Abstract: A discoloration resistant Gold alloy for jewelry characterized in that it comprises in weight: Gold, in the amount comprised between 755‰ and 770‰, Copper, in the amount comprised between 165‰ and 183‰, Silver, in the amount comprised between 28‰ and 50‰, Palladium, in the amount comprised between 19‰ and 23‰ and Iron, in the amount comprised between 2‰ and 6‰. and characterized by the absence of Vanadium.

Abstract: Provided are a silver jewelry article formed using pure silver, which has high Vickers hardness and prohibit the occurrence of discoloration and its method. Disclosed are a silver jewelry article and its method, wherein the Vickers hardness is adjusted to 60 HV or higher, and when the height of the peak of 2?=38°±0.2° by an XRD is designated as h1, and that of 2?=44°±0.4° is designated as h2, h2/h1 is adjusted to 0.2 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are a silver article formed using pure silver, which has high Vickers hardness and prohibits the occurrence of metal corrosion and the occurrence of discoloration; and its method. Disclosed are a silver article and its method, wherein the Vickers hardness is adjusted to 60 HV or higher, and when the height of the peak of 2?=38°±0.2° by an XRD is designated as h1, and that of 2?=44°±0.4° is designated as h2, h2/h1 is adjusted to 0.2 or greater.

Abstract: Described herein are bimetallic nanoframes and methods for producing bimetallic nanoframes. A method may include providing a solution including a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in a solvent, and exposing the solution to oxygen to convert the plurality of nanoparticles into a plurality of nanoframes.

Abstract: A method of producing electrodes includes selecting a palladium alloy, annealing the palladium alloy at a first temperature above 350° C., cold working the palladium alloy into a desired electrode shape, and annealing the palladium alloy at a second temperatures and for a time sufficient to produce a grain size between about 5 microns and about 100 microns. The method further includes etching the palladium alloy, rinsing the palladium alloy with at least one of water and heavy water, and storing the palladium alloy in an inert environment.

Abstract: A temperature sensor includes: a temperature sensing element including a temperature sensing portion, electrical characteristics of which vary depending on temperature, and an electrode wire for outputting an electric signal from the temperature sensing portion to the outside; and a sheath core wire (signal wire) electrically connected to the electrode wire. The electrode wire is made of a platinum-rhodium alloy. The platinum-rhodium alloy is composed of 0.1 to 1.5 mol % of Sr, 22 to 40 mol % of Rh, and a remainder composed of Pt and unavoidable impurities. The platinum-rhodium alloy has a second-phase mainly composed of Sr and Pt whose precipitated grains are dispersed in a matrix phase. An area ratio of the second phase at a cross section is not greater than 25%.

Abstract: A copper alloy wire rod containing Ag: 0.5 wt % or more and 6 wt % or less and the balance including inevitable impurities and Cu, in which, on a cross section parallel to a longitudinal direction of the copper alloy wire rod, within a range observed with a visual field of 1.7 ?m in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and 2.3 ?m in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction, the copper alloy wire rod has at least one rectangular range that is a rectangular range having a width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of 0.2 ?m and a length parallel to the longitudinal direction of 2.3 ?m and entirely includes five or more second phase particles containing Ag and having a maximum length in the longitudinal direction of less than 300 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides a film comprising at least two layers, a first layer and a second layer; and wherein the first layer is formed from a first composition comprising a polyester, a polylactic acid, or a combination thereof; and wherein the second layer is formed from a second composition comprising at least the following: A) functionalized ethylene-based polymer, and B) ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer; and wherein the first layer is adjacent to the second layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a NiIr-base heat-resistant alloy which includes a Ni—Ir—Al—W-base alloy which contains Ir: 5.0 to 50.0 mass %, Al: 1.0 to 8.0 mass %, W: 5.0 to 20.0 mass %, and the balance is Ni, and a ?? phase having an L12 structure precipitating and dispersing in a matrix as an essential strengthening phase, and a ratio (Y/X) of a peak intensity (Y) of (201) plane of the Ir3W phase observed in the range of 2?=48° to 50° to a peak intensity (X) of (111) plane of the ?? phase observed in the range of 2?=43° to 45° in X-ray diffraction analysis is 0.5 or less. The alloy exhibits good high-temperature property stably.

Abstract: A high purity copper-cobalt alloy sputtering target containing 0.1 to 20 at % of Co, and remainder being Cu and unavoidable impurities, wherein a size (dimension) of precipitates in the target structure is 10 ?m or less, and a number of precipitates is 500 precipitates/mm2 or less. It is thereby possible to provide a high purity copper-cobalt alloy sputtering target capable of inhibiting the generation of particles during sputtering, and in particular improving the yield and reliability of semiconductor products that are being subject to further miniaturization and higher integration.

Abstract: A limit switch includes fixed contacts and a movable contact, the fixed contacts and the movable contact formed from an Au—Ni metal alloy of no less than 97% Au by weight. The limit switch detects position, change, movement, number of passes, or the like and outputs an “on” signal or an “off” signal depending on whether a detection occurred.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alloy usable for jewelry applications in which the color can be classified as white, the alloy contains both platinum and palladium and is at a metal cost or lower than that of traditional palladium-containing jewelry alloys, and is commercially age hardenable through heat treatment.

Abstract: A network of nanowires may be used for a sensor. The nanowires are metallic, each nanowire has a thickness of at most 20 nm, and each nanowire has a width of at most 20 nm. The sensor may include nanowires comprising Pd, and the sensor may sense a change in hydrogen concentration from 0 to 100%. A device may include the hydrogen sensor, such as a vehicle, a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank, a facility for manufacturing steel, or a facility for refining petroleum products.

Abstract: The invention concerns the field of galvanic depositions and relates to a method of galvanoplastic deposition of a gold alloy on an electrode dipped into a bath including metal gold in alkaline aurocyanide form, organometallic compounds, a wetting agent, a sequestering agent and free cyanide. According to the invention, the alloy metals are copper, in double copper and potassium cyanide form, and silver in cyanide form, allowing a mirror bright yellow gold alloy to be deposited on the electrode.

Abstract: Bonding wire for semiconductor device use where both leaning failures and spring failures are suppressed by (1) in a cross-section containing the wire center and parallel to the wire longitudinal direction (wire center cross-section), there are no crystal grains with a ratio a/b of a long axis “a” and a short axis “b” of 10 or more and with an area of 15 ?m2 or more (“fiber texture”), (2) when measuring a crystal direction in the wire longitudinal direction in the wire center cross-section, the ratio of crystal direction <100> with an angle difference with respect to the wire longitudinal direction of 15° or less is, by area ratio, 10% to less than 50%, and (3) when measuring a crystal direction in the wire longitudinal direction at the wire surface, the ratio of crystal direction <100> with an angle difference with respect to the wire longitudinal direction of 15° or less is, by area ratio, 70% or more. During the drawing step, a drawing operation with a rate of reduction of area of 15.

Abstract: Bonding wire for semiconductor device use where both leaning failures and spring failures are suppressed by (1) in a cross-section containing the wire center and parallel to the wire longitudinal direction (wire center cross-section), there are no crystal grains with a ratio a/b of a long axis “a” and a short axis “b” of 10 or more and with an area of 15 ?m2 or more (“fiber texture”), (2) when measuring a crystal direction in the wire longitudinal direction in the wire center cross-section, the ratio of crystal direction <100> with an angle difference with respect to the wire longitudinal direction of 15° or less is, by area ratio, 50% to 90%, and (3) when measuring a crystal direction in the wire longitudinal direction at the wire surface, the ratio of crystal direction <100> with an angle difference with respect to the wire longitudinal direction of 15° or less is, by area ratio, 50% to 90%. During the drawing step, a drawing operation with a rate of reduction of area of 15.

Abstract: A Ti-based brazing filler material comprising in mixture a Zr-containing alloy powder comprising 30 to 90% by mass of one or two of Cu and Ni, the balance being Zr and unavoidable impurities and a Ti-based powder comprising 0 to 50% by mass of one or two of Cu and Ni, the balance being Ti and unavoidable impurities, wherein the weight ratio of the Zr-containing alloy powder to the Ti-based powder is 8:2 to 4:6. This Ti-based brazing filler material can achieve good brazing and can exhibit excellent effects in the production of aerospace instruments, medical instruments, frames of glasses, heat-exchangers made from titanium.

Abstract: After a reducing agent is added to a water reaction system containing silver ions to deposit silver particles by reduction, the silver particles are dried to obtain a silver powder which is heat-treated at a temperature of higher than 100° C. and lower than 400° C. The silver powder thus heat-treated has a maximum coefficient of thermal expansion of not greater than 1.5% at a temperature of 50° C. to 800° C., and has no heating peak when the silver powder is heated from 50° C. to 800° C. The silver powder has an ignition loss of not greater than 1.0% when the silver powder is ignited until the weight of the silver powder is constant at 800° C. The silver powder has a tap density of not less than 2 g/cm3 and a BET specific surface area of not greater than 5 m2/g.

Abstract: An alloy wire made of a material selected from one of a group consisting of a silver-gold alloy, a silver-palladium alloy and a silver-gold-palladium alloy is provided. The alloy wire is with a polycrystalline structure of a face-centered cubic lattice and includes a plurality of grains. A central part of the alloy wire includes slender grains or equi-axial grains, and the other parts of the alloy wire consist of equi-axial grains. A quantity of the grains having annealing twins was 20 percent or more of the total quantity of the grains of the alloy wire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing at least one portion of a seal ensuring gas-tightness between at least one first and one second glass panel in a glazing system, the method including the following steps: depositing a first adhesive layer on a first peripheral area of the first panel and a second adhesive layer on a second peripheral area of the second panel; welding a first metal seal element to the first adhesive layer; welding a second metal seal element or said first metal seal element to the second adhesive layer. According to the invention, the first and second adhesive layers are deposited using a high-speed oxy-fuel flame-spraying method.

Abstract: Alloys and dental copings or abutments formed of alloys include 50-60 wt % gold, 5-14 wt % platinum, 0.1-3.0 wt % iridium and the remainder palladium. Other alloys and dental copings or abutments formed of alloys include 58 wt % gold, 10 wt % platinum, 1.0 wt % iridium, and 31 wt % palladium. The alloys are capable of withstanding temperature profiles during casting and multiple high temperature exposures of porcelain firing without excessive softening. The alloys also exhibit advantageous shear strain properties giving the alloys improved manufacturability characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silver alloy target for forming a reflective electrode film for an organic EL element, which has a component composition containing 0.1% to 1.5% by mass of In and the remainder composed of Ag and unavoidable impurities. The average grain diameter of the crystal grain of the alloy is 150 to 400 ?m, and the dispersion of the grain diameter of the crystal grain is 20% of the average grain diameter or less.

Abstract: Provided by the present invention are a fine crystallite high-function metal alloy member, a method for manufacturing the same, and a business development method thereof, in which a crystallite of a metal alloy including a high-purity metal alloy whose crystal lattice is a face-centered cubic lattice, a body-centered cubic lattice, or a close-packed hexagonal lattice is made fine with the size in the level of nanometers (10?9 m to 10?6 m) and micrometers (10?6 m to 10?3 m), and the form thereof is adjusted, thereby remedying drawbacks thereof and enhancing various characteristics without losing superior characteristics owned by the alloy.

Abstract: Electrode catalysts for fuel cells, a method of manufacturing the same, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including the same, and a fuel cell including the MEA are provided. The electrode catalysts include a first catalyst alloy containing palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), and phosphorus (P), a second catalyst alloy containing palladium (Pd) and phosphorus (P), and a carbon-based support to support the catalysts.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a Ag—Pd—Cu—Ge type silver alloy which can form a reflective electrode film having such two characteristics that it is very reduced in the lowering of reflectance caused by thermal deterioration and has resistant to yellowing caused by sulfurization even after a heating step in a process of producing a color liquid crystal display. The silver alloy according to the present invention includes a composition containing at least four elements including Ag as its major component, 0.10 to 2.89 wt % of Pd, 0.10 to 2.89 wt % of Cu and 0.01 to 1.50 wt % of Ge, and the total amount of Pd, Cu and Ge is 0.21 to 3.00 wt %.

Abstract: A bonding wire according to the invention contains a core having a surface, in which the core contains silver as a main component and at least one element selected from gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, copper, and iridium. The wire exhibits at least one of the following properties: I. an average size of crystal grains of the core is between 0.8 ?m and 3 ?m, II. the amount of crystal grains having an orientation in the <001> direction in a wire cross section is in a range of 10-20%, III. the amount of crystal grains having an orientation in the <111> direction in a wire cross section is in a range of 5-15%, and IV. the total amount of crystal grains having orientations in the <001> and <111> directions in a wire cross section is in a range of 15-40%.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electric contact material in which a surface layer portion of an alloy containing 1 to 15 mass % of Cu, 0.01 to 0.7 mass % of Ni, and the remainder of Ag and unavoidable impurities is supplied with an amount of oxygen exceeding the amount of oxygen required for internal oxidation of Cu to form an oxygen concentrated layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a silver alloy suitable for use in a probe pin made of an Ag-Cu alloy, wherein the silver alloy comprises 30 to 50% by weight of Cu and Ag as balance. This silver alloy further comprises 2 to 10% by weight of Ni to further improve strength. A probe pin made of these materials has stable contact resistance even under low contact pressure. The probe pin has excellent strength and antifouling property to adhesion of a foreign matter from a contact object due to repetitive use. Thereby, the probe pin usable in a stable manner for a long period of time can be obtained.

Abstract: A dental alloy with a high gold content that is devoid of palladium and copper. To achieve high mechanical stability, the dental alloy contains between 75 and 95 wt. % Au, between 5 and 20 wt. % Pt, between 0.5 and 3.5 wt. % Zn and/or Sn and/or In, between 0.1 and 0.8 wt. % of an element of a group I, in addition to a single particle refiner of a group II. The weight fraction of the element of group I is between 2 and 6 times that of the single particle refiner of group II, and one element of group I is represented by Nb or Ta or Ti or V and the particle refiner of group II is represented by Ir or Rh.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a metal material. The method comprises a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature of a silver material having undergone final plastic working to 700° C. or more and less than a melting point of the silver material in a vacuum or a helium gas atmosphere, a heating step of maintaining the silver material at 700° C. or more and less than the melting point, and a cooling step of cooling the silver material to room temperature in a vacuum or a helium gas atmosphere. For a part of the period of the heating step, the silver material is heated in a mixed atmosphere in which hydrogen gas is mixed with helium gas.

Abstract: An alloy wire made of a material selected from one of a group consisting of a silver-gold alloy, a silver-palladium alloy and a silver-gold-palladium alloy is provided. The alloy wire is with a polycrystalline structure of a face-centered cubic lattice and includes a plurality of grains. A central part of the alloy wire includes slender grains or equi-axial grains, and the other parts of the alloy wire consist of equi-axial grains. A quantity of the grains having annealing twins was 20 percent or more of the total quantity of the grains of the alloy wire.

Abstract: Rose-color and yellow-color gold alloys are formed from a gold-base alloy containing silver and copper. Mining these elements is usually highly detrimental to the environmental. Environmentally friendly alloys are obtained through the use of recycled elements and elements recovered from mines utilizing specific guidelines. Jewelry manufactured from these environmentally friendly alloys may be more receptive to a consumer, resulting in a competitive advantage.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an amorphous alloy includes at least Pt, P, Si and B as alloying elements, and has a Pt weight fraction of about 0.925 or greater. In some embodiments, the Pt weight fraction is about 0.950 or greater.

Abstract: To acquire the best combination of elongation and break strength on the Au alloy bonding wire. Adding 0.5-30 wt % of at least one element among Cu, Ag, Pd and Pt to high purity Au, a flat area about elongation ratio change appears between the range of 450-650° C. of heat-treatment temperature at wire drawing. Though the wire strength becomes decrease at this range of temperature, the strength is maintained at higher level against the heat treatment temperature of a standard elongation ratio of 4% of high purity Au alloy wire. Therefore, by the heat treatment of this flat range, Au alloy bonding wire, which has certain level of strength regardless of the temperature change, is acquired. Moreover, by selecting appropriate temperature range, different strength characteristics wires corresponding to the elongation ratio are acquired.

Abstract: This invention provides sputtering target materials having high reflectance and excellent heat resistance, which are formed of Ag base alloys formed by adding a specific, minor amount of P to Ag and alloying them.

Abstract: A solid body of a metal alloy comprising less than 99% by weight of noble metal and more than 1% by weight of dispersion-strengthening metals is converted for production of a dispersion-strengthened platinum material by at least 90% oxidation of the dispersion-strengthening metals into a dispersion-strengthened platinum material. The dispersion-strengthened platinum material contains a noble metal component of platinum or a platinum alloy amounting to between 95 and 99% by weight and a dispersion-strengthening agent. The noble metal component includes at least 55% by weight Pt, 0 to 30% by weight Rh, 0 to 30% by weight Au, and 0 to 40% by weight Pd. The remaining proportion by mass of more than 1% by weight is a dispersion-strengthening agent, which contains at least one metal oxidized at least 90% by weight with oxygen, the metal being selected from the group of Ce, Zr, Sc, and Y.

Abstract: Provided is a conductive material to be used for a resistor and a sensor, which is enhanced its mechanical strength while maintaining a stable resistance ratio. In the conductive material used for the resistor and the sensor, 400 to 10,000 ppm of Sr is contained in Pt, and the balance is an inevitable impurity. An intermetallic compound phase formed of Pt and Sr is precipitated and dispersed in Pt.

Abstract: A surface layer structure of a silver article and a forming method thereof. The silver article is a decoration made of a silver metal body (or silver alloy body) or a silver decoration body such as in the form of a sheet. After the silver metal body is formed, at least a part of the surface of the silver metal body is heated to a recrystallization temperature to form a recrystallized surface layer. Accordingly, the residual stresses of the silver metal body are eliminated and the malleability thereof is enhanced. The crystalline grains of the recrystallized surface layer can regrow to present the specific qualities of cubic lattices. The recrystallized surface layer can be further processed by fine electrolysis to enhance the clearness and brilliance of the recrystallized surface layer. The recrystallized surface layer can be further electroplated with a colored electroplating material to form a colorful electroplated layer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to Pd-based metallic glass alloys useful in biomedical applications having no Ni or Cu. Exemplary metallic glass alloys are represented by AaBb{(Si)100-c(D)c}d, where A may be selected from Pd, and combinations of Pd and Pt, B may be selected from Ag, Au, Co, Fe, and combinations thereof, and D may be selected from P, Ge, B, S. Also, a, b, c and d are atomic percentages, and a ranges from about 60 to about 90, b ranges from about 2 to about 18, d ranges from about 5 to about 25, and c is greater than 0 and less than 100.

Abstract: A laminated structure by internal oxidation includes an alloy coating layer structured as columnar grains. The alloy coating layer includes a first metal element and a second metal element, wherein the first metal element is oxidized more easily than the second metal element. The surface layer portion of the alloy coating layer has a plurality of oxide layers and a plurality of metal layers stacked alternately with each other. The material of the oxide layers includes the oxide of the first metal element and the material of the metal layers includes the second metal element.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material for a precious metal tip of a spark plug, which has more excellent durability, particularly oxidation wear resistance than a conventional one. The precious metal alloy for the spark plug according to the present invention contains 0.2 to 6.0 wt. % Cr as an essential component, further at least any one of Fe or Ni, and the balance being Ir. Here, the amount of Fe and Ni to be added is preferably 2.0 to 12.0 wt. % in total. According to the present invention, the surface may be oxidized to form an oxide layer made from a Cr—Fe oxide, a Cr—Ni oxide or a Cr—Fe—Ni oxide. The oxide layer is formed by a diffusion treatment by heating the precious metal alloy at 300 to 900° C. in an oxidative atmosphere, and preferably has a thickness of 5 to 100 ?m.

Abstract: Methods for producing electronic grade metal nanostructures having low levels of contaminants are provided. Monolayer arrays, populations, and devices including such electronic grade nanostructures are described. In addition, novel methods and compositions for production of Group 10 metal nanostructures and for production of ruthenium nanostructures are provided, along with methods for recovering nanostructures from suspension.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to white precious metal alloy compositions comprising at least one of platinum and palladium alloyed with gold, silver, and optionally one or more additional alloying elements. More specifically, and in one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to white precious metal alloy compositions that are suitable for the manufacture of jewelry and other finished articles. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing finished articles from such white precious metal alloy compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides sputtering target materials having high reflectance and excellent heat resistance, which are formed of Ag base alloys formed by adding a specific, minor amount of P to Ag and alloying them.

Abstract: Bulk solidifying amorphous alloys exhibiting improved processing and mechanical properties and methods of forming these alloys are provided. The bulk solidifying amorphous alloys are composed to have high Poisson's ratio values. Exemplary Pt-based bulk solidifying amorphous alloys having such high Poisson's ratio values are also described. The Pt-based alloys are based on Pt—Ni—Co—Cu—P alloys, and the mechanical properties of one exemplary alloy having a composition of substantially Pt57.5Cu14.7Ni5.3P22.5 are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a biocompatible precious metal alloy object. According to a first aspect melting of alloying elements and casting of the biocompatible precious metal alloy are carried out in a process chamber (11) being provided with a process gas of predetermined composition. A burning flame (19) of a hydrocarbon-containing gas provides low oxygen and water content. According to a second aspect post-processing of a precious metal alloy is made in atmosphere provided by the process gas to form the biocompatible precious metal alloy object. The biocompatible precious metal alloy object manufactured according to the invention has a low probability of causing sensitisation when in contact with the human body.

Abstract: In order to obtain a high purity sputtered film for a capacitor electrode of a semiconductor memory and to make the sputtered film have uniform thickness and good adhesiveness with Si substrate, a high-purity Ru alloy target is provided, wherein a total content of the platinum group elements excluding Ru is in a range of 15 to 200 wtppm and remnants are Ru and inevitable impurities. Also, provided is a manufacturing method of the high-purity Ru alloy target, comprising the steps of mixing Ru powder having a purity of 99.9% or higher and powder of platinum group elements excluding Ru, performing press molding of the mixed powder to obtain a compact, performing electron beam melting of the compact to obtain an ingot, and forging the ingot at 1400 to 1900° C.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a Ag—Pd—Cu—Ge type silver alloy which can form a reflective electrode film having such two characteristics that it is very reduced in the lowering of reflectance caused by thermal deterioration and has resistant to yellowing caused by sulfurization even after a heating step in a process of producing a color liquid crystal display. The silver alloy according to the present invention includes a composition containing at least four elements including Ag as its major component, 0.10 to 2.89 wt % of Pd, 0.10 to 2.89 wt % of Cu and 0.01 to 1.50 wt % of Ge, and the total amount of Pd, Cu and Ge is 0.21 to 3.00 wt %.

Abstract: A solid body of a metal alloy comprising less than 99% by weight of noble metal and more than 1% by weight of dispersion-strengthening metals is converted for production of a dispersion-strengthened platinum material by at least 90% oxidation of the dispersion-strengthening metals into a dispersion-strengthened platinum material. The dispersion-strengthened platinum material contains a noble metal component and a dispersion-strengthening agent, the proportion by mass of the noble metal component amounting to between 95 and 99% by weight and the noble metal component of platinum or a platinum alloy including at least 55% by weight Pt, 0 to 30% by weight Rh, 0 to 30% by weight Au, and 0 to 40% by weight Pd. The remaining proportion by mass of more than 1% by weight is a dispersion-strengthening agent, which contains at least one metal oxidized at least 90% by weight with oxygen, the metal being selected from the group of Ce, Zr, Sc, and Y.

Abstract: An iridium alloy is produced having at least 85% by weight iridium, at least 0.005% by weight molybdenum, 0.001 to 0.6% by weight hafnium and, optionally, rhenium, the sum of molybdenum and hafnium being between 0.002 and 1.2% by weight. The iridium alloy is produced in a process, in which an IrMo and an IrHf master alloy, respectively, are created in an electric arc and immersed into an iridium melt, optionally together with Re.