Abstract: A coated article having a high resistance to particle-impact damage has a substrate, and a layered coating overlying the substrate. The layered coating includes a substantially continuous quasicrystalline layer, and a substantially continuous ductile metallic layer in facing contact with the quasicrystalline layer. The coated article is preferably used in applications where it is subjected to particle-impact conditions.

Abstract: A precision machine part is made of a plurality of pieces with a transient liquid phase diffusion bonding alloy provided between the pieces to bond them together. The precision machine part has one or more conveyance passages formed in it, has a longitudinal axis and is configured to permit passage of liquid or gas through the conveyance passage from a pipe line or cylinder. The pieces of the precision machine part are adhered to each other by transient liquid phase bonding with a ribbon of an amorphous bonding alloy. The bonding alloy can contain 1 to 10 atomic % V or can contain 1 to 15 atomic % of B or P or a mixture of B and P and 1 to 10 atomic % V, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and can exhibit an amount of contraction in a bonding stress loading direction caused by plastic deformation in the bonding process of not more than 5%. The bonding alloy may be an amorphous Ni-based alloy.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device includes a magnetization pinned layer, a magnetization free layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer formed between the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer, and electrodes allowing a sense current to flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the stack including the magnetization pinned layer, the nonmagnetic intermediate layer and the magnetization free layer. At least one of the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer is substantially formed of a binary or ternary alloy represented by the formula FeaCobNic (where a+b+c=100 at %, and a?75 at %, b?75 at %, and c?63 at %), or formed of an alloy having a body-centered cubic crystal structure.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a soft magnetic underlayer structure that includes two soft underlayers is presented. A thick first soft underlayer, disposed on the medium substrate, is made of material which provides a low magnitude of magnetization saturation (Bsat) and high permeability. The first soft underlayer can be formed by plating or high-rate sputtering. The second soft underlayer, which has a lesser thickness than the first soft underlayer, is made of a material which provides a relatively high magnitude of Bsat and low permeability. The second soft underlayer can be formed by low-rate sputtering. The first soft under layer can be isolated from other layers in the medium by an exchange isolation layer. The second soft underlayer can be exchange coupled to a radial exchange pin layer disposed on the exchange isolation layer.

Abstract: Sharp-edged cutting tools and a method of manufacturing sharp-edged cutting tools wherein at least a portion of the sharp-edged cutting tool is formed from a bulk amorphous alloy material are provided.

Abstract: A plurality of parts are brazed using an iron/chromium filler metal. The parts are preferably composed of stainless steel. The brazed assembly forms a heat exchanger characterized by good corrosion resistance and low rates of leaching of Ni, which are further improved by a post-brazing conditioning step in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of about 150° to 600° C. The preferred brazing filler metal consists essentially of a composition having the formula FeaCrbCocNidMoeWfBgSih wherein the subscripts are in atom percent and total 100%, “b” is about 5 to 20, “c” ranges from 0 to about 30, “d” is 0 to about 20, “e” is 0 to about 5, “f” is 0 to about 5, “g” is about 8 to 15, “h” is about 8 to 15, the balance being incidental impurities of up to about 1 percent by weight of the total composition.

Abstract: A bonded member includes a ceramic base material and a metal member solid-phase bonded via a soldering material. An active metal is placed on a surface of the ceramic base material and the soldering material, which includes Au, is placed on the active metal, and the active metal and the soldering material are heated so as to form a precoat layer. The metal member is placed on the surface of the precoat layer via a barrier layer, which is capable of inhibiting diffusion of a metal constituting the metal member, and the precoat layer and the metal member are pressurized heated so as to be solid-phase bonded. The production method of the bonded member is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the present application, a steel sheet having surface-treated zinc-based plating is provided which comprises a zinc-based plating layer, a chromium-free conductive intermediate layer and an organic resin layer, all of the layers being superimposed one on another in the order mentioned. Even though it is of a so-called chromium-free surface-treated steel sheet, the steel sheet is more conductive and more highly resistant to corrosion than conventional chromium-free steel sheets, the likelihood of water pollution is reduced, and the steel sheet can be used in various applications as a replacement for conventional chromate-treated steel sheets.

Abstract: A composite tool comprising a supporting part of a metallic material having a first composition and a working part of a metallic material having a second composition which is different from the first composition, a process for the manufacture thereof and a method of cutting an austentic alloy article with this composite tool. The supporting part of the composite tool is made of a tenacious iron-based material, and the working part is made of a precipitation harden iron-cobalt-tungsten alloy. The parts are joined by a metallic connection.

Abstract: A performance of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, such as an increase in output or a decrease in noise, is improved by providing a good orientation of a magnetic recording layer in the perpendicular magnetic recording medium and by reducing an amount of an initial growth layer in the magnetic recording layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes an under layer, a magnetic recording layer, a protective film, and a liquid lubrication layer, which are sequentially provided on a non-magnetic substrate. The under layer contains non-magnetic NiFeCr or a permalloy-based soft magnetic material.

Abstract: To provide a plating method, which enables wide industrial use of the redox system electroless plating method having excellent characteristics, and a plating bath precursor which is preferable for the plating method. The plating method comprises a process oxidizing first metal ions of a redox system of a plating bath from a lower oxidation state to a high oxidation state, and second metal ions of said redox system are reduced and deposited onto the surface of an object to be plated, wherein a process is provided in which by supplying the electrical current to the plating bath, the first metal ions are reduced from said lower oxidation state to thereby activate the plating bath. The plating bath precursor is formed stabilizing the plating bath so that reduction and deposition of the second metal ions substantially do not occur in order to improve its storing performance.

Abstract: Disclosed are a structure of multi-layered clad plates and sheets for corrosion resistance and a fabricating method thereof. Provided are clad plates and sheets for corrosion resistance in which Ni, Co, Ti, Nb, V, and Zr having an excellent corrosion resistance, or an alloy thereof are bonded to cheap Fe, Cu, or an alloy thereof. Chemical compositions of the clad metals and structures of the clad plates and sheets are easily modified with service conditions of the clad plates and sheets. Also, this invention provides a more cost-effective method based on a resistance seam welding process for fabricating the corrosion-resistant clad plates and sheets.

Abstract: A solder coated lid for a package for an electronic device has a lead-free solder layer comprising a Sn—Sb based solder with a liquidus temperature of at least 220 degrees C. provided on at least a region of the lid where the lid is to be joined to a base of a package. The lid can be joined to a base of a package at a low temperature, thereby reducing vaporization of solder components and adhesion thereof to electronic devices within the package.

Abstract: Gold is coated on a surface of a stainless steel plate containing an intermetallic compound forming element which forms an intermetallic compound by reacting with gold, and then the entirety is heated to form an intermetallic compound layer comprising the intermetallic compound at the interface between the stainless steel plate and the gold coated layer. In this way, exfoliation of the gold coated layer which is arranged on the surface of the stainless steel plate to obtain extremely high corrosion resistance can be prevented for a long time, and thus great durability can be maintained.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film comprising Fe, Co, a metallic element (M), and oxygen (O) is provided. The soft magnetic film is represented by a composition formula of (Fe1-aCoa)xMyOz. The metallic element (M) is one selected from a group consisting of Al, B, Ga, Si, Ge, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Rh, Ru, Ni, Pd and Pt, or is an alloy composed of at least two selected from this group. The composition formula fulfills the following conditions: a=0.05-0.65; y=0.2-9 at %, z=1-12 at %, and y+z=<15 at %; and x=(100−y−z) at %. A crystal structure is formed by having a bcc phase as a principal phase. The bcc phase has a crystal grain not exceeding 50 nm in diameter. The bcc phase includes a solid solution of the metallic element (M) and the oxygen (O).

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved composite used as a bipolar separator plate in fuel cells. The composite of the invention comprises a steel substrate having a carbon coating thereon, the carbon coating comprises a carbon layer derived by pyrolysis of an acetylenic polymer having a content of carbon of at least 90%, the carbon layer protects the substrate against corrosion and improves long term contact resistivity, the polymer is soluble at a temperature below 110° C. in an organic solvent, and the carbon layer contacts said steel substrate. A process for preparing the composite according to the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of electroplating a Ni—Fe—P alloy using a sulfamate solution and, in particular, a method of electroplating a Ni—Fe—P alloy using a plating solution containing nickel sulfamate, iron sulfamate, phosphorous acid, and a buffer agent. The method is advantageous in that a residual stress of a deposited layer is very low and has stable mechanical properties, and excellent thermal and corrosion resistance because the deposited layer is obtained by electroplating the Ni—Fe—P alloy using the sulfamate solution useful in a high rate plating process. Furthermore, the method can be applied to various parent metals such as stainless steel, Inconel and iron alloys, and to various fields because the chemical compositions of the deposited layer are readily controlled by varying the concentration of the plating solution.

Abstract: Steel sheet for porcelain enameling capable of realizing excellent enamel adhesion with the steel sheet by direct-on enameling once is provided by using a Ti-added steel sheet; there are also a method for producing the same, as well as a porcelain enamel product and the method for producing the same. A steel sheet for porcelain enameling is produced by providing a Ni—Mo alloy plating film on a Ti-added steel sheet containing 0.01% by weight (wherein, % represents “% by weight” hereinafter) or less of C, 0.5% or less of Mn, 0.04% or less of P, 0.04% or less of S, 0.01 to 0.50% of Ti, and balance Fe accompanied by unavoidable impurities, and by then performing heat treatment thereto to control the content of Ni, Mo, and Fe present in the surface of the steel sheet in a predetermined range, porcelain enamel is applied once and fired.

Abstract: A method is provided for refurbishing a service operated metallic coating on a substrate alloy, the coating including at least within a coating outer surface at least one oxide chemically grown from at least one coating element, for example Al, and chemically bonded with the coating outer surface as a result of thermal exposure during service operation. Growth of the oxide has depleted at least a portion of the coating element from the coating. The method comprises removing the oxide from the coating outer surface while substantially retaining the metallic coating, thereby exposing in the coating outer surface at least one surface void that had been occupied by the oxide. The retained metallic coating is mechanically worked, substantially without removal of the retained coating, to close the void, providing a treated metallic coating surface over which a refurbishing coating is applied.

Abstract: A steel composition, in which, Si content is regulated to a given range and Nb and Cu or Ni, Mo are compositively added, and a recrystallization annealing is carried out to form an internal oxide layer just beneath a surface of a steel sheet and a surface oxide simultaneously formed on the surface of the steel sheet is removed by pickling. As a result, the formation of oxides of Si, Mn and the like is considerably decreased on the surface of the steel sheet in a subsequent heating before plating because the above internal oxide layer acts as a diffusion barrier. Thus, there can be obtained high tensile strength hot-dipped steel sheets having a considerably excellent plating property.

Abstract: A galvannealed steel sheet superior in workability wherein the steel sheet is characterized by containing silicon in an amount no less than 0.8 mass % and retained austenite in an amount no less than 3% (in terms of packing factor) and the alloy zinc plating is characterized by containing Zn—Fe alloy crystal grains which exist in its surface layer and have a specific crystal grain size such that the longer side of a crystal grain is no larger than twice the shorter side of a crystal grain and the number of crystal grains with an average particle size no smaller than 4 &mgr;m is no more than 5 per 70×50 &mgr;m. The steel sheet with alloy zinc coating has good mechanical properties (such as total elongation) and good plating surface slidability.

Abstract: A heat spreader includes an electromagnetic soft iron sheet and a plating layer formed on the surface of the sheet. The plate is made of a rustproof metal. An electronic component is mounted on an aluminum base with an HITT substrate and the heat spreader in between. The heat spreader is manufactured at low cost and has a favorable property as a heat dissipating material.

Abstract: A disk for a hard disk drive. The disk includes a first layer of magnetic material located over a substrate, an intermediate layer located over the first magnetic layer and a second layer of magnetic material located over the intermediate layer. The second layer may include cobalt and chromium. The intermediate layer may include titanium. The first magnetic layer include iron, hafnium and nitrogen (FeHfN). This composition of the first magnetic layer shows higher saturation magnetization and lower roughness, and increases the nucleation field of the disk.

Abstract: A coated article having a high resistance to wear damage has a substrate, and a layered coating overlying the substrate. The layered coating includes a ductile metallic layer overlying and in facing contact with the substrate, and a protective layer overlying and in facing contact with the ductile metallic layer and including a mixture of a quasicrystalline metallic phase and a non-quasicrystalline ductile phase. The coated article is preferably used in applications where it is subjected to wear conditions.

Abstract: The tin-plated steel sheet includes a base steel sheet; a tin plating layer coating approximately more than 97.0% of the base steel sheet; and a chemical conversion coating having approximately 0.5 to 100 mg/m2 phosphorus and approximately 0.1 to 250 mg/m2 silicon formed on the tin plating layer and an unplated region corresponding to approximately less than 3.0%. The tin-plated steel sheet does not contain chromium which is harmful to the environment but has superior overcoat adhesion property, discoloration resistance, and rust resistance.

Abstract: A metal layer is bonded to the ferrite core of an inductive component. A defined electric potential is thereby set for the ferrite core of an inductive component and/or the damping of the inductive component is reduced which is caused by losses induced from its magnetic field.

Abstract: A chemically processed steel sheet comprising a steel base coated with an Al—Si alloy plating layer, whose Si content is preferably adjusted to approximately 5-13 mass % as a whole and to approximately 7-80 mass % at a surface, and a converted layer generated on the surface of the plating layer. The converted layer contains both soluble and scarcely-soluble compounds. The soluble compound such as a manganese oxide or hydroxide or a valve metal fluoride is once dissolved to water in an atmosphere and then re-precipitated as scarcely-soluble compounds at defective parts of the converted layer. The scarcely-soluble compounds act as a barrier for corrosion-prevention of a base steel. Due to the re-precipitation, that is self-repairing faculty, excellent corrosion resistance of the converted layer is still maintained even after defects are introduced therein during plastic deformation of the steel sheet.

Abstract: A multilayer film formed body comprises an outermost layer comprising a diamondlike carbon film, a substrate comprising an iron material, and an intermediate layer comprising a first layer on the substrate side, and a second layer on the outermost layer side. The first layer comprises at least either metal of Cr and Al, and a second layer comprises an amorphous layer including carbon and at least either metal of Cr and Al. The second layer has a gradient structure where the metal decreases as the position becomes closer to the outermost layer. The hardness of the second layer increases stepwise or continuously as the position becomes closer to the outermost layer. The hardness of the second layer close to the first layer is close to the hardness of the first layer. The hardness of the second layer close to the outermost layer is close to the hardness of the outermost layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a multilayered film comprising a magnetic detecting layer having a magnetoresistive effect, a pair of first antiferromagnetic layers in contact with the magnetic detecting layer of the multilayered film at a predetermined gap in the track width direction, the first antiferromagnetic layers aligning the magnetization direction of the magnetic detecting layer, and a pair of conductive layers in contact with the pair of first antiferromagnetic layers, the pair of conductive layers applying a detecting current to the multilayered film. The first antiferromagnetic layers are composed of an antiferromagnetic material having higher resistivity than that of the conductive layers. The conductive layers are superimposed with the corresponding first antiferromagnetic layers and are in contact with the magnetic detecting layer in a range of the predetermined gap.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to produce a surface treated steel sheet for a battery container of which electric contact to the positive electrode active material is improved, a method of surface treatment for a battery container, a battery container and a battery, wherein the surface treated steel sheet has a graphite dispersed nickel plating layer or a graphite dispersed nickel-alloy plating layer formed on the one side to be the inner surface of a battery container, in which nickel-cobalt alloy, nickel-cobalt-iron alloy, nickel-manganese alloy, nickel-phosphorus alloy, nickel-bismuth alloy or the like is preferable as an alloy plating layer, the battery container is manufactured from these surface treated steel sheets by DI forming or DTR forming, and the battery uses this battery container.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a composite material for use in recovery of radionuclides, metals, and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media. The material has very high surface area, and includes nanometer sized, zero-valent iron on a support. The material can be used to remediate aqueous media which have contaminants such as radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media.

Abstract: A metallic component exposed to high temperature steam is provided with a coating comprising a thin primer layer deposited on the surface of the metallic component and a thicker overlay layer on top of the primer layer. The primer layer consists of highly ductile, oxidation resistant material such that it remains free of any defects over a long period of exposure. The overlay layer consists of an oxidation resistant, less ductile, and low-cost material. It protects the thin primer layer from mechanical damage and chemical degradation. The primer layer protects the base material of the metallic component from oxidizing steam that may penetrate through cracks of the overlay layer. Due to suitable choice of coating materials and thicknesses of the layers the coating is low-cost.

Abstract: An abradable coating composition for use on shrouds in gas turbine engines (or other hot gas path metal components exposed to high temperatures) containing an initial porous coating phase created by adding a “fugitive polymer” (such as polyester or polyimide) to the base metal alloy, together with a brittle intermetallic phase such as &bgr;-NiAl that serves to increase the brittle nature of the metal matrix, thereby increasing the abradability of the coating at elevated temperatures, and to improve the oxidation resistance of the coating at elevated temperatures. Coatings having about 12 wt % polyester has been found to exhibit excellent abradability for applications involving turbine shroud coatings. An abradable coating thickness in the range of between 40 and 60 ml provides the best performance for turbine shrouds exposed to gas temperatures between 1380° F. and 1850° F.

Abstract: The addition of small amounts of CeO2 and Cr to intermetallic compositions of NiAl and FeAl improves ductility, thermal stability, thermal shock resistance, and resistance to oxidation, sulphidization and carburization.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film of the invention is to improve a resistivity &rgr; while maintaining a coercive force Hc and a saturation magnetic flux density Ms in good states by adding an element X (X is one or more kinds of elements selected from O, C, N, and S). Further, a thin film magnetic head capable of coping with an increase in a recording density and an increase in a recording frequency can be provided by using the soft magnetic film in core layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium exhibiting excellent noise characteristics and thermal stability. On a substrate, a first undercoat film, a first perpendicular magnetic film, a second undercoat film, a non-magnetic intermediate film, a second perpendicular magnetic film, and a protective film are successively formed, and the magnetic anisotropy energy of the first perpendicular magnetic film is higher than that of the second perpendicular magnetic film.

Abstract: A metallic material of the invention which comprises, in mass %, C: not more than 0.2%, Si: 0.01-4%, Mn: 0.05-2%, P: not more than 0.04%, S: not more than 0.015%, Cr: 10-35%, Ni: 30-78%, Al: not less than 0.005% but less than 4.5%, N: 0.005-0.2%, and one or both of Cu: 0.015-3% and Co: 0.015-3%, with the balance substantially being Fe, and of which the value of 40Si+Ni+5Al+40N+10 (Cu+Co), wherein the symbols of elements represent the contents of the respective elements, is not less than 50 and has excellent corrosion resistance in an environment in which metal dusting is ready to occur and, therefore, can be utilized as or in heating furnace pipes, piping systems, heat exchanger pipes and so forth to be used in a petroleum refinery or in petrochemical plants, and can markedly improve the equipment durability and safety.

Abstract: A memory element comprising nanomagnets having a rotational symmetry selected in order to provide high remanence and a suitable coercivity. There is also a sensor element comprising nanomagnets having a rotational symmetry selected such that they are superparamagnetic and exhibit substantially zero hysteresis so that a magnetisation of the nanomagnets depends only on the current value of applied field and not on the field history.

Abstract: A round formwork module comprising a flexible skin having a front side which, when used, constitutes the forming surface for a concrete structure which is to be cast, and also provided with a rear side and a supporting structure which is arranged on the rear side of the skin and which can be displaced in order to enable the skin to be bent along a direction in which it extends. The invention is characterized in that the supporting structure has a base structure and two side elements which are arranged laterally, close to the base structure. The side elements are respectively secured to a lateral edge area of the skin and protrude therefrom close to the base structure. An adjustment device for adjusting the curvature is provided in between the base structure and the side elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the application of a lubricant layer to a frictionally stressed surface of an object, and to a corresponding object, the lubricant layer, in use, containing boric acid. For production, the object is introduced into a reactor and the reactor is evacuated. Then, to produce an adhesion-promoter layer, a process gas is introduced, which contains boron, nitrogen and/or carbon at least in the form of a compound or releases the corresponding element under process conditions, and penetrates into the region of the surface of the object, in particular by diffusion. To produce an intermediate layer containing boron and oxygen, a second precursor material, which contains boron at least in the form of a compound and releases the boron under process conditions, and a first precursor material, which contains oxygen at least in the form of a compound and releases the oxygen under process conditions, are introduced into the depositing gas phase.

Abstract: The invention concerns an iron powder characterised by spherical form and a porous structure throughout. The powder particles have an average particle diameter between 10 and 300 &mgr;m, a specific surface area of at least 100 m2/kg, a flowability of at least 35 s/50 g, a reactivity of less than 5 minutes and an apparent density lower than about 4 g/cm3. The iron powder is prepared by subjecting a dry powder of essentially spherical iron-containing agglomerates to a heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature and time sufficient for obtaining particles essentially consisting of metallic iron and having a porous structure throughout. The obtained particles may then be subjected to sintering at a time and temperature sufficient for obtaining the required strength.

Abstract: An article comprising a substrate containing silicon and at least one barrier layer which functions as a thermal barrier at temperatures in excess of 1300° C. in aqueous environments.

Abstract: An oxide magnetic material comprising main constituents including Fe2O3, ZnO, CuO and NiO. Y2O3 of 0.003 to 0.021 wt % and-ZrO2 of 0.06 to 0.37 wt % are included in said main constituents with respect to all amounts. It is also preferable that Si of 0.010 to 0.0112 wt % is included in said main constituents with respect to all amounts. Further, it is also preferable that Y2O3of 0.001 to 0.011 wt % , ZrO2 of 0.031 to 0.194 wt %, and Si of 0.010 to 0.056 wt % are included in said main constituents with respect to all amounts.

Abstract: A method of treating a metallic surface which comprises treating a metal-coated steel panel with a nonchromate metallic surface treating agent containing, in each liter thereof, (a-1) a silane coupling agent and/or a hydrolytic condensation product thereof, (a-2) water-dispersible silica in a proportion, and (a-3) a zirconium compound and/or a titanium compound, drying the treated steel panel and coating it with an anticorrosion coating agent containing, in each liter of an aqueous resin solution or dispersion, (b-1) a silane coupling agent and/or a hydrolytic condensation product thereof, (b-2) water-dispersible silica and (b-3) at least one phosphorus-containing ion selected from among phosphate ion, phosphite ion and hypophosphite ion.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is disclosed, comprising a support having provided thereon a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder as main components, wherein the ferromagnetic powder is a hexagonal ferrite powder having an average tabular diameter of from 15 to 40 nm, the perpendicular factor of squareness ratio SQ of the magnetic layer is from 0.1 to 0.55, the specific surface area and the total pore volume per weight of the magnetic layer by a nitrogen adsorption method are from 0.1 to 50 m2/g and from 0.001 to 1 ml/g, respectively, and the magnetic layer thickness is from 0.02 to 0.3 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The coated steel sheet includes a zinc phosphate coating containing Mg on a surface of a galvanized steel sheet, and an orthophosphoric acid ester-containing coating on a surface of the zinc phosphate coating. The coated steel sheet has no coating fall-off even during a chemical conversion treatment step of an automobile producing line and has excellent perforative corrosion resistance either with no-painting or after electrodeposition painting, chemical conversion treatability and press formability.

Abstract: The object of present invention is to provide a battery container, of which the inner surface is provided with a surface-treated layer having low internal resistance and the outer surface is provided with a surface-treated layer having high quality and excellent continuous formability. Another object is to provide a surface-treated steel sheet suitably used for manufacturing the battery container.

Abstract: A method of making cookware and bakeware having a stick resistant and mar resistant cook surface comprising the steps of providing a cooking utensil having a cook surface, and cryogenically treating the cooking utensil at one or more selected temperatures comprising −100° F. to −300° F. or lower to harden said cook surface. The cooking utensil may have a bare metal cook surface, or it may be coated with a stick resistant coating such as one of a PTFE, metal nitride or sulfide coating or combinations thereof prior to the cryogenic hardening treatment.

Abstract: A metallic component exposed to high temperature steam is provided with a coating comprising a thin primer layer deposited on the surface of the metallic component and a thicker overlay layer on top of the primer layer. The primer layer consists of highly ductile, oxidation resistant material such that it remains free of any defects over a long period of exposure. The overlay layer consists of an oxidation resistant, less ductile, and low-cost material. It protects the thin primer layer from mechanical damage and chemical degradation. The primer layer protects the base material of the metallic component from oxidizing steam that may penetrate through cracks of the overlay layer. Due to suitable choice of coating materials and thicknesses of the layers the coating is low-cost.

Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell comprising a gold covering layer formed on the surface of stainless steel plate a method for producing a separator, in which exfoliation and fracture of the gold covering layer can be prevented and corrosion resistance and durability can be obtained, are provided. Voids are formed by intergranular corrosion treatment at a surface of the stainless steel plate, and the gold covering layer is formed so as to be embedded in the voids. Limit value of radius of curvature in bends in which exfoliations or fractures in the gold covering layer is formed can be reduced by satisfying the equation 0.2≦4/d/L≦80 wherein L(&mgr;m) is the average grain size of the surface of stainless steel plate, and d(&mgr;m) is the thickness of the gold covering layer.