Abstract: An R-T-B type alloy (wherein R is at least one member selected from rare earth elements, T is a transition metal including Fe, and B includes boron) which is a raw material for use in a rare earth-based permanent magnet, wherein the volume percentage of the region containing an R2T17 phase having an average grain diameter of 3 ?m or less in the short axis direction is from 0.5 to 10%.

Abstract: At least two metallic materials containing element such as silicon and tin, which has ability of insertion and desertion of lithium element, and optionally another metallic material containing element such as copper are molten to prepare a melt. The melt is rapidly cooled by strip-cast method at a cooling rate of more than 2×103 ° C./sec and no more than 104 ° C./sec to be cast. Further, the cast is milled and classified into alloy powder having an average particle size of 0.1 ?m to 50 ?m. The alloy powder and conductive agent are laminated with binder onto a collector to obtain a negative electrode for a secondary battery. The negative electrode is employed to obtain a lithium secondary battery having high electric charge and discharge capacity, and good property of charge and discharge cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing a rare earth alloy including heating a raw material alloy which is compounded so as to have a composition represented by the formula: A3?XBXC (wherein A and B each is at least one member selected from transition metals consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Hf, Nb, Mo, Ta and W, and C is at least one member selected from Group 13 or 14 elements consisting of Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge and Sn) to be a molten ally, and quench-solidifying the molten alloy at a cooling rate of 1×102 to 1×103° C./sec.

Abstract: A waste heat recover system includes a mechanism for supplying power by use of a thermoelectric conversion unit, and a mechanism for utilizing heat released from the thermoelectric conversion unit. Heat released from the thermoelectric conversion unit is utilized for, for example, heating, defrosting, defogging, temperature keeping of fuel, temperature keeping of an internal combustion engine, and temperature keeping of a fuel cell. The waste heat recovery system is equipped in, for example, cars, incinerators, fuel cells, and industrial machinery.

Abstract: A method for producing a filled skutterudite-based alloy includes the steps of melting alloy raw material that includes a rare earth metal R that is at least one species selected from among La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Yb, a transition metal T that is at least one species selected from among Fe, Co, Ni, Os, Ru, Pd, Pt and Ag, and metallic antimony Sb to form a melt; and rapidly quenching the melt through strip casting to form a solidified product that is the filled skutterudite-based alloy advantageously usable for a thermoelectric element.

Abstract: A method for producing an RE-containing alloy represented by formula R(T1?xAx)13?y (wherein R represents Ce, etc.; T represents Fe, etc.; and A represents Al, etc; 0.05?x?0.2; and ?1?y?1) including a melting step of melting alloy raw materials at 1,200 to 1,800° C.; and a solidification step of rapidly quenching the molten metal produced through the above step, to thereby form the first RE-containing alloy, wherein the solidification step is performed at a cooling rate of 102 to 104° C./second, as measured at least within a range of the temperature of the molten metal to 900° C.; and an RE-containing alloy, which is represented by a compositional formula of RrTtAa(wherein R and A represent the same meaning as above, T represents Fe, etc.; 5.0 at. %?r?6.8 at. %, 73.8 at. %?t?88.7 at. %, and 4.6 at. %?a?19.4 at. %) and has an alloy microstructure containing an NaZn13-type crystal structure in an amount of at least 85 mass % and ?-Fe in an amount of 5-15 mass % inclusive.