Abstract: A heat-insulating layer exhibiting high resistance to cracks, peeling, deformation, and gasoline and high heat insulation is obtained on the wall surface of an engine member (19). First, a heat insulator layer including a silicone-based resin and hollow particles containing a Si-based oxide is formed on a wall surface of the engine member (19). Then, Si-based oxide is produced through oxidation of a silicone-based resin in at least part of the surface of the heat insulator layer by heating the surface of the heat insulator layer. Thereafter, a catalytic metal is added to the silicone-based resin in the surface of the heat insulator layer and/or Si-based oxide derived from the hollow particles. Using the catalytic metal as nuclei, electroless plating is performed. In this manner, a heat-insulating layer (21) in which the surface of the heat-insulating film (27) is covered with a plating film (29) is obtained.

Abstract: In thermal pressure joining of joining a metal member to a resin member, a metal member (11) and a resin member (12) are stacked one on the other, a press member (160) applies heat and pressure locally on the metal member to soften and melt the resin member, the resin member is then solidified, the press member (160) is pressed into the metal member (11) to a depth shallower than a joint boundary (13) between the metal and resin members to deform a portion (110) of the metal member directly under the press member such that the portion protrudes toward the resin member, and resin (121) melted on a surface of the resin member in a region (60) of the joint boundary directly under the press member flows to an outer periphery (61) of the region (60).

Abstract: A heat-insulating layer (21) provided on a surface of a component (19) facing an engine combustion chamber contains hollow particles (23) made of an inorganic oxide, a filler material (25), and a vitreous material (27) containing silicic acid as a main constituent. The vitreous material (27) is not in powder form, and surrounds and bonds the hollow particles (23) and the filler material (25) together.

Abstract: A heat-insulating layer exhibiting high resistance to cracks, peeling, deformation, and gasoline and high heat insulation is obtained on the wall surface of an engine member (19). First, a heat insulator layer including a silicone-based resin and hollow particles containing a Si-based oxide is formed on a wall surface of the engine member (19). Then, Si-based oxide is produced through oxidation of a silicone-based resin in at least part of the surface of the heat insulator layer by heating the surface of the heat insulator layer. Thereafter, a catalytic metal is added to the silicone-based resin in the surface of the heat insulator layer and/or Si-based oxide derived from the hollow particles. Using the catalytic metal as nuclei, electroless plating is performed. In this manner, a heat-insulating layer (21) in which the surface of the heat-insulating film (27) is covered with a plating film (29) is obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-insulating structure which can be used, for example, to reduce the cooling loss of an engine. The heat-insulating structure includes a hollow particle layer made of a lot of hollow particles densely packed on a surface of a metallic base material. The hollow particle layer is covered with a coating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-insulating structure which can be used, for example, to reduce the cooling loss of an engine. The heat-insulating structure includes a hollow particle layer made of a lot of hollow particles densely packed on a surface of a metallic base material. The hollow particle layer is covered with a coating.

Abstract: There are provided a striker, a latch to engage with the striker, the latch including a restriction portion operative to restrict a movement of a closure in a direction of a rotational axis of the closure by contacting the striker, wherein a low-friction material having lubricant function is provided at a contact portion of at least one of the striker and the restriction portion. Accordingly, there can be provided a lock device of a closure for a vehicle equipped with the restriction portion at the latch that can improve responsiveness of deformation of a vehicle body properly.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a shaped light metal article includes the steps of forming a plastic worked article by plastic working an article for plastic working made of light metal material, and subjecting the plastic worked article to a post-plastic working heat treatment for between 20 minutes and 10 hours at a temperature in a range of 250 to 400° C. As a result, a shaped light metal article is produced with sufficient ductility.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a plastic worked article includes the steps of shaping an article for plastic working by a semisolid molding in which molten metal including both a solid phase and a liquid phase is introduced into a die; performing a pre-plastic working heat treatment on the article for plastic working for causing blisters by expanding gas cavities included in the article for plastic working; and forming a plastic worked article by plastic working the article for plastic working after the pre-plastic working heat treatment. The plastic working of the article for plastic working is performed in such a manner that a tensile stress applied direction at a tensile stress applied portion to which tensile stress is principally applied in actual use of the plastic worked article substantially accords with a plastic flow direction at a portion of the article for plastic working corresponding to the tensile stress applied portion.

Abstract: In a semi-solid alloy including a large amount of a liquid phase portion, that is, semi-solid alloy with less than 50% of solid phase rate, there is a tendency for a solid phase portion to concentrate into the central portion in the direction of thickness, that is the internal portion. In order to enhance corrosion resistance at a portion where high corrosion resistance is particularly required in parts molded by semi-solid injection, the above tendency is utilized. By utilizing the tendency, a layer consisting of a liquid phase portion is partially formed at the semi-solid state on a surface portion where high corrosion resistance is required.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a shaped light metal article includes the steps of forming a plastic worked article by plastic working an article for plastic working made of light metal material, and subjecting the plastic worked article to a post-plastic working heat treatment for between 20 minutes and 10 hours at a temperature in a range of 250 to 400° C. As a result, a shaped light metal article is produced with sufficient ductility.

Abstract: A heat-resistant magnesium alloy member having specially excellent molding property and elongation while keeping creep resistance property, which comprises 2 to 6% by weight of aluminum and 0.5 to 4% by weight of calcium, and the balance comprising magnesium and inevitable impurities, having a Ca/Al ratio of no more than 0.8, preferably no more than 0.6. The method of preparing the heat-resistant magnesium alloy member is characterized in a semi-solid injection molding at a range between a solidus temperaaature of the alloy and a liquidus temperature of the alloy.

Abstract: A surface treating and smoothing method of surface-treating and smoothing a sliding member including steps of finishing the sliding member by pressurized particle containing fluid blasting to a sliding surface with surface roughness ranging approximately 0.02 to 0.7 &mgr;mRa after pre-finishing it to a surface with surface roughness lower than lower one of a surface roughness of a counter member and 0.2 &mgr;mRa, treating the sliding member by salt-bath nitrocarburizing so as to provide the sliding member with surface hardness higher than surface hardness of the counter member but lower than 1500 Hv, and driving the sliding member and the counter member so as to slide on each other for running-in, thereby smoothing the surfaces of the sliding member and the counter member.

Abstract: This invention is to provide a magnesium alloy cast material capable of manufacturing a wheel, a large-sized forged piece such as wheel having properties equivalent to those of aluminum molten forged member, directly from the state of continuous cast material. The magnesium alloy cast material is a nearly intermediate alloy composition between conventional AZ61 alloy and AZ80 alloy, comprising Al: 6.2 to 7.6 wt. %, Mn: 0.15 to 0.4 wt. %, Zn: 0.4 to 0.8 wt. % and Mg: balance, and casting by defining the mean crystal grain size under 200 .mu.m. The forgeability is excellent, and when forged, a forged piece superior in mechanical properties and corrosion resistance to the aluminum molten forged member can be manufactured.

Abstract: An article of manufacture made of a magnesium alloy is made by casting the magnesium alloy to provide a billet, forging the billet to render material of the billet to have an average crystalline particle size of not greater than 100 .mu.m; and carrying out a T6 treatment (a solution treatment and an artificial aging treatment) with respect to the billet. Physical properties such as, for example, the tensile strength, elongation and the like of the article are considerably improved by virtue of the synergistic effect of the micronized crystalline particles and the T6 treatment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing a magnesium light alloy product. In order to enhance formability in plastically forming a magnesium alloy material and obtain high tensile strength and high proof stress in the final product, the magnesium alloy material is cast by using molten magnesium alloy containing strontium of 0.02 to 0.5 weight percent and then plastically formed into a magnesium light alloy product in set shape.

Abstract: The manufacturing method of plastically formed products prevents the generation of cracks at the time of plastic working, thereby increasing the productivity. It is also prevented that the metallic particles constituting the product become large and rough in structure. In the manufacturing method, only the compact treatment and the vacuum deaeration treatment are carried out prior to the extrusion treatment, without the pressure-heat treatment performed. Therefore, processing steps prior to the extrusion treatment are simplified, so that the productivity of the plastically formed products is improved and the metallic particles are prevented from being large and rough. The diffusion treatment between the extrusion treatment and the forging treatment enhances the adhesion at the inner part of the extruded material in the radial direction, whereby the generation of cracks at the time of plastic working is avoided.

Abstract: A method for producing a magnesium light alloy product. In order to enhance formability in plastically forming a magnesium alloy material and obtain high tensile strength and high proof stress in the final product, the magnesium alloy material is cast by using molten magnesium alloy containing strontium of 0.02 to 0.5 weight percent and then plastically formed into a magnesium light alloy product in set shape.

Abstract: An article of manufacture made of a magnesium alloy is made by casting the magnesium alloy to provide a casting, forging the casting to render material of the casting to have an average crystalline particle size of not greater than 100 .mu.m, and carrying out a T6 treatment (a solution treatment and an artificial aging treatment) with respect to the casting. Physical properties such as, for example, the tensile strength, elongation and the like of the article are considerably improved by virtue of the synergistic effect of the micronized crystalline particles and the T6 treatment.

Abstract: A ceramic sliding member is formed of sintered silicon nitride material which contains Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 as the major component and further contains Y, Mg and Ce, the Y content being 2 to 20% by weight in terms of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, the Mg content being 0.1 to 0.9% by weight in terms of MgO, and the Ce content being 1 to 10% by weight in terms of CeO.sub.2.