Abstract: The present invention relates to a platinum-based sputtering target containing platinum or a platinum alloy. The platinum-based sputtering target of the present invention is characterized by a material structure in a thickness-direction cross section thereof. Specifically, when a thickness-direction cross section is equally divided into n sections (n=5 to 20) along a thickness direction, a region including (n?2) sections excluding both end sections is set as a determination region, and when an average grain size in each of the sections is measured in the determination region, as well as an average grain size in the entire determination region is measured, the average grain size in the entire determination region is 150 ?m or less, and a coefficient of variation calculated based on the average grain size in each of the sections of the determination region is 15% or less.

Abstract: A sliding contact material that is used for a constituent material, particularly a brush, of a motor. The sliding contact material includes: Pd in an amount of 20.0% by mass or more and 50.0% by mass or less; Ni and/or Co in an amount of 0.6% by mass or more and 3.0% by mass or less in terms of a total concentration; and Ag and inevitable impurities as a balance. Preferably, the sliding contact material further contains an additive element M including at least one of Sn and In, and the total concentration of the additive element M is 0.1% by mass or more and 3.0% by mass or less. When containing the additive element M, the sliding contact material has material structures in which composite dispersed particles containing an intermetallic compound of Pd and the additive element M are dispersed in an Ag alloy matrix, and the ratio (KPd/KM) of the content (% by mass) of Pd and the content (% by mass) of the additive element M in the composite dispersed particles is within a range of 2.4 or more and 3.6 or less.

Abstract: A sliding contact material that is used for a constituent material, particularly a brush, of a motor. The sliding contact material includes: Pd in an amount of 20.0% by mass or more and 50.0% by mass or less; Ni and/or Co in an amount of 0.6% by mass or more and 3.0% by mass or less in terms of a total concentration; and Ag and inevitable impurities as a balance. Preferably, the sliding contact material further contains an additive element M including at least one of Sn and In, and the total concentration of the additive element M is 0.1% by mass or more and 3.0% by mass or less. When containing the additive element M, the sliding contact material has material structures in which composite dispersed particles containing an intermetallic compound of Pd and the additive element M are dispersed in an Ag alloy matrix, and the ratio (KPd/KM) of the content (% by mass) of Pd and the content (% by mass) of the additive element M in the composite dispersed particles is within a range of 2.4 or more and 3.6 or less.

Abstract: The present invention is a sliding contact material having a composition of Cu of 6.0% by mass or more and 9.0% by mass or less, Ni of 0.1% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less, an additive element M of 0.1% by mass or more and 0.8% by mass or less, and the balance being Ag. The additive element M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sm, La and Zr. The present sliding contact material has a material structure in which dispersion particles containing an intermetallic compound containing at least both Ni and an additive element M are dispersed in an Ag alloy matrix. It is required that the ratio of a Ni content (% by mass) and a content of an additive element M (% by mass) (KNi/KM) in the dispersion particles falls within a predetermined range. The present invention is an Ag alloy-based sliding contact material more excellent also in abrasion resistance than conventional ones, and a material adaptable to higher rotation numbers of micromotors.

Abstract: The present invention is a sliding contact material having a composition of Cu of 6.0% by mass or more and 9.0% by mass or less, Ni of 0.1% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less, an additive element M of 0.1% by mass or more and 0.8% by mass or less, and the balance being Ag. The additive element M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sm, La and Zr. The present sliding contact material has a material structure in which dispersion particles containing an intermetallic compound containing at least both Ni and an additive element M are dispersed in an Ag alloy matrix. It is required that the ratio of a Ni content (% by mass) and a content of an additive element M (% by mass) (KNi/KM) in the dispersion particles falls within a predetermined range. The present invention is an Ag alloy-based sliding contact material more excellent also in abrasion resistance than conventional ones, and a material adaptable to higher rotation numbers of micromotors.

Abstract: In a cladding composite material obtained by coating the surface of a base material with an Ag-containing layer, it is difficult to make the size of fine Ag-containing particles which form the structure of the Ag-containing layer uniform in the thickness direction. A vaporization source (15) which contains Ag is irradiated by a high-energy laser beam 17 having a spot diameter for causing vaporization as fine particles which contain Ag from the vaporization source (15) which contains Ag, the fine particles which contain Ag are vaporized, and the fine particles which contain Ag which were obtained by vaporization are ejected as jet to a base material 33 under a high vacuum atmosphere to make than physically deposit on the base material 33 thereby Ag-containing layer is formed on the base material 33.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] There is provided a highly wear-resistant and durable sliding contact material applicable to a commutator of a motor used for high-capacity applications in which the initial starting current (IS) is 1 ampere or higher. [Solution] The present invention provides a sliding contact material in which metal oxide particles are dispersed in an Ag alloy matrix, wherein the Ag alloy matrix is an Ag alloy containing 0.01 to 10.0 wt % of at least one kind of Fe, Co, Ni and Cu in Ag, and 0.1 to 3.0 wt % of a Ta oxide is dispersed as the metal oxide. In the present invention, 0.1 to 10.0 wt % of metal oxide particles of one kind or two or more kinds of Mg, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn may further be dispersed. The sliding contact material is used in a mode of clad composite material formed by embedding the sliding contact material in a part of a base material consisting of Cu or Cu alloy.

Abstract: A sliding contact material containing 40 to 60% by weight of Au, 15 to 25% by weight of Pd, and Sn and In as essential elements, the total amount of Sn and In being 1 to 4% by weight and the balance being Ag, and a sliding contact material containing 40 to 60% by weight of Au, 15 to 25% by weight of Pd, and Zn, the amount of Zn being 0.1 to 5% by weight and the balance being Ag. The sliding contact material is insusceptible to the interaction with grease essential for the use of such contact materials, and has stable contact resistance, and therefore can be used for a long time.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a commutator or brush material for a small electric DC motor which enables a lengthened operating life of a spindle motor for a DVD controlled using a pulse current. A commutator material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 6.0 to 10.0 wt % of Cu, 1.0 to 5.0 wt % of ZnO, and a balance of Ag and in that Cu metal particles and ZnO particles are dispersed in an AgCu matrix. A brush material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 0.1 to 5.0 wt % of MgO and a balance of Ag and in that MgO particles are dispersed in an Ag matrix, or is characterized by being composed of 5.0 to 15.0 wt % of Ni and a balance of Pt and in that Ni is dissolved in a Pt matrix.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] There is provided a highly wear-resistant and durable sliding contact material applicable to a commutator of a motor used for high-capacity applications in which the initial starting current (IS) is 1 ampere or higher. [Solution] The present invention provides a sliding contact material in which metal oxide particles are dispersed in an Ag alloy matrix, wherein the Ag alloy matrix is an Ag alloy containing 0.01 to 10.0 wt % of at least one kind of Fe, Co, Ni and Cu in Ag, and 0.1 to 3.0 wt % of a Ta oxide is dispersed as the metal oxide. In the present invention, 0.1 to 10.0 wt % of metal oxide particles of one kind or two or more kinds of Mg, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn may further be dispersed. The sliding contact material is used in a mode of clad composite material formed by embedding the sliding contact material in a part of a base material consisting of Cu or Cu alloy.

Abstract: The invention provides a material for sliding contacts that is suitable for a small-sized DC motor used in recent downsized CD players and is excellent in durability. A material for sliding contacts used in a commutator of a small-sized DC motor that consists essentially of 0.01 to 3.0% Ni by weight, 0.01 to 6.0% ZnO by weight and/or 0.01 to 3.0% MgO by weight, furthermore, in some cases, 0.01 to 5.0% Cu by weight, and the balance Ag, in which Ni metal particles, ZnO particles or MgO particles are dispersed in the matrix of Ag.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a commutator or brush material for a small electric DC motor which enables a lengthened operating life of a spindle motor for a DVD controlled using a pulse current. A commutator material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 6.0 to 10.0 wt % of Cu, 1.0 to 5.0 wt % of ZnO, and a balance of Ag and in that Cu metal particles and ZnO particles are dispersed in an AgCu matrix. A brush material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 0.1 to 5.0 wt % of MgO and a balance of Ag and in that MgO particles are dispersed in an Ag matrix, or is characterized by being composed of 5.0 to 15.0 wt % of Ni and a balance of Pt and in that Ni is dissolved in a Pt matrix.

Abstract: The invention provides a material for sliding contacts that is suitable for a small-sized DC motor used in recent downsized CD players and is excellent in durability. A material for sliding contacts used in a commutator of a small-sized DC motor that consists essentially of 0.01 to 3.0% Ni by weight, 0.01 to 6.0% ZnO by weight and/or 0.01 to 3.0% MgO by weight, furthermore, in some cases, 0.01 to 5.0% Cu by weight, and the balance Ag, in which Ni metal particles, ZnO particles or MgO particles are dispersed in the matrix of Ag.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material for a sliding contact whose alloy composition does not contain an environmentally detrimental substance such as Cd, which exhibits excellent contact resistance, whose electrical functions are good and free of time-course variation, and which further exhibits excellent wear resistance. The material for a sliding contact assumes the form of an Ag—Zn—Pd, Ag—Zn—Pd—Cu, Ag—Zn—Pd—Ni, or Ag—Zn—Pd—Cu—Ni alloy. In the compositions of these alloys, the Zn content is 0.1-3.0% by weight, the Pd content is 0.1-1.5% by weight, and the balance is Ag. When Cu is contained, the Cu content is 0.1-3.0% by weight. When Ni is contained, the Ni content is 0.01-0.5% by weight. Zn, Pd, and Cu are present in the Ag &agr; phase in the form of solid solution. Ni particles are finely dispersed in the alloys. A composite clad material is formed through use of the material for a sliding contact.

Abstract: An Ag--Cu alloy for a sliding contact containing:a) 0.1 to 8.0 wt. % of Cu, based on the weight of the alloy, wherein at least 70 wt. % of the Cu contained in the alloy is solid-solubilized in an Ag-.alpha.-phase; andb) 0.1 to 4.0 wt. %, based on the weight of the alloy, of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ge, Ni, Sn, In, Zn, Mg, Mn, Sb, Pb and Bi.The Ag--Cu alloy is desirably utilized to form a composite with a Cu or Cu alloy base material. Such composite has been found to be very useful for fabricating the commutator of a compact DC motor.

Abstract: Sliding contacts comprising alloys such as Pd/Cu/Ag, Pt/Cu/Ag, Pd/Cu/Ag/Ni, Pt/Cu/Ag/Ni, Ag/Pd/Cu,Au, Ag/Pt/Cu/Au and two-layered composites comprising a surface layer of one of the foregoing alloys and a base layer comprised of copper or a copper-containing alloy. Also, three-layered composites comprising a surface layer of one of the foregoing alloys, an intermediate layer of one of the foregoing alloys and a base layer comprised of copper or a copper-containing alloy as well as direct current motors comprising commutators comprising a three-layered composite.