Abstract: Different metallic materials are joined in such a manner that friction heat generated by friction between a rotating probe made of a hard material and one of the metallic materials having a lower mechanical strength or a lower melting point than the other to effect plastic flow of the one material and the probe is inserted into a pit formed in a joint zone of the other material to fill the pit with the plastic flow material.

Abstract: A high-strength and high-toughness ferritic steel having a tensile strength of not less than 1,000 MPA and a Charpy impact value of not less than 1 MJ/m2 is provided. A ferritic steel comprising, by weight, not more than 1% Si, not more than 1.25% Mn, 8 to 30% Cr, not more than 0.2% C, not more than 0.2% N, not more than 0.4% O, a total amount of not more than 12% of at least one compound-forming element selected from the group of Ti, Zr, Hf, V and Nb in amounts of not more than 3% Ti, not more than 6% Zr, not more than 10% Hf, not more than 1.0% V and not more than 2.0% Nb, also containing where necessary not more than 0.3% Mo, not more than 4% W and not more than 1.6% Ni, and the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities, and having an average crystal grain size of not more than 1 &mgr;m, can be obtained by a method comprising encapsulating a steel powder produced by mechanical alloying, and subjecting the encapsulated steel powder to plastic deformation.

Abstract: The present invention is a cooling plate including a groove, which becomes a passage of a coolant, inside a body, wherein one or more fins are provided inside the groove, wherein the groove is covered with a lid having width larger than the groove, wherein the lid is joined to the body by friction stir welding, and wherein a weld bead formed by the joining is outside the passage, and the weld bead formed by the joining is formed within the body and further, is characterized by a manufacturing method of a cooling plate that has a first groove, which becomes a passage of a coolant, and a second groove, which has width larger than the first groove and receives a lid on the first groove, inside a body, receives the lid on the second groove, and is joined to the body, the manufacturing method of a cooling plate wherein, while the lid and the body are joined together by the friction stir welding owing to insertion of a rotation tool having a shoulder and a pin, the joining is performed so that a weld bead formed by

Abstract: Different metallic materials are joined in such a manner that friction heat generated by fiction between a rotating probe made of a hard material and one of the metallic materials having a lower mechanical strength or a lower melting point than the other to effect plastic flow of the one material and the probe is inserted into a pit formed in a joint zone of the other material to fill the pit with the plastic flow material.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant, high strength austenitic stainless steel consisting of 1.0% or less of Si, 2.0% or less of Mn, 0.5% or less of O, 7 to 30% of Ni, 14 to 26% of Cr, 0.3% or less of combination of C and N, at least one element selected from the group consisting of 1.0% or less of Ti, 2.0% or less of Zr and 2.0% or less of Nb, and the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities, the percentage being given in weight basis; said steel containing carbonitride with a grain size of several to 100 nm dispersed therein; said steel having an average crystal grain size of 1 &mgr;m or less; and said steel containing 90% by volume or more of austenite phase; is excellent in strength and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A catalytic material and electrode of the present invention are characterized in that the catalyst carrier constituting the above-mentioned catalytic material and electrode includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, phosphor atoms, and sulfur atoms. Since the cohesion or growth of catalyst grains can hereby be suppressed, it is possible to provide a highly active catalyst, a high-performance electrode, and a high-output-density fuel cell which uses the same.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a friction stir welding method and apparatus capable of maintaining a rotating tool and workpieces at a substantially constant geometrical relation for arbitrary curved surfaces having a three-dimensional shape, as well as a welded structure obtained thereby.

Abstract: Different metallic materials are joined in such a manner that friction heat generated by friction between a rotating probe made of a hard material and one of the metallic materials having a lower mechanical strength or a lower melting point than the other to effect plastic flow of the one material and the probe is inserted into a pit formed in a joint zone of the other material to fill the pit with the plastic flow material.

Abstract: Provided are a composite material excellent in plastic workability, a method of producing the composite material, a heat-radiating board of a semiconductor equipment, and a semiconductor equipment to which this heat-radiating board is applied.

Abstract: Provided are a composite material excellent in plastic workability, a method of producing the composite material, a heat-radiating board of a semiconductor equipment, and a semiconductor equipment to which this heat-radiating board is applied. This composite material comprises a metal and an inorganic compound formed to have a dendritic shape or a bar shape. In particular, this composite material is a copper composite material, which comprises 10 to 55 vol. % cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and the balance of copper (Cu) and incidental impurities and has a coefficient of thermal expansion in a temperature range from a room temperature to 300° C. of from 5×10−6 to 17×10−6/° C. and a thermal conductivity of 100 to 380 W/m·k. This composite material can be produced by a process comprising the steps of melting, casting and working and is applied to a heat-radiating board of a semiconductor article.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a lithium ion-storable/dischargeable negative electrode-active material and a lithium ion conductive, non-aqueous electrolytic solution or polymer electrolyte, characterized in that the negative electrode-active material comprises particles of carbonaceous material and particles of metal and metal oxide capable of enhancing lithium ion interstitial diffusibility/releasability as embedded in the particles of carbonaceous material, particles of carbonaceous materials and lithium ion interstitially diffusible/releasable particles being prepared by carbonization of a mixture thereof with MA or carbon precursor, has a high capacity and a long cycle life, and can be used in various electric appliances.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic wave absorber which is excellent in the electromagnetic wave absorbing characteristics in the high frequency range above 1 GHz, and to provide a method of manufacturing the electromagnetic wave absorber and appliances using the electromagnetic wave absorber.

Abstract: Provided are a composite material excellent in plastic workability, a method of producing the composite material, a heat-radiating board of a semiconductor equipment, and a semiconductor equipment to which this heat-radiating board is applied. This composite material comprises a metal and an inorganic compound formed to have a dendritic shape or a bar shape. In particular, this composite material is a copper composite material, which comprises 10 to 55 vol. % cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and the balance of copper (Cu) and incidental impurities and has a coefficient of thermal expansion in a temperature range from a room temperature to 300° C. of from 5×10−6 to 17×10−6/° C. and a thermal conductivity of 100 to 380 W/m·k. This composite material can be produced by a process comprising the steps of melting, casting and working and is applied to a heat-radiating board of a semiconductor article.

Abstract: Provided are a composite material excellent in plastic workability, a method of producing the composite material, a heat-radiating board of a semiconductor equipment, and a semiconductor equipment to which this heat-radiating board is applied. This composite material comprises a metal and an inorganic compound formed to have a dendritic shape or a bar shape. In particular, this composite material is a copper composite material, which comprises 10 to 55 vol. % cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and the balance of copper (Cu) and incidental impurities and has a coefficient of thermal expansion in a temperature range from a room temperature to 300° C. of from 5×10−6 to 17×10−6/° C. and a thermal conductivity of 100 to 380 W/m·k. This composite material can be produced by a process comprising the steps of melting, casting and working and is applied to a heat-radiating board of a semiconductor article.

Abstract: A high-strength and high-toughness ferritic steel having a tensile strength of not less than 1,000 MPA and a Charpy impact value of not less than 1 MJ/m2 is provided. A ferritic steel comprising, by weight, not more than 1% Si, not more than 1.25% Mn, 8 to 30% Cr, not more than 0.2% C, not more than 0.2% N, not more than 0.4% O, a total amount of not more than 12% of at least one compound-forming element selected from the group of Ti, Zr, Hf, V and Nb in amounts of not more than 3% Ti, not more than 6% Zr, not more than 10% Hf, not more than 1.0% V and not more than 2.0% Nb, also containing where necessary not more than 0.3% Mo, not more than 4% W and not more than 1.6% Ni, and the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities, and having an average crystal grain size of not more than 1 &mgr;m, can be obtained by a method comprising encapsulating a steel powder produced by mechanical alloying, and subjecting the encapsulated steel powder to plastic deformation.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a lithium ion-storable/dischargeable negative electrode-active material and a lithium ion conductive, non-aqueous electrolytic solution or polymer electrolyte, characterized in that the negative electrode-active material comprises particles of carbonaceous material and particles of metal and metal oxide capable of enhancing lithium ion interstitial diffusibility/releasability as embedded in the particles of carbonaceous material, particles of carbonaceous materials and lithium ion interstitially diffusible/releasable particles being prepared by carbonization of a mixture thereof with MA or carbon precursor, has a high capacity and a long cycle life, and can be used in various electric appliances.

Abstract: Structural components obtained by a process for welding iron-base materials, where the iron-base material is iron-base fine grained materials free from any amorphous phase, which comprises welding two kinds of fine grained materials of chemical and crystallographically same or different kinds from one another, whose average grain sizes d are in a range of 10 nm<d≦5×103 nm, etc., by friction stir welding can maintain distinguished properties of fine grained materials, such as strength and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a friction stir welding method and apparatus capable of maintaining a rotating tool and workpieces at a substantially constant geometrical relation for arbitrary curved surfaces having a three-dimensional shape, as well as a welded structure obtained thereby.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery, which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a lithium ion-storable/dischargeable negative electrode-active material and a lithium ion conductive, non-aqueous electrolytic solution or polymer electrolyte can have distinguished charging/discharging characteristics and a higher safety, when the negative electrode material contains particles comprising carbonaceous materials and at least one of elements capable of forming a compound with Li; the elements have a melting point of at least 900° C. and a thermal expansion coefficient of not more than 9 ppm/K at room temperature; the particles are embedded in a plurality of layers of the carbonaceous materials; the particles being subjected to a mechanical treatment to make particle sizes of the particles smaller than the initial particle size in advance.

Abstract: A friction stir welding system capable of maintaining a rotating tool and workpieces at a substantially constant geometrical relation for arbitrary curved surfaces having a three-dimensional shape, as well as a welded structure obtained thereby. A method comprises joining workpieces while setting rotational angles of two rotational axes of a rotating tool which the two rotational axes are rotatable in intersecting directions or perpendicularly intersecting directions independently of rotation of the rotating tool, detecting a normal line direction with respect to joint surfaces of the workpieces and a tangential direction of a joint line, and joining the workpieces in three-dimensional directions while setting, on the basis of the detected normal line direction and tangential direction, an angle relative to a normal line direction, as well as a tangential direction, at a tip end of the rotating tool, and also resides in a friction stir welding apparatus using the method.