Abstract: A sample composed of a nickel-based metal is immersed in a corrosive solution (aqueous solution containing an acid and sodium chloride). The sample that has been immersed in the corrosive solution is exposed to a flame of engine oil, and further heated. By immersing the sample in the particular corrosive solution, a Ni-enriched phase which is deficient in additional elements and in which the Ni concentration increases is formed in a surface layer region of the sample. By exposing the sample having the Ni-enriched phase to the flame of the engine oil, components in the engine oil are activated and brought into contact with the sample to form a low-melting point phase in the surface layer region of the sample. By heating the sample having the low-melting point phase to melt the low-melting point phase and resolidifying the low-melting point phase, particles and the like can be formed depending on the type of material of the sample.

Abstract: A composite member suitable for a heat radiation member of a semiconductor element and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. This composite member is a composite of magnesium or a magnesium alloy and SiC, and it has porosity lower than 3%. This composite member can be manufactured by forming an oxide film on a surface of raw material SiC, arranging coated SiC having the oxide film formed in a cast, and infiltrating this coated SiC aggregate with a molten metal (magnesium or the magnesium alloy). The porosity of the composite member can be lowered by improving wettability between SiC and the molten metal by forming the oxide film. According to this manufacturing method, a composite member having excellent thermal characteristics such as a coefficient of thermal expansion not lower than 4 ppm/K and not higher than 10 ppm/K and thermal conductivity not lower than 180 W/m·K can be manufactured.

Abstract: A reed switch 10 includes a cylindrical glass tube 30 and a plurality of reeds 20 fixed to the glass tube 30 in a state where an end side including a contact point portion 22 of each of the reeds 20 is inserted in the glass tube 30. The reeds 20 are each produced by forming, by plastic working, a contact point portion 22 on an end side of a wire for a reed switch. The wire for a reed switch is composed of an iron-group alloy containing, by percent by mass, 1% or more and 10% or less of Fe, 10% or more and 35% or less of Ni, and the balance being Co and impurities and having a cubic crystal structure. The wire has a Curie temperature of 900° C. or higher and a wire diameter of 1 mm or less. The wire is composed of a ternary alloy having a particular composition. Therefore, the wire has a high Curie temperature, a low resistance, and a particular structure and thus has good workability.

Abstract: A composite member suitable for a heat radiation member of a semiconductor element and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. This composite member is a composite of magnesium or a magnesium alloy and SiC, and it has porosity lower than 3%. This composite member can be manufactured by forming an oxide film on a surface of raw material SiC, arranging coated SiC having the oxide film formed in a cast, and infiltrating this coated SiC aggregate with a molten metal (magnesium or the magnesium alloy). The porosity of the composite member can be lowered by improving wettability between SiC and the molten metal by forming the oxide film. According to this manufacturing method, a composite member having excellent thermal characteristics such as a coefficient of thermal expansion not lower than 4 ppm/K and not higher than 10 ppm/K and thermal conductivity not lower than 180 W/m·K can be manufactured.

Abstract: An oxide film is formed on the surface of a sample made from a metal material by holding the above-described sample at a temperature of 800° C. or higher and 1,100° C. or lower in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, and the sample provided with the oxide film is immersed in a corrosive solution containing an acid and NaCl for a predetermined time. After immersion, the corrosion state (degree of denseness of oxide film, cracking state, and the like) of the sample is evaluated. The corrosion resistance of the sample can be evaluated appropriately and conveniently in a short period of time by causing accelerated corrosion in an environment simulating the actual environment of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An electrode material contains, on a mass percent basis, Al: 0.005% to 0.2%, Si: 0.2% to 1.6%, Cr: 0.05% to 1.0%, Ti: 0.05% to 0.5%, and Y: 0.2% to 1.0%. The remainder are Ni and inevitable impurities. The Si/Cr mass ratio is 1 or more. Because of the inclusion of specific amounts of Al, Si, Cr, and Y and the Si content higher than the Al content, the electrode material has an oxidation inhibiting effect. The inclusion of the specific amount of Ti can reduce the occurrence of expansion and cracking of the oxide film. Because of the inclusion of the specific amount of Y, the oxide film can maintain the microstructure even at high temperatures and have high resistance to high-temperature oxidation. Having a Si/Cr ratio of 1 or more, the oxide film has improved corrosion resistance and is resistant to corrosion by corrosive liquids.

Abstract: Provided are an aluminum-based terminal fitting in which a Sn layer has high peel resistance, and a terminal connecting structure of an electric wire provided with the terminal fitting. The aluminum-based terminal fitting includes a wire barrel portion (110) for connection to a conductor (210) constituted by aluminum or an aluminum alloy and provided in an electric wire (200), and a fitting portion (female fitting portion (130) or male fitting portion (140)) provided to extend from the wire barrel portion (110) and electrically connected to a separate terminal fitting. A Sn layer formed directly on a base material constituting the terminal fitting is provided on the contact region in the fitting portion.

Abstract: An object is to obtain a stable electric connection resistance under a mild crimping condition. The present invention is a terminal connector 12 that includes a crimp portion 30 to be crimped to an electric wire. The crimp portion 30 includes a base material, an aluminum layer or an aluminum alloy layer a surface on the base material, and a hard layer on a surface of the aluminum layer or the aluminum alloy layer. The hard layer is harder than the base material. The present invention may be an electric wire with a terminal connector 10 that includes the above terminal connector 12 and a covered electric wire 40 that includes a core wire 42 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The crimp portion 30 of the terminal connector 12 is crimped to the core wire 42.

Abstract: A composite member has a substrate made of a composite material having SiC combined with magnesium or a magnesium alloy, and has a warpage degree of not less than 0.01×10?3 and not more than 10×10?3, the warpage degree being defined as lmax/Dmax, where lmax being a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of surface displacement of one surface of composite member measured along a longest side thereof, and Dmax being a length of the longest side. Thereby, a composite member capable of efficiently dissipating heat to an installation object, a heat-dissipating member using the composite member, and a semiconductor device having the heat-dissipating member are provided.

Abstract: An aluminum (Al) alloy wire, which is an extra fine wire having a wire diameter of 0.5 mm or less, contains, in mass %, Mg at 0.03% to 1.5%, Si at 0.02% to 2.0%, at least one element selected from Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn and Zr at a total of 0.1% to 1.0% and the balance being Al and impurities, and has an electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more, a tensile strength of 150 MPa or more, and an elongation of 5% or more. By producing the extra fine wire from an Al alloy of a specific composition containing Zr, Mn and other specific elements, though the extra fine wire is extra fine, it has a fine structure with a maximum grain size of 50 ?m or less and is superior in elongation.

Abstract: A magnesium-based composite member is provided with a through hole through which a fastening member for attachment to a fixing target is to be inserted. A substrate is provided with a substrate hole through which the fastening member is to be inserted, and made of a composite material which is a composite of SiC and a matrix metal which is any of magnesium and a magnesium alloy. A receiving portion is attached to the substrate and made of a metal material different from the matrix metal. The receiving portion is provided with a receiving portion hole through which the fastening member is to be inserted, and at least a part of an inner circumferential surface of the through hole is formed from an inner circumferential surface of the receiving portion hole.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy wire having excellent bending characteristics, strength, and electrically conductive characteristics, an aluminum alloy stranded wire, a covered electric wire including the above-described alloy wire or stranded wire, and a wire harness including the covered electric wire are provided. The aluminum alloy wire contains not less than 0.1% and not more than 1.5% by mass of Mg, not less than 0.03% and not more than 2.0% of Si, not less than 0.05% and not more than 0.5% of Cu, and a remainder including Al and an impurity, satisfies 0.8?Mg/Si ratio by mass ?3.5, has an electrical conductivity from 35% IACS to 58% IACS, a tensile strength from 150 MPa to 400 MPa, and an elongation not less than 2%. The aluminum alloy wire is manufactured through the steps of casting?rolling?wiredrawing?solution heat treatment.

Abstract: A spark plug (100) includes: a center electrode (2); and a ground electrode (30) which is to be exposed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and which forms a spark discharge gap with the center electrode (2), wherein at least one of the center electrode (20) and the ground electrode (30) contains an electrode material whose principal component is Ni and in which an intermetallic compound is precipitated at least intergranularly and intragranularly.

Abstract: A composite member suitable for a heat radiation member of a semiconductor element and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. This composite member is a composite of magnesium or a magnesium alloy and SiC, and it has porosity lower than 3%. This composite member can be manufactured by forming an oxide film on a surface of raw material SiC, arranging coated SiC having the oxide film formed in a cast, and infiltrating this coated SiC aggregate with a molten metal (magnesium or the magnesium alloy). The porosity of the composite member can be lowered by improving wettability between SiC and the molten metal by forming the oxide film. According to this manufacturing method, a composite member having excellent thermal characteristics such as a coefficient of thermal expansion not lower than 4 ppm/K and not higher than 10 ppm/K and thermal conductivity not lower than 180 W/m·K can be manufactured.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy material such as a magnesium alloy cast material or a magnesium alloy rolled material, excellent in mechanical characteristics and surface precision, a producing method capable of stably producing such material, a magnesium alloy formed article utilizing the rolled material, and a producing method therefor. The magnesium material includes a melting step of melting a magnesium alloy in a melting furnace to obtain a molten metal, a transfer step of transferring the molten metal from the melting furnace to a molten metal reservoir, and a casting step of supplying a movable mold with the molten metal from the molten metal reservoir, through a pouring gate, and solidifying the molten metal to continuously produce a cast material. Parts are formed by a low-oxygen material having an oxygen content of 20 mass % or less. The cast material is given a thickness of from 0.1 to 10 mm.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy material such as a magnesium alloy cast material or a magnesium alloy rolled material, excellent in mechanical characteristics and surface precision, a producing method capable of stably producing such material, a magnesium alloy formed article utilizing the rolled material, and a producing method therefor. The magnesium material producing method includes a melting step of melting a magnesium alloy in a melting furnace to obtain a molten metal, a transfer step of transferring the molten metal from the melting furnace to a molten metal reservoir, and a casting step of supplying a movable mold with the molten metal from the molten metal reservoir, through a pouring gate, and solidifying the molten metal to continuously produce a cast material. Parts are formed by a low-oxygen material having an oxygen content of 20 mass % or less. The cast material is given a thickness of from 0.1 to 10 mm.

Abstract: In manufacturing a magnesium alloy, continuous casting is performed using a movable mold. A magnesium alloy to be processed by presswork, forging, and the like can be efficiently provided.

Abstract: The invention offers (a) a method of producing a magnesium-alloy material, the method being capable of obtaining a magnesium-alloy material having high strength, (b) a magnesium-alloy material having excellent strength, and (c) a magnesium-alloy wire having high strength. A molten magnesium alloy is supplied to a continuous casting apparatus provided with a movable casting mold to produce a cast material. The cast material is supplied to between at least one pair of rolls to perform an area-reducing operation (a rolling operation). The rolling operation is performed such that pressure is applied to the cast material using the rolls from at least three directions in the cross section of the cast material. A magnesium-alloy material obtained through the above-described production method has a fine crystal structure and is excellent in plastic processibility.

Abstract: The invention offers (a) a method of producing a magnesium-alloy material, the method being capable of obtaining a magnesium-alloy material having high strength, (b) a magnesium-alloy material having excellent strength, and (c) a magnesium-alloy wire having high strength. A molten magnesium alloy is supplied to a continuous casting apparatus provided with a movable casting mold to produce a cast material. The cast material is supplied to between at least one pair of rolls to perform an area-reducing operation (a rolling operation). The rolling operation is performed such that pressure is applied to the cast material using the rolls from at least three directions in the cross section of the cast material. A magnesium-alloy material obtained through the above-described production method has a fine crystal structure and is excellent in plastic processability.

Abstract: In manufacturing a magnesium alloy, continuous casting is performed using a movable mold. A magnesium alloy to be processed by presswork, forging, and the like can be efficiently provided.