Abstract: The invention provides magnesium fuel cells which can prevent the self-discharge of negative electrode materials and can produce electricity stably for a long term. A magnesium fuel cell includes a negative electrode material including a magnesium alloy, and an electrolytic solution for eluting magnesium ions from the negative electrode material. The magnesium alloy contains aluminum and calcium. The electrolytic solution is preferably an aqueous sodium chloride solution, an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, an aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, an aqueous sodium percarbonate solution, or a mixture including two or more of these solutions.

Abstract: The invention provides magnesium fuel cells which can prevent the self-discharge of negative electrode materials and can produce electricity stably for a long term. A magnesium fuel cell includes a negative electrode material including a magnesium alloy, and an electrolytic solution for eluting magnesium ions from the negative electrode material. The magnesium alloy contains aluminum and calcium. The electrolytic solution is preferably an aqueous sodium chloride solution, an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, an aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, an aqueous sodium percarbonate solution, or a mixture including two or more of these solutions.

Abstract: A switchable mirror element includes a switchable layer having a chromic property enabling the switchable layer to be reversibly changed from a transparent state by hydrogenation and a mirror state by dehydrogenation, and a catalytic layer disposed on the switchable layer and configured to promote hydrogenation or dehydrogenation in the switchable layer. The switchable layer includes an alloy of one or more metals from calcium, strontium, and barium, and magnesium.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy material contains a complex made from a phosphate-containing magnesium, such as dittmarite and the like, and magnesium hydroxide, the complex being formed by a steam curing of the magnesium alloy material conducted using (i) at least one compound chosen among diammonium hydrogen phosphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, and triammonium phosphate, and (ii) water. In this way, it is possible to provide a magnesium alloy material having excellent corrosion resistance, shock resistance and the like, and to provide a method for treatment of surface of magnesium alloy material allowing the manufacture of a magnesium alloy material having excellent corrosion resistance, shock resistance and the like.

Abstract: A switchable mirror element includes a switchable layer having a chromic property enabling the switchable layer to be reversibly changed from a transparent state by hydrogenation and a mirror state by dehydrogenation, and a catalytic layer disposed on the switchable layer and configured to promote hydrogenation or dehydrogenation in the switchable layer. The switchable layer includes an alloy of one or more metals from calcium, strontium, and barium, and magnesium.

Abstract: A method for easily and uniformly forming a film at a low cost, which is comprising a diffusion-barrier layer 3 and a coating layer 4, on a surface of a substrate 1. The method has a preliminary oxidation step of forming a substrate oxide layer 2 by oxidizing the substrate 1, and a step of coating the surface thereof with a coating material containing at least one alloy or a compound, which includes an element forming an oxide having a low enthalpy of formation as compared to that of the oxide of the substrate oxide layer 2, and as a result.

Abstract: A highly thermally conductive composite material is characterized in that it contains 20-75 Vol % of SiC, with the balance being Cu, and further contains a reaction preventive layer interposed on the interface between SiC and Cu for preventing a reaction between the two substances. Specifically, the reaction preventive layer is a thin film having a thickness of 0.01-10 microns, consisting of carbon or a carbide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Nb, Ta and W. In particular, the composite material has a thermal expansion coefficient of 4.5-10×10−6/K and a thermal conductivity of 200 W/mK or higher.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a sintered body of a high-chromium cast iron of a specified chemical composition having greatly improved mechanical, abrasion-resistant and corrosion-resistant properties as compared with conventional cast bodies of the same cast iron. The inventive method comprises the steps of preparing a powder of the cast iron alloy by quenching solidification of a melt, e.g., by centrifugal spray atomization, and sintering the powder under compression by the discharge plasma sintering method.

Abstract: A process for making a porous mass of a metal of iron- or titanium-group comprises steps of forming a sinter of solvent-soluble particles, pressing in a molten metal of the iron- or titanium- group into open interstices in the sinter, and eluting the particles from the composite of the sinter and metal. Solvent-soluble magnesia particles whose surface is either covered or not with a film of boric anhydride or solvent-soluble calcia particles whose surface is either covered or not with film of calcium chloride are sintered and machined into the desired shape. The formed sinter is put in a case of a heat-insulating material that can withstand the melting temperature of a metal of iron- or titanium-group. After being heated to a given temperature together with the case, the sinter is immediately put in a metal mold where a molten metal of iron- or titanium-group is pressed into open interstices in the sinter. Then, only the particles are eluted from the sinter-metal composite by a solvent.