Abstract: The spheroidal graphite cast iron member having a surface layer portion mostly composed of a ferrite phase and having a thickness of at least 1 mm, and an inner portion composed of a pearlite phase and a ferrite phase, the surface layer portion having a ferritization ratio of 70% or more which is larger than that of the inner portion by at least about 15% is produced by (a) pouring a spheroidal graphite cast melt into a casting mold; (b) removing the casting mold by shake-out after the completion of solidification of the melt, while substantially the entire portion of the resulting cast iron product is still at a temperature of its A.sub.1 transformation point or higher; (c) when the temperature difference between the surface layer portion and the inner portion has become 40.degree.-60.degree. C., introducing the cast iron product into a uniform-temperature furnace kept at 750.degree.-900.degree. C.

Abstract: A metallic solid comprising an metal-carbon matrix of an allotropic metal and metallofullerites of the allotropic metal is disclosed, along with an associated method of forming the solid by interrupting and temporarily holding a metal-carbon melt at the point through the cooling curve at which the solidifying metal passes through the allotropic transformation stage for the metal defined by the overall proportion of allotropic metal and carbon in the melt.

Abstract: The wear-resistant compound roll is constituted by a shell portion made of an iron-base alloy having the composition consisting essentially of 1.0-3.5 weight % of C, 3.0 weight % or less of Si, 1.5 weight % or less of Mn, 2-10 weight % of Cr, 9 weight % or less of Mo, 20 weight % or less of W, 2-15 weight % of V, 0.08 weight % or less of P, 0.06 weight % or less of S, 300 ppm or less of B, the balance being substantially Fe and inevitable impurities, and a shaft portion made of steel. The iron-base alloy of the shell portion has a structure containing by an area ratio 5-30 % of granular carbides and 5 % or less of non-granular carbides, an alloy matrix of the shell portion having a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 550 or more. This compound roll has excellent wear resistance and resistance to surface roughening.

Abstract: A method of making a steel article having a "Damascus" surface pattern wherein a steel melt comprising about 1.0 to about 2.0 weight % carbon is solidified to form an ingot, the ingot is heated between about 1100.degree. to about 1299.degree. C. for a time at temperature of about 5 to about 12 hours, a malleable envelope is formed about the ingot separately or concurrently with the heat treatment, and the enveloped ingot is shaped (e.g., forged) initially at an ingot temperature above the A.sub.r-gr temperature but below the liquidus temperature and then at an ingot temperature below the A.sub.cm temperature. The envelope is then removed from the shaped ingot.

Abstract: A cast-iron product has a composition of 4.3-4.9 wt. % Carbon Equivalent (CE), 0.25-0.5 wt. % Chromium (Cr), 0.05-0.12 wt. % Tin (Sn), 0.4-1.2 wt. % Manganese (Mn), 0-0.1 wt. % Phosphorus (P), and 0-0.15 wt. % Sulfur (S), with the balance being Iron (Fe). A brake assembly comprises a sliding element made of such a cast iron, and the sliding element is adapted to slideably contact with a friction element or elements made of non-asbestos material and constitute the assembly. Further, a method of producing a cast iron product comprises the steps of casting a cast iron having a composition of 4.3-4.9 wt. % Carbon Equivalent (CE), 0.25-0.5 wt. % Chromium (Cr), 0.05-0.12 wt. % Tin (Sn), 0.4-1.2 wt. % Manganese (Mn), 0-0.1 wt. % Phosphorus (P), and 0-0.15 wt. % Sulfur (S), with the balance being Iron (Fe), releasing a mold at a temperature not less than A.sub.1 allotropic transformation temperature, and cooling the cast iron at a relatively high cooling rate.