Abstract: A tungsten carbide powder 1 includes bonded bodies 10 each including a plurality of tungsten carbide crystal grains 11, in which the bonded bodies 10 include, at a grain boundary 11a between the plurality of tungsten carbide crystal grains 11, a chromium-concentrated region 12 which has a chromium concentration higher than that in the tungsten carbide crystal grains 11.

Abstract: A reinforcing implant anchors shafts of two prostheses which are arranged opposite each other on an elongated bone, in particular a femur. The implant has a generally elongated shaft-like shape and a receiving sleeve at both ends for a respective anchoring shaft and a disconnectable coupling piece lying between the receiving sleeves for a rigid connection. In this manner, a force bridge is formed between the two anchoring shafts so that the bone is no longer subjected to the force transmission in particular in the sensitive intermediate region between the two anchoring shafts.

Abstract: A surface treatment for a metal substrate includes a nitride layer and a diamond-like carbon coating on said nitride layer. The metal substrate can be a titanium-containing substrate. The nitride layer and diamond-like carbon coating serve to improve the tribological properties of the metal substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a coated medical device is described in which a coating including a therapeutic agent dispersed in a polymer or oligomer matrix is applied to an outer surface of the medical device. The coating is then post-processed to selectively remove a substantial portion of the polymer or oligomer matrix from the coating. The post-processed coating is then sterilized.

Abstract: Provided is a sputtering target and/or a coil disposed at the periphery of a plasma-generating region for confining plasma. The target and/or the coil has a surface to be eroded having a hydrogen content of 500 ?L/cm2 or less. In dealing with reduction in the hydrogen content of the surface of the target and/or the coil, the process of producing the target and/or the coil, in particular, the conditions for heating the surface of the target and/or the coil, which is thought to be cause of hydrogen occlusion, are appropriately regulated. As a result, hydrogen occlusion at the surface of the target can be reduced, and the degree of vacuum during sputtering can be improved. Thus, the present invention provides a target and/or a coil that has a uniform and fine structure, makes plasma stable, and allows a film to be formed with excellent uniformity and provides a method of producing the target and/or the coil.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and devices including strained material layers having impurity-free zones, and methods for fabricating same. Certain regions of the strained material layers are kept free of impurities that can interdiffuse from adjacent portions of the semiconductor. When impurities are present in certain regions of the strained material layers, there is degradation in device performance. By employing semiconductor structures and devices (e.g., field effect transistors or “FETs”) that have the features described, or are fabricated in accordance with the steps described, device operation is enhanced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of stents with likely reduced rates of tissue perforation are provided. Some embodiments include reducing the profile of a portion of the stent using a wire profile reduction electropolishing bath and/or other wire profile reduction means.

Abstract: Alloys of titanium with 20-22 at. % niobium and 12-13 at. % zirconium. The alloys are prepared by mechanical alloying of elemental powders and densification by spark plasma sintering. The alloys have a nano-scaled, equiaxed granular structure, a microhardness of at least 650 HV and a modulus of 90-140 GPa. The inventive alloy is corrosion resistant, biocompatible, and is of a higher wear resistance and durability compared to the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The bioactive surface of the inventive nanostructured alloy promotes a higher protein adsorption that stimulates new bone formation than other titanium-based alloys. These alloys are suitable for various biomedical and dental applications.

Abstract: Implants for prevention of cold welding, corrosion and tissue overgrowth on surfaces between medical implant components include a first medical implant component having a first implant contact surface, a second medical implant component having a second implant contact surface positionally interfacing with the first implant contact surface of the first medical implant and a separation coating material on at least one of the first implant contact surface and the second implant contact surface. Methods for prevention of cold welding and/or corrosion between and/or tissue/bone overgrowth on implant components and methods of sealing an interface between a first implant component and a second implant component in a prosthesis system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite material and a methods of making and using the composite material, wherein the composite material provides improved wear resistance and fracture toughness to hard-facing and matrix materials for down hole drilling tools.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method of making porous nitrogenized titanium coated substrates. The process includes depositing titanium on a substrate using a glancing angle deposition (GLAD) process and then nitrogenizing the deposited titanium using a thermal or plasma-assisted thermal gaseous nitrogenizing process.

Abstract: A crucible for growing crystals, the crucible being formed from Molybdenum and Rhenium. A crucible for growing crystals, the crucible being formed from a metal selected from Group V of the Periodic Table of the Elements. A crucible for growing crystals, the crucible comprising a body and a layer formed on at least a portion of the body, the layer being formed out of Molybdenum.

Abstract: A component of an implantable medical device comprises a body comprising at least one external surface, the body comprising at least one of titanium, titanium-based alloys, and composites thereof, and a corrosion-resistant surface region at the at least one external surface, the corrosion-resistant surface region comprising at least one of titanium nitride, dititanium nitride, and a solid solution of nitrogen dissolved in the body, wherein the corrosion-resistant surface region is formed by thermal nitridation of the body.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for adjusting the pore size of a porous metal material and the pore structure of a porous metal material. The method comprises: permeating at least one element into the surface of the pores of the material to generate a permeated layer on the surface of the pores, so that the average pore size of the porous material is reduced to within a certain range, thus obtaining a pore structure of the porous metal material having the pores distributed on the surface of the material and the permeated layer provided on the surface of the pores.

Abstract: A filament showing high radiation characteristics and hardly suffering from disconnection and film separation is provided by using a high melting point metal compound such as tantalum carbide. As the filament, a filament comprising a tungsten base material 30, a tantalum layer 31 coating the tungsten base material 30, and a tantalum carbide layer 32 coating the tantalum layer 31 is used. High adhesion is obtained at the interface of the layers of tungsten and tantalum by utilizing high adhesion of tungsten and tantalum.

Abstract: A conductive film comprises a phosphide particle coated film formed by attaching raw material particles including phosphide particles comprising a compound of Ti and/or Fe, and P to a surface of a substrate material. This conductive film exhibits good corrosion resistant conductivity, and can be easily formed at low costs because of comprising the phosphide particle coated film. A corrosion-resistant conduction film comprises an iron-containing titanium phosphide layer containing Ti, Fe and P as essential basic elements. A corrosion-resistant conduction material having this corrosion-resistant conduction film on a surface of a substrate exhibits good corrosion resistance or conductivity. This corrosion-resistant conduction material can be obtained, for example, by a process comprising a plating step of forming an Ni plating layer on a surface of a Ti-based material substrate and a nitriding step of applying nitriding treatment to the Ti-based material substrate after the plating step at not more than 880 deg.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method capable of inexpensively forming a gradient-hardened rigid layer which has characteristics of functionally graded material on the surface layer of titanium. The method includes (a) injecting titanium into a heat treatment apparatus and performing ventilation to maintain an atmospheric pressure of 10?4 torr or less, (b) performing a pretreatment process of heating the titanium at 730 to 800° C. for 10 minutes to 5 hours to remove an oxide film formed on the surface of the titanium, (c) injecting one or more gases selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon into the heat treatment apparatus and heating the titanium at 740 to 950° C. for 30 minutes to 20 hours such that a gradient-hardened rigid layer having a concentration gradient of the gases is formed on the surface of the titanium, and (d) cooling the titanium.

Abstract: Provided is a method for carburizing a tantalum container which can easily control the carburization thicknesses of various portions of the tantalum container and carburize the tantalum container with a uniform thickness. A method for carburizing a tantalum container 1 made of tantalum or a tantalum alloy to allow carbon to penetrate the tantalum container 1 includes the steps of: supporting the tantalum container 1 on a support member 5, 6 provided in a chamber 3 and setting the tantalum container 1 in the chamber 3; and reducing the pressure inside the chamber 3 and heating the interior of the chamber 3, wherein a carbon source is placed in the vicinity of a portion of the tantalum container 1 hard to carburize.

Abstract: A method and process for at least partially forming a medical device that is at least partially formed of a metal alloy which improves the physical properties of the medical device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a device and method used to produce a tubular structure made of a refractory metal compound. In particular, the disclosure provides a device and method used to produce a tubular structure made of a refractory metal compound by reacting a green tubular structure made of a refractory metal with at least one reactive gas.

Abstract: A component of an implantable medical device comprises a body comprising at least one external surface, the body comprising at least one of titanium, titanium-based alloys, and composites thereof, and a corrosion-resistant surface region at the at least one external surface, the corrosion-resistant surface region comprising at least one of titanium nitride, dititanium nitride, and a solid solution of nitrogen dissolved in the body, wherein the corrosion-resistant surface region is formed by thermal nitridation of the body.

Abstract: To provide a decorative component, a timepiece, and a manufacturing method of the timepiece capable of improving workability for color development and of enhancing decorativeness. A surface of an oscillating weight 160 develops a color by forming anode oxide films 22a and 22b on the surface of the oscillating weight body 164 which is formed using titanium or a titanium alloy, and on the surface of the oscillating weight body 164, of the portions at which the anode oxide films 22a and 22b are formed, a nitridization treatment layer 21 is formed at the portion at which the anode oxide film 22a is formed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating a metal surface, which can improve surface properties of a target metal, such as surface hardness and wear resistance in a simple manner and at low cost using very simple equipment alone, and which can prevent the deterioration of the metal to create high added value. The present invention is comprised of a method of treating a metal surface, characterized in that: heat-treating a target metal (10) to be surface-modified in nitrogen gas atmosphere (S), in such a state where the target metal (10) is buried in a carbon source powder (12) comprising a carbon powder and a powder of iron or an iron alloy mainly comprising iron and containing carbon, whereby the surface of the target metal (10) is at least nitrided or nitrogen-absorbed to modify the surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a sputtering target and other metal articles having controlled oxygen and nitrogen content levels and the articles so formed are described. The method includes surface-nitriding a deoxidized metal powder and further includes consolidating the powder by a powder metallurgy technique. Preferred metal powders include, but are not limited to, valve metals, including tantalum, niobium, and alloys thereof.

Abstract: A stainless steel material for a fuel cell, used for a fuel cell or a cartridge for the fuel cell, having a magnetic permeability of 1.000 to 2.500, and forming a layer having a value of chromium atomic %/iron atomic % of not less than 3.0 in the most surface thereof, and/or the layer of thickness of not less than 12 nm calculated as SiO2 having an oxygen atomic % of not less than 20%. Even when brought into contact with the content solution exhibiting acidity of the fuel cell, the stainless steel material reliably suppresses the elution of metal ions thereof.

Abstract: A method and process for at least partially forming a medical device that is at least partially formed of a metal alloy which improves the physical properties of the medical device.

Abstract: A surface carburization technique of medical titanium alloy femoral head in total hip arthroplasty comprises subjecting medical titanium alloy TC4 to surface carburization by using acetylene as carburizing agent to carry out gaseous carburization at high temperature to give medical titanium alloy femoral head in total hip arthroplasty with TiC ceramic on surface thereof. The TiC ceramic layer on femoral head can be more than 100 micron thick, which is relatively thick, overcomes the disadvantages in available medical titanium alloy material, and is particularly useful for replacement of total hip or knee arthroplasty.

Abstract: Low temperature carburization of stainless steel using acetylene as the carburizing specie is carried out under soft vacuum conditions in the presence of hydrogen or other companion gas. As a result, formation of soot and the undesirable thermal oxide film that normally occurs during low temperature carburization is eliminated virtually completely.

Abstract: A conductive film comprises a phosphide particle coated film formed by attaching raw material particles including phosphide particles comprising a compound of Ti and/or Fe, and P to a surface of a substrate material. This conductive film exhibits good corrosion resistant conductivity, and can be easily formed at low costs because of comprising the phosphide particle coated film. A corrosion-resistant conduction film comprises an iron-containing titanium phosphide layer containing Ti, Fe and P as essential basic elements. A corrosion-resistant conduction material having this corrosion-resistant conduction film on a surface of a substrate exhibits good corrosion resistance or conductivity. This corrosion-resistant conduction material can be obtained, for example, by a process comprising a plating step of forming an Ni plating layer on a surface of a Ti-based material substrate and a nitriding step of applying nitriding treatment to the Ti-based material substrate after the plating step at not more than 880 deg.

Abstract: An article of titanium or a titanium-based alloy is case hardened by heat treatment at a temperate of 750° C. to 850° C. and at a pressure in the order of atmospheric pressure in a diffusion atmosphere. The diffusion atmosphere consists of a carrier gas such as argon which does not react chemically with the article in the said temperature range, and carbon monoxide. The concentration of carbon monoxide in the oxygen diffusion atmosphere is in the range of 20 volumes per million to 400 volumes per million.

Abstract: Low temperature carburization of a workpiece surface is accomplished faster by impregnating the surface with a diffusion promoter prior to or during the low temperature carburization process.

Abstract: A method of forming a sputtering target and other metal articles having controlled oxygen and nitrogen content levels and the articles so formed are described. The method includes surface-nitriding a deoxidized metal powder and further includes consolidating the powder by a powder metallurgy technique. Preferred metal powders include, but are not limited to, valve metals, including tantalum, niobium, and alloys thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for modifying the surface of titanium or a titanium alloy by a fluidized bed carburization process. The surface hardness of the titanium or the titanium alloy could be improved by the fluidized bed carburization process. The above-mentioned method includes the following steps: providing a fluidized bed furnace, in which a carburizing agent containing charcoal and carbonate powders of which the weight ratio is 10˜8:0.5˜2 is used; placing titanium or a titanium alloy in the fluidized bed furnace at the temperature ranging from 900° C. to 1200° C. for carburizing the titanium metal or the titanium alloy for a period more than 3 minutes; and then taking the titanium metal or the titanium alloy out for quenching.

Abstract: A method and process for at least partially forming a medical device that is at least partially formed of a novel metal alloy which improves the physical properties of the medical device.

Abstract: A process for heat treating metal workpieces contains with respect to an efficient process control the following successive operations following directly one after the other: a heating phase; an enrichment phase; a first cooling phase; a bonding phase; a second cooling phase; and a concluding quenching phase. Workpieces processed by a method of this type are distinguished by a comparatively great fatigue limit and fatigue strength with simultaneous high resistance to wear and tear.

Abstract: A method for surface treating a titanium gas turbine engine component. The method includes providing a gas turbine engine component having a titanium-containing surface. The component is heated to a temperature sufficient to diffuse carbon into the titanium and below 1000° F. The surface is contacted with a carbon-containing gas to diffuse carbon into the surface to form carbides. Thereafter, the carbide-containing surface is coated with a lubricant comprising a binder and a friction modifier. The binder preferably including titanium oxide and the friction modifier preferably including tungsten disulfide. The coefficient of friction between the surface and another titanium-containing surface is less than about 0.6 in high altitude atmospheres.

Abstract: The present invention provides a worked molybdenum-alloy material that can be used at higher temperatures than at least temperatures at which known TZM alloys are used. A worked molybdenum-alloy material having high strength and high toughness includes at least one of carbide particles, oxide particles, and boride particles and fine nitride particles dispersed by internal nitriding of an untreated worked molybdenum-alloy material in which a nitride-forming-metal element is dissolved to form a solid solution in a molybdenum matrix and at least one of carbide particles, oxide particles, and boride particles is precipitated and dispersed.

Abstract: A method of carburizing treatment is proposed in which if carburizing is carried out at a low temperature, carbon will not turn amorphose and deposit on the surface of a titanium metal but reliably penetrate into between metallic atoms. It is a method of surface treatment of a titanium metal comprising the steps of heating the titanium metal to a temperature of 400-690° C. in a cleaning gas atmosphere containing hydrogen gas, subjecting the surface of the titanium metal to cleaning by applying a DC voltage of 200-1500 V, and plasma carburizing in an atmosphere comprising a carburizing gas having an atomic weight ratio of hydrogen atoms (H) to carbon atoms (C) adjusted to 1?H/C?9 at a pressure of 13-400 Pa and a temperature of 400-690° C. Ionization reaction in the gas is suppressed suitably. Because there exists no excessive carbon which is not used for carburization but turns soot or glass-like carbon, in the atmosphere during carburization, carburizing reaction progresses smoothly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing wolfram carbides by gas-phase carburetion of wolfram powders and/or suitable wolfram precursor compounds in powder form at temperatures above 850° C. According to the method a CO2/CO mixture with a CO2 content greater than the Boudouard equilibrium content corresponding to the carburetion temperature is used as carburetion gas phase.

Abstract: A method of case hardening an article formed of titanium, zirconium or an alloy of titanium and/or zirconium is disclosed. First, the article is heat-treated in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to form an oxide layer on the article. Then, the article is further heat-treated in a vacuum or in a neutral or inert atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to cause oxygen from the oxide layer to diffuse into the article.

Abstract: A composite magnetic material having excellent magnetic characteristics and a manufacturing method thereof are provided, without requiring complex processes such as a process of flattening a soft magnetic material or controlling an oxygen concentration and without equipment costs of a magnetic field applying apparatus, etc. The composite magnetic material according to the present invention comprises multiple composite magnetic particles having metal magnetic particles and insulating films surrounding the metal magnetic particles; the multiple composite magnetic particles are bonded to each other, and the metal magnetic particles comprise only the metal magnetic material and impurities with the mass ratio to the metal magnetic particle of 120 ppm or less.

Abstract: A method of forming a sputtering target and other metal articles having controlled oxygen and nitrogen content levels and the articles so formed are described. The method includes surface-nitriding a deoxidized metal powder and further includes consolidating the powder by a powder metallurgy technique. Preferred metal powders include, but are not limited to, valve metals, including tantalum, niobium, and alloys thereof.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of tungsten and/or molybdenum metal powder or carbide by reducing and optionally carburizing treatment of tungsten and/or molybdenum oxide powder in the presence of alkali metal compounds, wherein at least two alkali metal compounds are used in a ratio so that mixed alkali tungstate or molybdate potentially formed in an intermediate step ((Li, Na, K)2 WOZ, (Li, Na, K)2MoOZ) has a melting point of less than 550° C., wherein z is from 3 to 4.

Abstract: Nitrided valve metals are described, such as nitrided tantalum and nitrided niobium. The nitrided valve metals preferably have improved flow properties, higher Scott Densities, and/or improved pore size distribution which leads to improved physical properties of the valve metal and improved electrical properties once the valve metal is formed into a capacitor anode. Processes for preparing a nitrided valve metal are further described and involve nitriding the valve metal at a sufficient temperature and pressure during a heat treatment that is prior to the deoxidation step. Capacitor anodes and other products incorporating the valve metals of the present invention are further described.

Abstract: A method of carburizing treatment is proposed in which if carburizing is carried out at a low temperature, carbon will not turn amorphose and deposit on the surface of a titanium metal but reliably penetrate into between metallic atoms. It is a method of surface treatment of a titanium metal comprising the steps of heating the titanium metal to a temperature of 400-690° C. in a cleaning gas atmosphere containing hydrogen gas, subjecting the surface of the titanium metal to cleaning by applying a DC voltage of 200-1500 V, and plasma carburizing in an atmosphere comprising a carburizing gas having the molar ratio of hydrogen atoms (H) to carbon atoms (C) adjusted to 1≦H/C≦9 at a pressure of 13-400 Pa and a temperature of 400-690° C. Ionization reaction in the gas is suppressed suitably. Because there exists no excessive carbon which is not used for carburization but turns soot or glass-like carbon, in the atmosphere during carburization, carburizing reaction progresses smoothly.

Abstract: A Ti alloy poppet valve consists of a valve stem and a valve head, and is employed as intake or exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine of an automobile. O2 is put into the valve in a furnace at very slight amount and heated to introduce oxygen atoms into titanium of the valve to form a Ti—O interstitial solid solution without making titanium oxides. The valve is strengthened to increase hardness and wear resistance.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the repair of parts comprising metals, and surfaces and coatings of these parts using reactive metals coating processes. Processes such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), plasma spray, and reactive coating (boronizing, carburizing, nitridizing, carbonitridizing, etc.) are known for producing durable coatings or surfaces on metal parts, and the present invention provides a means to spot-repair these coatings or surfaces without excessive buildup of repair material on undamaged areas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a refractory-metal-based alloy material having a remarkably enhanced toughness and strength, by internally nitriding a nitride-forming metal element incorporated as a solid solution into an alloy worked piece, which has a parent phase consisting of one element selecting from Mo, W and Cr, at a temperature equal to or lower than a recrystallization upper limit temperature of the worked piece to dispersedly yield ultra-fine nitride particles to the worked piece and thereby raise a recrystallization lower limit temperature of the worked piece, and then subjecting the internally nitrided worked piece to a second nitriding treatment at a temperature equal to or more than the raised recrystallization lower limit temperature, wherein at least in the surface region of the worked piece has a structure in which ultra-fine nitride precipitated particles are grown and stabilized with keeping the worked structure of the worked piece.

Abstract: The tableware according to the invention comprises Ti or a Ti alloy and has a surface hard layer comprising a first hardened layer which is formed in the region of an arbitrary depth from the surface and in which nitrogen and oxygen are diffused so as to form a solid solution and a second hardened layer which is formed in an arbitrary region deeper than the first hardened layer. The purpose of the process for surface treatment of tableware according to the invention is to form the surface hard layer. The substrate having a hard decorative coating film according to the invention is a substrate comprising Ti or a Ti alloy and having on its surface an internal hardened layer comprising a first hardened layer and a second hardened layer, wherein the hard decorative coating film is formed on the surface of the internal hardened layer. The cutlery according to the invention comprises a working part and a grip, and the grip is provided with a floating means such as a hollow art.

Abstract: Ti alloy is heated in an atmosphere of CO2 in a heating furnace. O and C atoms are introduced into the Ti alloy to harden it without forming Ti oxide, thereby increasing hardness by Ti—O and Ti—C solid solutions thus formed.