Abstract: A strain sensor for detecting strain in automobiles, robots, and the like includes a magnetostrictive layer. The magnetostrictive layer is formed by irradiating an alloy layer with a high energy density beam (such as a laser) to form a magnetostrictive layer having an amorphous structure. The resulting magnetostrictive layer has a magnetic inductance in the direction of irradiation that is much higher than in a perpendicular direction thereof. Using such a sensor, it is possible to selectively detect components of stresses and strains in a given direction.

Abstract: A zirconia-base sintered body comprising a sintered substrate containing 30% by volume or more of tetragonal zirconia and a coating film disposed thereon, characterized in that the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in a material forming said coating film at no higher than 550.degree. C. is smaller than that of oxygen in said tetragonal zirconia at a temperature of no higher than said temperature.

Abstract: A composite article comprising a metal and an amorphous metal bonded thereto by the explosion, being free from residual stress and compression stress in the amorphous metal portion, and having excellent magnetic properties inherent to the amorphous metal can be obtained by heating a composite article produced by bonding an amorphous metal to a metal through the explosion pressure to remove the residual stress caused in the amorphous metal during the explosion bonding, and then subjecting the heat treated composite article to a plastic working so as to give a tensile stress in the amorphous metal in an amount sufficient to offset the compression stress caused in the amorphous metal due to the heat treatment.

Abstract: An amorphous metal-metal composite article comprising a metal and an amorphous metal thin sheet firmly bonded thereto and having high durability and reliability can be obtained by a method, wherein the surface roughness of a metal to be bonded with an amorphous metal thin sheet is adjusted to a certain surface roughness and an explosion shock is applied to an assembly of the metal and the amorphous metal thin sheet superposed thereon, under a condition that the moving velocity of the collision point of the amorphous metal thin sheet to the metal is higher than the sound velocity in the amorphous metal.

Abstract: Amorphous alloy shaped articles having excellent magnetic properties, high hardness and strength, or high corrosion resistance can be obtained by a method, wherein amorphous alloy or atomized alloy raw material powder layer is laminately arranged adjacently to a metal powder layer having a shock impedance a little different from that of the raw material powder layer, and a shock pressure is applied to the raw material powder layer.