Abstract: A thermoelectric module having a high thermoelectric performance is shown and described. A flat thermoelectric module comprises a multi-layered body provided with a thermoelectric material layer having output take-out faces on two opposite sides, an electrode layer present on each output take-out faces, a metallic layer present on each electrode layer, and an electrical insulating outer layer covering the surface of the body. Adjacent layers are pressure-welded to be in close contact with each other. No solder is used in the construction of a module in accordance with the present invention, and it is therefore possible to improve the thermoelectric performance of the module by raising the operating temperature without being restricted by the melting point of solder.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material which exhibits a high thermoelectric performance even at high temperatures is shown and described. A thermoelectric material is provided with a plurality of conductive layers made of a first semiconductor only and a plurality of barrier layers made of a second semiconductor only, which are alternatingly arranged, a diffusion-preventive layer being interposed between neighboring conductive layers and barrier layers. Diffusion between the conductive layers and the barrier layers under high-temperature conditions is prevented, and the thermoelectric material maintains high performance standards at high temperatures.

Abstract: A combination of a first slide member made of ferrous material in which at least a slide surface layer thereof has a metallurgical structure having granular carbides dispersed in a matrix phase, and a second slide member made of ferrous material in which at least a slide surface layer thereof has a metallurgical structure having network-like carbides dispersed in a martensite matrix phase. A proportion of an area occupied by the granular carbides on the slide surface of the first slide member is larger than a proportion of an area occupied by the network-like carbides on the slide surface of the second slide member, and owing to this difference in these occupied area proportions, generation of coagulative wear (scuffing) between the respective slide members can be effectively prevented, and a good anti-wear property is obtainable from viewpoints of scuffing as well as pitting.