Abstract: The present invention is a sliding contact member, including a powder compact portion that contains an electrically conductive diamond and an electrically conductive binder, and is provided at least on a sliding contact surface of either or both of two sliding contact members slidably in contact with each other. The sliding contact members are applied to DC motors, generators and the like.

Abstract: An inexpensive bonding method is provided to bond materials constituted of an aluminum-based metal to each other at a low temperature and a low pressure while inhibiting deformation, without requiring the use of a flux and minimizing the influence on the base materials and the periphery. Also provided are various bonded parts obtained by the bonding method. An insert material comprising Zn as an element that undergoes a eutectic reaction with Al is interposed between two materials constituted of an aluminum-based metal. The two materials are heated, while being pressed against each other, to a temperature at which the eutectic reaction takes place, thereby generating, at the bonding interface between the two materials, a melt due to the eutectic reaction with some of the Al contained in the base materials and discharging the Al oxide films from the bonding interface together with the melt. Thus, the two materials are bonded.

Abstract: A rolling press for the manufacture of a battery electrode includes a first roller of a non-conductive material, a base of a non-conductive material spaced from the first roller equal to a desired thickness of the battery electrode, and a conductivity detector having a first electrode configured to contact a first side of the battery electrode and a second electrode configured to contact a second side of the battery electrode.

Abstract: A method of preparing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery includes mixing a magnetic, electrically conductive material with a lithium conductive polymer; forming tubes of the polymer and magnetic, electrically conductive material; mixing the tubes with a slurry of an electrode material; coating a current collector with the slurry; and applying a magnetic field to the slurry to align the tubes within the slurry in relation to the current collector. The aligned tubes form electrical and ionic conductive pathways within the slurry. The tubes have a length less than half a thickness of the slurry.

Abstract: A method of preparing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery includes mixing a magnetic, electrically conductive material with a lithium conductive polymer; forming tubes of the polymer and magnetic, electrically conductive material; mixing the tubes with a slurry of an electrode material; coating a current collector with the slurry; and applying a magnetic field to the slurry to align the tubes within the slurry in relation to the current collector. The aligned tubes form electrical and ionic conductive pathways within the slurry. The tubes have a length less than half a thickness of the slurry.

Abstract: A method of preparing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery includes coating a slurry of electrode material onto a current collector, penetrating the slurry with rods coated with a polymer that expands when heated and shrinks when cooled, heating the rods coated with polymer while penetrated in the slurry. The polymer expands during heating, and then shrinks when cooled. The cooled rods and the polymer are removed from the slurry, leaving micro-pathways in the slurry where the rods and polymer penetrated.

Abstract: A rolling press for the manufacture of a battery electrode includes a first roller of a non-conductive material, a base of a non-conductive material spaced from the first roller equal to a desired thickness of the battery electrode, and a conductivity detector having a first electrode configured to contact a first side of the battery electrode and a second electrode configured to contact a second side of the battery electrode.

Abstract: In joining members to be joined (1, 1) by heating the members to be joined (1, 1) that are mated with intervening an insert (2) while applying opposing loads to the members to be joined (1, 1), so as to allow eutectic reaction to occur between the members to be joined (1, 1) and the insert (2) to discharge a eutectic melt from a joining plane along with an oxide film (1a) of the members to be joined, the members to be joined (1) are brought into contact with the insert (2) so that the oxide film (1a) is broken by a stress concentrating means previously provided at least one of joining portions breaks to produce a starting point of the eutectic reaction.

Abstract: The present invention is a sliding contact member, including a powder compact portion that contains an electrically conductive diamond and an electrically conductive binder, and is provided at least on a sliding contact surface of either or both of two sliding contact members slidably in contact with each other. The sliding contact members are applied to DC motors, generators and the like.

Abstract: A molded rare-earth magnet which simultaneously satisfies increased film thickness, high density, and improved magnetic properties (in particular, coercive force, residual magnetic flux density, and tight adhesion) has a rare-earth magnet phase that contains as a main component a nitride which contains Sm and Fe, in which the molded rare-earth magnet has a density of 80% or higher of the theoretical density of a molded magnet constituted of the rare-earth magnet phase, and has a structure in which particles of Zn and/or Mn have been dispersed in the molded magnet.

Abstract: In joining members to be joined (1, 1) by heating the members to be joined (1, 1) that are mated with intervening an insert (2) while applying opposing loads to the members to be joined (1, 1), so as to allow eutectic reaction to occur between the members to be joined (1, 1) and the insert (2) to discharge a eutectic melt from a joining plane along with an oxide film (1a) of the members to be joined, the members to be joined (1) are brought into contact with the insert (2) so that the oxide film (1a) is broken by a stress concentrating means previously provided at least one of joining portions breaks to produce a starting point of the eutectic reaction.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming recesses on a circumferential surface that defines a cylindrical bore in a workpiece includes a tool holder disposed coaxially with the cylindrical bore; a form roller support retained on the tool holder; a form roller rotatably supported on the form roller support, the form roller including projections on an outer circumferential surface thereof which are configured to form the recesses on the circumferential surface that defines the cylindrical bore in the workpiece. A control assembly is configured to control the form roller support such that the form roller is allowed to be in press contact with the circumferential surface that defines the cylindrical bore in the workpiece at a press contact load of a predetermined value on the basis of a centrifugal force which is exerted on the form roller support and the form roller during rotation of the tool holder.

Abstract: An inexpensive bonding method is provided to bond materials constituted of an aluminum-based metal to each other at a low temperature and a low pressure while inhibiting deformation, without requiring the use of a flux and minimizing the influence on the base materials and the periphery. Also provided are various bonded parts obtained by the bonding method. An insert material comprising Zn as an element that undergoes a eutectic reaction with Al is interposed between two materials constituted of an aluminum-based metal. The two materials are heated, while being pressed against each other, to a temperature at which the eutectic reaction takes place, thereby generating, at the bonding interface between the two materials, a melt due to the eutectic reaction with some of the Al contained in the base materials and discharging the Al oxide films from the bonding interface together with the melt. Thus, the two materials are bonded.

Abstract: There is provided a low-friction sliding member having a sliding surface slidable relative to an opposing member via an oil, wherein the sliding surface has a plurality of texture groups, each of the texture groups consists of at least two adjacent fine recesses having portions aligned to each other in either a sliding direction or oil flow direction; a distance between the texture groups is larger than a distance between the adjacent recesses; and the texture groups is distributed uniformly over the sliding surface.

Abstract: A micro-concave portion machining method is provided for forming micro-concave portions on an inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical bore form in a workpiece. The micro-concave portion machining method includes performing mirror surface machining and subsequent plastic working on the inner circumferential surface. The plastic working on the inner circumferential surface forms a plurality of recesses with each of the recesses including a micro-concave portion.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a low-friction sliding member having a sliding surface slidable relative to an opposing member via an oil, wherein the sliding surface has a plurality of texture groups, each of the texture groups consists of at least two adjacent fine recesses having portions aligned to each other in either a sliding direction or oil flow direction; a distance between the texture groups is larger than a distance between the adjacent recesses; and the texture groups is distributed uniformly over the sliding surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming microscopic recesses on a circumferential surface that defines a cylindrical bore in a workpiece, the apparatus including a form roller, a form roller drive driving the form roller to rotate about a rotation axis in an axially offset position in which the rotation axis is offset from a central axis of the cylindrical bore, an axial drive causing a relative axial movement of the workpiece and the form roller drive along the central axis of the cylindrical bore, and a rotary drive driving at least one of the workpiece and the form roller drive to rotate about the central axis of the cylindrical bore while keeping an outer peripheral surface of the form roller pressing against the circumferential surface that defines a cylindrical bore.

Abstract: A micro-concave portion machining method is provided for forming micro-concave portions on an inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical bore form in a workpiece. The micro-concave portion machining method includes performing mirror surface machining and subsequent plastic working on the inner circumferential surface. The plastic working on the inner circumferential surface forms a plurality of recesses with each of the recesses including a micro-concave portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming microscopic recesses on a circumferential surface that defines a cylindrical bore in a workpiece, including a tool holder rotatably about a rotation axis, a form roller support moveable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the tool holder, a form roller rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the tool holder, and control means for controlling the form roller support such that the form roller is allowed to be in press contact with the circumferential surface of the cylindrical bore at a press contact load of a predetermined value on the basis of a centrifugal force which is exerted on the form roller support and the form roller during rotation of the tool holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming microscopic recesses on a circumferential surface that defines a cylindrical bore in a workpiece, the apparatus including a form roller, a form roller drive driving the form roller to rotate about a rotation axis in an axially offset position in which the rotation axis is offset from a central axis of the cylindrical bore, an axial drive causing a relative axial movement of the workpiece and the form roller drive along the central axis of the cylindrical bore, and a rotary drive driving at least one of the workpiece and the form roller drive to rotate about the central axis of the cylindrical bore while keeping an outer peripheral surface of the form roller pressing against the circumferential surface that defines a cylindrical bore.