Abstract: A fuel rod for a light water reactor comprises a cladding tube which comprises a zirconium alloy having a composition including 0.6 to 2.0% by weight of Nb, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Sn, 0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Fe, and the balance being Zr and incidental impurities; uranium oxide fuel pellets packed in the cladding tube; and end plugs comprising a zirconium alloy and closing both ends of the cladding tube. The cladding tube is sealed by TIG welding with the end plugs. Grain boundaries in each heat affected zone of the cladding tube, which are adjacent to a bead formed by TIG welding, have structural compositions including 4 to 30% by weight of Nb, and 0.9 to 20% by weight of Fe.

Abstract: A fuel rod for a light water reactor comprises a cladding tube which comprises a zirconium alloy having a composition including 0.6 to 2.0% by weight of Nb, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Sn, 0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Fe, and the balance being Zr and incidental impurities; uranium oxide fuel pellets packed in the cladding tube; and end plugs closing both ends of the cladding tube. The cladding tube is sealed by TIG welding with the end plugs. Precipitates having grain diameters of 0.01 to 0.5 .mu.m and comprise intermetallic compounds containing Zr, Nb and Fe are present at grain boundaries in the structure of heat affected zones of the cladding tube, the heat affected zone being adjacent to a bead formed by TIG welding.

Abstract: A copper based alloy consists essentially, by weight %, of 15 to 35% Zn, 7 to 14% Ni, 0.1 to 2% or less Mn, 0.01 to 0.5% Fe, 0.0005 to 0.1% P, at least one or two elements selected from the group consisting of 0.001 to 0.9% Si, 0.0003 to 0.02% Pb, and 0.0003 to 0.01% C, the total content of the selected at least two elements being limited to a range of 0.0006 to 0.9%, and the balance of Cu and inevitable impurities. The copper based alloy has excellent blankability as well as good corrosion resistance and high strength.

Abstract: A wear resistant copper alloy composition which includes:______________________________________ Component (% by weight) ______________________________________ Zn 20 to 40 Al 2 to 11 at least one iron family metal 1 to 5 selected from Fe, Ni, and Co Ti 0.1 to 4 Component X, which is at least one Mn = 0.01 to less than 0.1 of Mn or S, in the amounts S = 0.0005 to 0.01 indicated Cu (with unavoidable impurities) balance. ______________________________________The copper alloy, which contains as an optional component Mg (from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight), is particularly suitable for manufacturing synchronizer rings in automatic transmissions for internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A wire for electric railways comprises a copper alloy which consists essentially, by weight percent, of 0.1 to 1.0% Cr, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, 0.05 to 0.15% Sn, and 10 ppm or less O, and if required, further contains 0.01 to 0.1% Si, or 0.01 to 0.1% Si and 0.001 to 0.05% Mg, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: A wire for electric railways comprises a copper alloy which consists essentially, by weight percent, of 0.1 to 1.0% Cr, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, and 10 ppm or less O, and if required, further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 0.1% Si and 0.001 to 0.05% Mg, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities. The wire is manufactured by hot working a copper alloy billet having the above composition, immediately quenching the hot worked billet to prepare an element wire, cold working the element wire at least once, and subjecting the cold worked element wire to aging treatment.

Abstract: There is disclosed an engine valve of titanium alloy having a stem portion made of a cold-worked titanium alloy containing 2% to 4% by weight of aluminum, 1.5% to 3.5% by weight of vanadium and balance titanium. The engine valve suitable for use as an intake valve has a head portion made of a cast titanium alloy containing 2% to 7% by weight of aluminum, 3% to 20% by weight of vanadium and balance titanium. Moreover, an exhaust engine valve has a head portion made of a cast titanium alloy containing 5% to 10% by weight of aluminum and balance titanium.

Abstract: In a Cu-alloy mold for use in centrifugal casting of Ti or Ti-alloys, the mold body is made of a Cu alloy satisfying the following relationship:Ts+0.3.rho..gtoreq.70where Ts is the tensile strength (kg/mm.sup.2), and .rho. is the electrical conductance (% IACS). A cavity disposed in the mold body has a volume which is at most 30% of the volume of the mold body. Also disclosed is a method for centrifugally casting Ti or Ti-alloy by the use of the above-described mold.

Abstract: There is disclosed an engine valve of titanium alloy having a stem portion made of a cold-worked titanium alloy containing 2% to 4% by weight of aluminum, 1.5% to 3.5% by weight of vanadium and balance titanium. The engine valve suitable for use as an intake valve has a head portion made of a cast titanium alloy containing 2% to 7% by weight of aluminum, 3% to 20% by weight of vanadium and balance titanium. Moreover, an exhaust engine valve has a head portion made of a cast titanium alloy containing 5% to 10% by weight of aluminum and balance titanium.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are a high-strength Ti alloy material having improved workability which contains 2-5% Al, 5-12% V and 0.5-8% Mo (the percents being on a weight basis) and which satisfies the relation: 14%.ltoreq.1.5.times.(V content)+(Mo content).ltoreq.21%, with the balance being Ti and incidental impurities, and a process for producing such high -strength Ti alloy material.The process comprises: preparing a Ti alloy ingot having the above specified composition; hot working the ingot at a temperature wihtin the range of 600.degree.-950.degree. C.; subjecting the work to solid solution treatment at a temperature in the range of 700.degree.-800.degree. C.; and age-hardening the work at a temperatrue between 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. The reesulting Ti alloy material is suitable for use in the fabrication of parts of aircraft where high specific strength and heat resistance are required.

Abstract: A zinc cast alloy is disclosed which contains, by weight, 15-60% Al, 0.05-3% Cu, 0.5-7% Si, 0.01-0.8% Mn, optionally 0.005-0.12% P and/or Na, balance Zn and incidental impurities. The alloy has a high damping characteristic, concurrently with good intergranular corrosion resistance and high resistance to both room and elevated temperatures. To achieve values of more than 1.times.10.sup.-3 (internal friction of Q.sup.-1), 20 .mu.m (corrosion depth) or less, 10 kg/mm.sup.2 or more (0.2% yield strength) at room temperature, and 20 kg/mm.sup.2 or more at elevated temperature of 100.degree. C., the alloy has to be subjected to a solution-heat treatment in the range of 300.degree.-400.degree. C., followed by a rapid cooling, preferably a water quench.

Abstract: A continuous casting furnace for manufacturing an elongated cast product, for example, of copper or its alloy includes a housing defining a chamber. A crucible is accommodated within the chamber for holding a casting material. A heater is mounted on the crucible for melting the casting material. A generally vertically-disposed elongated casting nozzle hermetically extends into the chamber. One of the casting nozzle and the crucible is movable toward the other for immersing a lower end of the casting nozzle in the molten casting material in the crucible. The housing is connected to an inert gas source for introducing inert gas into the chamber when the casting material in the crucible is melted. When the lower end of the casting nozzle is immersed in the molten casting material, the molten casting material is moved along the casting nozzle by the pressure of the inert gas in the chamber.

Abstract: A process for producing an ingot from molten metal scrap, particularly scrap consisting of refractory metals such as titanium, zirconium and alloys thereof, comprises changing ungraded metal scrap into a tubular member with a closed end which is made of the same material as that of the metal scrap; melting the scrap-charged tubular member by heating which an electron beam or plasma electron beam, with said member being held substantially horizontally in a vacuum melting furnace. Alternatively, a pair of consumable electrodes which are made of such scrap-charged tubular members are melted with an arc produced between the tips of the tubular members which serve as electrodes. Since the metal scrap need not be graded according to size, the range of scrap charges that can be melted for ingot making is expanded. If the tubular member is replaced by a box with an open top, the scrap can be packed easily and uniformly.