Abstract: Methods and apparatus to case harden titanium alloys are disclosed. A disclosed example method for case hardening a substrate including titanium comprises providing the substrate to a chamber; evacuating the chamber to achieve a vacuum therein, heating the substrate, providing a process gas to the chamber to diffuse hydrogen and a case hardening addition into the substrate, and evacuating the chamber to cause at least a portion of the hydrogen to diffuse from the substrate.

Abstract: A method of case hardening a titanium part, including placing the titanium part within a chamber; evacuating or purging the chamber; heating the titanium part placed within the chamber; introducing a gas containing cyanogen into the chamber; and exposing the titanium part placed within the chamber to the introduced gas containing cyanogen.

Abstract: A method of case hardening a titanium part, including placing the titanium part within a chamber; evacuating or purging the chamber; heating the titanium part placed within the chamber; introducing a gas containing cyanogen into the chamber; and exposing the titanium part placed within the chamber to the introduced gas containing cyanogen.

Abstract: An article and method for stabilization of a nickel-based superalloy coated with a diffusion aluminide coating. The region below the aluminide coating is first carburized to form refractory carbides. The article is cleaned and masked as required so that regions that will not have an aluminide coating are not carburized. After placing the article into a furnace and heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburizing temperature, a carburizing gas is introduced, and the near surface region is carburized to a depth of about 100 microns. Refractory carbides are formed in this region. When a diffusion aluminide coating is formed on the article, the refractory elements, being present as refractory carbides, are not available to form detrimental TCP phases.

Abstract: An article and method for stabilization of a nickel-based superalloy coated with a diffusion aluminide coating. The region below the aluminide coating is first carburized to form refractory carbides. The article is cleaned and masked as required so that regions that will not have an aluminide coating are not carburized. After placing the article into a furnace and heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburizing temperature, a carburizing gas is introduced, and the near surface region is carburized to a depth of about 100 microns. Refractory carbides are formed in this region. When a diffusion aluminide coating is formed on the article, the refractory elements, being present as refractory carbides, are not available to form detrimental TCP phases.

Abstract: An inexpensive software copy protection arrangement prevents the unauthorized use of customized software for a private branch exchange switch. The arrangement employs a process which recognizes the signature of typical unauthorized activities and freezes the administration capability of the private branch exchange switch when such signature is detected. By freezing the administrative capabilities, the addition, removal or change of an administrative port, extension or routing pattern on the private branch exchange switch is prevented.