrigerant, and which vane possesses: a reciprocal or opposed characteristic in that it does not cause to wear a piston to which it contacts and nevertheless causes little wear to itself; a preferable corrosion resistance; and an ensured reliability, in that when employed for an operation that continues for an extended period of time there is no possibility of a surface layer suddenly peeling off.