Abstract: A carburizing process for increasing the hardness of a case region of a steel component. In one form the application includes plating the outer surface of a stainless steel component with nickel prior to carburizing. One component includes a stainless steel object having a hardened case substantially free of continuous phase grain boundary carbides.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for producing ceramic item from a photocurable ceramic filled material by stereolithography. The method compensates for the anisotropic shrinkage of the item during firing to produce a dimensionally accurate item.

Abstract: An airfoil or vane for a combustive power plant includes an inner core formed from a first composite material having discontinuous fibers. An outer sleeve is formed from a second composite material having continuous fibers. The first composite material is different from the second composite material. The outer sleeve generally surrounds and is bonded or otherwise connected to the inner core. A method of fabrication includes injecting or otherwise introducing thermoplastic fiber composite material including chopped or otherwise discontinuous fibers into a mold to form the core and platforms of an airfoil assembly. The injected thermoplastic fiber composite material is then cured in the mold. The cured thermoplastic fiber composite material is then removed from the mold. A layup including one or more surface plies of a thermoset continuous fiber composite material is then applied to the core material. The surface plies are then compressed and cured in a mold.