Abstract: The invention relates to a composition and a method for producing a finely ground powder of sponge-iron and hard-phase material.

Abstract: A method for preparing controlled phase alloys useful for engineering and hydrogen storage applications. This novel method avoids melting the constituents by employing vapor transport, in a hydrogen atmosphere, of an active metal constituent, having a high vapor pressure at temperatures .apprxeq.300 C. and its subsequent condensation on and reaction with the other constituent (substrate) of an alloy thereby forming a controlled phase alloy and preferably a single phase alloy. It is preferred that the substrate material be a metal powder such that diffusion of the active metal constituent, preferably magnesium, and reaction therewith can be completed within a reasonable time and at temperatures .apprxeq.300 C. thereby avoiding undesirable effects such as sintering, local compositional inhomogeneities, segregation, and formation of unwanted second phases such as intermetallic compounds.

Abstract: A mechanochemical process for producing fine WC/Co composite powder which is so small in WC grain size and in mean free path, and contains such a uniform distribution of WC and Co that its hard metal is superior in strength, compressive strength, TRS and wear resistance and considerably free of impurities. The method comprises the steps of drying an ammonium metatungstate--Co(NO.sub.3).sub.2 solution in a spray dry manner to give initial powder of porous spheroids or in a common manner to give a cake of initial powder, removing the salts and humidity from the initial powder by a thermal treatment, mixing and milling the desalted initial powder with carbon black, and subjecting the mixed powder to reduction/carburization in a reactor.

Abstract: Leached nanocrystalline materials having a high specific surface are particularly useful for storing hydrogen or as catalysts or electrocatalysts in the manufacture electrodes, especially for fuel cells. Such materials can be manufactured by preparing a nanocrystalline material consisting of a metastable composite or alloy of at least two different chemical elements. To be nanocrystalline, this material must have a crystalline structure with the grain size lower than 100 nm. Then, the so prepared nanocrystalline material can be subjected to a leaching treatment in order to eliminate partially or totally one of the elements of the composite or alloy. This leaching results in nanocrystalline materials having a porous structure and, thereby, the requested high specific surface.

Abstract: A method for making a hydrogen storage alloy comprises subjecting a bulky hydrogen storage alloy to a first thermal treatment at a temperature ranging from 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C., cooling the thus treated alloy, grinding the cooled alloy to pieces having an average particle size of 20 .mu.m or below, and subjecting the pieces to a second thermal treatment in vacuum or in an atmosphere of an inert gas at a temperature of 200.degree. to 1050.degree. C. to obtain an alloy product. A hydrogen storage alloy obtained by the method is also described.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing a nanocrystalline powder of an alloy of at least two metals by an intensive mechanical grinding step performed upon powders of the metals which make up the alloy. The grinding is performed at atmospheric pressure under an inert atmosphere, and is carried out at a temperature in the range of 100.degree.-400.degree. C. In this manner, one obtains crystallites of the alloy having a grain size lower than 100 nm by grinding for a period of time lower by about an order of magnitude than the time necessary to achieve this grain size by a similar grinding step carried out at ambient temperature.

Abstract: A process for recovering valuable components of a residue from a stream of used catalyst, discharged from a plant for the liquid-phase, homogeneously catalyzed oxidation of alkylaromatic compounds under pressure, to produce polycarboxylic aromatic acids. The residue containing mainly cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn) compounds is injected into a molten metal bath in combination with enough oxygen gas to convert essentially all carbon in the residue mainly to CO. The residue may also be sludge from a pond in which the residue is stored. The Co content of the molten metal is determined by how much of the Mn in the residue is to be rejected from the molten metal. The Mn rejected is distributed between a slag overlying the molten metal and the effluent which leaves the bath. In the slag, the Mn is trapped as manganese oxide (MnO); in the effluent Mn leaves as manganese dibromide (MnBr.sub.2).

Abstract: A mechanical alloying process wherein compacting of particulate feedstock is physically separate from subsequent comminuting improves control and consistency in mechanical alloying. The preferred compaction is by squeezing between rollers or other compacting means to produce a coherent mass such as a strip. The coherent mass (preferably rolled strip) is comminuted separately from the rolling or compression. This allows for a reduced temperature in comminuting or an atmosphere different from compacting or compressing. Compacting and comminuting are repeated to produce the desired extent of alloying and homogenization.

Abstract: A hydrogen occluded alloy and a process for producing the above alloy are disclosed. The above process mechanically forms the hydrogen occluded alloy having improved initial discharging characteristics. In the above process, either a powdered LaNi.sub.5 alloy or rare earth metals, such as la, Ce, Pr and Nd, and a powdered CaCu.sub.5 alloy of Mm-Mn-Ni-Al-Co alloys is mixed with a powdered Laves alloy of Zr-Mn-V-Cr-Ni alloys into a powdered alloy mixture. Thereafter, the alloy mixture is applied with a mechanical impact by a high energy ball mill with an attritor, thereby mechanically forming the hydrogen occluded alloy. The above process easily controls the manganese component while producing the hydrogen occluded alloy through the mechanical alloying.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing hydrogen storage alloy particles comprises steps of obtaining a melt of the hydrogen storage alloy and pulverizing the hydrogen storage alloy by water atomizing process, whereby the melt is pulverized by contacting or colliding with high-speed jetting thereto to be dispersed in the form of solidified fine particles. By employing an aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid or an alkali aqueous solution in place of water during the water atomizing process, or by etching the oxide films once formed on the surface of the hydrogen storage alloy particles with an aqueous solution of a strong acid, the thickness of the oxide film can be made thinner, and thus a high discharge capacity of a battery configured with a negative electrode comprising the alloy particles can be realized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for reforming sponge titanium powder into intermediate titanium particles of desirable fluidity and superior bulk specific gravity suitable as a starting material of a titanium or titanium alloy product to be produced by powder metallurgy, comprising the steps of: charging a sponge titanium powder in mill pots of a planetary ball mill together with crushing medium; collapsing the particles of the powder to be consolidated forming a squamation under an inert atmosphere in the mill pots; and adjusting the particle size and particle diameter by cutting the squamated particle under an inert atmosphere in a crushing medium stirring mill.

Abstract: A tool steel powder added with a vanadium carbide powder by a milling process, and a method for manufacturing parts therewith are disclosed. Particularly, a method for adding a vanadium carbide (VC) powder to a tool steel powder by a ball milling or an attrition milling, and a method for manufacturing a part by using the milled tool steel powder are disclosed. The method for manufacturing a vanadium carbide added tool steel powder and for manufacturing parts using the powder, includes the steps of: mixing a tool steel powder with vanadium carbide powder in an amount of 5.about.15 wt %; ball-milling the mixture powder under wet atmosphere; carrying out an annealing in a vacuum; carrying out a cold die compaction or cold isostatic pressing to near net dimension and carrying out a vacuum sintering and then a hot isotropic pressing without canning.

Abstract: Ejection material in powder form used in mechanical plating, each particle of the ejection material being made of an iron alloy core covered with a zinc alloy layer and conducted with thermal treatment at a temperature between 300.degree. and 700.degree. C. so that the zinc alloy layer has the Vicker's hardness of 60 to 370.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrical contact material comprises the steps of melting a mixture of Cu and Cr into a molten alloy, atomizing the molten alloy into fine particles to obtain alloyed particles. Cr particles in the alloyed powder disintegrate to less than 5 .mu.m in mean particle diameter. The alloyed powder is sintered thereafter and a mean particle diameter of chromium in the sintered article is fined in a range of 2 to 20 .mu.m. An electrical contact material is composed of a copper matrix and chromium particles having a mean particle diameter of 2 to 20 .mu.m. The chromium particles are homogeneously dispersed in the copper matrix.

Abstract: A non-amalgamated zinc alloy powder for use in an alkaline cell which consists of elements selected from the following compositions (1) to (4);(1) 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth,(2) 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth and indium in an amount greater than zero and up to 1.0% by weight,(3) 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth and lithium in an amount greater than zero and up to 0.5% by weight,(4) 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth, indium in an amount greater than zero and up to 1.0% by weight and calcium or lithium in an amount greater than zero and up to 0.5% by weight;and the balance being zinc and containing iron as an inevitably accidental impurity in an amount of not more than 1 ppm; and which can greatly suppress the evolution of hydrogen gas and maintain the discharge performance on a practical level:and a method to produce the same.

Abstract: A hard surfacing alloy which has a Rockwell C hardness of greater than about 50 and which includes tungsten carbide, chromium carbide and bi-metallic chromium and tungsten carbide crystals which are precipitated in the alloy. Alloys of the present invention in their nominal composition comprise from about 12% to about 20% tungsten; from about 13% to about 30% chromium; an effective amount of carbon for forming carbides with the tungsten and chromium and include effective amounts of fluxes and melting point depressants and the like. The balance of the composition is nickel. The alloys include precipitated carbide crystals of chromium, tungsten and bi-metallic mixtures thereof which are interspersed through the hard surfacing alloy and are metallurgically bonded in the metal matrix of the alloy. The alloys have extremely low porosities and therefore are suitable for glass plunger and other applications where low porosity is essential.

Abstract: In a planetary mill, the ratio between the angular speed of a planetary wheel and the angular speed of the sun wheel is selected based upon the ratio between the inner radius of a grinding drum connected to the planetary wheel and the radius of the sun wheel. This arrangement enables the planetary mill to be used for mechanically alloying brittle and hard materials.

Abstract: This invention provides a minute alloy powder with hard particles uniformly dispersed therein. The alloy powder may be used as a grinder material for finishing a specular surface or surfaces of other precision instruments or as a material for cladding and strengthening a surface of a parent material by welding the alloy powder. This alloy powder is manufactured by first blending metal or alloy particle powder having a particle diameter between 0.1.mu. and 300.mu., hard particle powder having a particle diameter between 0.1.mu. and 50.mu., and an organic binder. The resulting material mixture is granulated into granulated powder having a particle diameter between 300.mu. and 80,000.mu., and the powder is welded or dissolved with electric arc or plasma arc. The resulting welded bead or ingot is machined with a shaper into shavings, and the shavings are ground with a stamping mill into powder. The powder is classified such that the alloy powder having a particle diameter between 10.mu. and 10,000.mu.

Abstract: An intermetallic compound such as Nb.sub.3 Al exhibits the phenomenon of self-disintegration, when hydrogen is adsorbed in the intermetallic compound. This self-disintegration is used for the pulverization of the intermetallic compound material. The material is autogeneously pulverized into very fine particles only by adjusting an atmosphere to which the material is exposed, since the pulverizing reaction occurs between hydrogen existent in the atmosphere and the active surface of the intermetallic compound. The pulverized intermetallic compound having irregular shapes and large specific surface area is useful in various technical fields, e.g. as a superconductive material, a heat-resistant material, a magnetic body or a hydrogen-absorbing material.

Abstract: A process for forming a copper alloy which is strengthened while maintaining good electrical and thermal conductivity by the addition of TiN or ZrN consists of external nitridation of a mechanically alloyed powder mixture followed by further mechanical alloying to break down the surface coating which forms during nitridation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a self-propagating reaction in a particulate medium. The method comprises controlling the boundary heat flux of the reaction to produce reaction waves which travel through the particulate medium undergoing a self-propagating reaction. The method provides a product having a unitary, solid structure with layers of alternating density. Preferably the reaction is a reaction between two metals to produce an intermetallic compound or between a metal and a non-metal to produce a ceramic compound. Nickel aluminide is a preferred intermetallic compound. Also disclosed is a controlled reactive sintering process for producing a finely divided intermetallic compound comprising comminuting the layered body of intermetallic compound.

Abstract: A method for producing iron-nitride powder comprises the steps of introducing iron powder and NH.sub.3 gas or N.sub.2 gas in a vessel, and milling the iron powder in the NH.sub.3 gas or the N.sub.2 gas. Furthermore, a method for producing iron-nitride powder comprises the steps of introducing iron powder and intermetallic compound powder of iron and nitrogen in a vessel, and milling the iron powder and the intermetallic compound powder. The obtained iron-nitride powder consists essentially 85.1 to 99 at % of iron and the rest of nitrogen, and has a body centered cubic structure.

Abstract: A process for the production of a metal product which comprises subjecting a mixture of at least one reducible metal compound and at least one reducing agent to mechanical activation to produce a metal or alloy. Preferably, the mechanical activation is performed in an inert or reducing atmosphere. More than one reducing agent may be used. A ceramic material may be produced by including a nonmetal, or a compound which provides the nonmetal, into the starting materials. At least one other metal or a metalloid may be included in the starting materials for incorporation into the final product.

Abstract: A metal-coated particle is prepared by providing a disintegrator apparatus with a working chamber containing counter-rotating disks equipped with teeth design to accelerate particles towards one another, providing a first material and a second metal as powders, such that the first material is harder than the second metal and introducing the first material and second metal powders into the working chamber of the disintegrator apparatus, whereby the soft second metal collides with the hard material and is coated onto the surface of the hard first material. A metal-coated metal with an intermetallic interface is prepared by introducing a first material and a second metal as powders into a disintegrator working chamber containing counter-rotating disks and teeth designed to accelerate particles towards one another. The first material harder than the second metal and is capable of reacting with the second metal to form an intermetallic compound.

Abstract: The method for preparing metal powders with a narrow particle size distribution includes providing a disintegrator with a working chamber containing counter-rotating disks equipped with teeth designed to impart high tangential velocities to particles contacting the teeth, introducing a metal melt as a liquid stream with a composition substantially corresponding to the final metal powder composition into the working chamber of the disintegrator, counter-rotating the disks, whereby the liquid stream of metal entering the chamber is broken up into small beads, which leave the surface of the teeth with high velocities, and whereby subsequent contact of the beads with the teeth of the disks further break up the liquid beads until the bead solidifies by heat loss to the disks and collecting a fine metal powder of narrow particle size distribution at the exit end of the working chamber.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for preparing rare earth containing hard alloy, comprising preparing metal carbide powder containing rare earth metals or cobalt powder containing rare earth metals by using wet coprecipitating method; according to the composition of alloy, at least one kind of the metal carbide powder containing rare earth metal and cobalt powder containing rare metals being mixed homogeneously with other raw materials, shaping and finally sintering under high temperature. The process of the invention is simple technologically. The properties of the products produced by the process of the invention are good, stable and repeatable.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of an aluminum-strontium master alloy suitable for use as structure refiner during the solidification of molten aluminum-silicon alloys, comprising atomizing a stream of molten alloy containing aluminum and 5 to 35% by weight of strontium and collecting atomized particles as solid material on a collecting surface.

Abstract: A hydrogen battery alloy is prepared which is substantially free of inclusions of chromium by preparing a first precursor alloy or master alloy containing vanadium, nickel, and chromium using relatively equal amounts of vanadium and nickel and then adding from 5% to 12% by weight of chromium. The alloy materials are introduced into an aluminothermic reaction as vanadium pentoxide, nickel powder and chromium powder with the aluminum metal being in slight excess of its stoichiometric amount. The first precursor alloy described further alloyed with preselected amounts of nickel, zirconium, titanium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and chromium to form an alloy suitable for use as an electrode material in rechargeable electrochemical hydrogen storage cells.

Abstract: A heat-resisting aluminum alloy contains manganese ranging from 6 to 8% by weight, iron ranging from 0.5 to 2% by weight, zirconium ranging from 0.03 to 0.5% by weight, and copper ranging from 2 to 5% by weight, the balance being essentially aluminum. The aluminum alloy has been confirmed to be high in mechanical strength both at ordinary temperatures and at high temperatures while to be suitable for producing an article by using so-called atomization process.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for producing submicron and smaller metal alloy pacles using a main chamber having a longitudinal axis and a feeder for introducing a quantity of molten alloy under pulsed gas pressure in a direction generally radial to the axis. The feeder has a gas stream for forming metal droplets from said alloy. A gas accelerator directs axially flowing gas against the droplets from the feeder in the chamber. The accelerator directs the droplets in an axial direction to a substrate located along the axis and in the direction of flow from the accelerator to receive the droplets at a predetermined distance from the feeder, whereby the particles are produced.

Abstract: A powdered metal spray coating material comprises two or more of Ni, Cr and Co, and 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of Y based on the total weight of the spray coating material. If Co is present in this spray coating material, the content of Co is in a range of 20 to 40% by weight, and the balance is Ni and/or Cr. If Cr is present, the content of Cr is in a range of 15 to 30% by weight, and the balance is Ni and/or Co. Such powdered metal spray coating material is produced by melting and homogenizing starting metal in vacuum and forming them into a metal powder by a gas atomizer.

Abstract: A hard surfacing alloy which has a Rockwell C hardness of greater than about 50 and which includes tungsten carbide, chromium carbide and bi-metallic chromium and tungsten carbide crystals which are precipitated in the alloy. Alloys of the present invention in their nominal composition comprise from about 12% to about 20% tungsten; from about 13% to about 30% chromium; an effective amount of carbon for forming carbides with the tungsten and chromium and include effective amounts of fluxes and melting point depressants and the like. The balance of the composition is nickel. The alloys include precipitated carbide crystals of chromium, tungsten and bi-metallic mixtures thereof which are interspersed through the hard surfacing alloy and are metallurgically bonded in the metal matrix of the alloy. The alloys have extremely low porosities and therefore are suitable for glass plunger and other applications where low porosity is essential.

Abstract: An improved method for making a metal powder employs improved apparatus comprising, in combination, a fluid-cooled hearth for receiving metallic material which defines an alloy and which is to be melted, a plasma heat source adapted to melt the metallic material, a powder metal producer, and means to introduce the molten metallic material from the hearth into the powder metal producer. The fluid-cooled walls of the hearth resolidify a portion of the molten metallic material to form a skull as a barrier between the hearth and additional molten alloy produced within the hearth. This method and apparatus restricts introduction of impurities into the molten alloy which is later introduced into the powder metal producer. In one form, a fluid-cooled pouring trough, as a stream control device, can be disposed between the hearth and the powder producer to receive molten metal from the hearth and to introduce it into the powder metal producer.

Abstract: A process comprising by producing maraging steel powder comprises forming an aqueous solution of iron, cobalt, nickel and molybdenum metals values in a predetermined ratio, forming a reducible solid material from the solution reducing the solid material to metallic powder particles, entraining at least a portion of the powder particle in a carrier gas which is fed into a high temperature zone to form droplets therefrom, and cooling said droplets to form essentially spherical shaped maraging steel alloy particles.

Abstract: There are described metallic powders comprising agglomerated nanocrystals of an electroactive alloy. The main component of the alloy can be of nickel, cobalt, iron or mixtures thereof while the alloying element is one or more transition metals such as Mo, W, V. Preferably the nanocrystals will be made of an alloy of nickel and molybdenum. An electrode which is used by compacting the powders is also disclosed. Also disclosed, is a process for producing the metallic powders by providing particles of nickel, cobalt and iron with particles of at least one transition metal, (Mo, W, V) and subjecting the particles to high energy mechanical alloying such as ball milling under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce a nanocrystalline alloy. Electrodes produced from these powders have an electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution which is comparable or higher than the electrodes which are presently used in the electrochemical industry.

Abstract: A non-amalgamated zinc alloy powder for use in an alkaline cell which comprises 1 ppm or less of iron and an elemental component selected from among the following combinations (1) to (5):(1) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of lead,(2) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of calcium,(3) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of lead and 0 to 1.0% by weight in total of at least one member selected from among bismuth, aluminum and calcium,(4) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of calcium, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of bismuth and 0 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum, and(5) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of lead, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of indium, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of calcium and 0 to 0.5% by weight of aluminum, and which can greatly suppress the evolution of hydrogen gas and maintain the discharge performance on a practical level, and a method for the production of the same.

Abstract: A the magnetically anisotropic magnetic powder having an average particle size of 1-1000 .mu.m and made from a magnetically anisotropic R-TM-B-Ga or R-TM-B-Ga-M alloy having an average crystal grain size of 0.01-0.5 .mu.m, wherein R represents one or more rare earth elements including Y, TM represents Fe which may be partially substituted by Co, B boron, Ga gallium, and M one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Nb, W, V, Ta, Mo, Si, Al, Zr, Hf, P, C and Zn. This is useful for anisotropic resin-bonded magnet with high magnetic properties.

Abstract: A process for producing magnetically anisotropic powder having "flattened" crystal grains of an R-TM-B-M system alloy with preferably (c)/(a) greater than 2, where (c) is the grain size perpendicular to the C-axis and (a) the grain size parallel to the C-axis, includes the steps of plastically deforming a green compact of flakes formed by rapidly-quenching the alloy melt, and then crushing the plastically deformed body. In the alloy system, R is at least one of the rare earth elements including Y, TM is Fe or Fe a part of which has been substituted with Co, B is boron, and M is an additive selected from Si, Al, Nb, Zr, P and C.

Abstract: Tubes partly filled with a blend of two or more metals in powder form and containing loose hard bodies are subject to linear and oscillating motion; under the impact of the bodies knocking against each other, the metals alloy together mechanically and form a patterned amorphous coating on the surface of the clashing bodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to powder particles consisting of hard principles and binder metal for the manufacture of superior, uniquely fine-grained hard material alloys and to a procedure for the preparation of said particles.The preparation is performed in an economical way because the procedure starts from conventional melt metallurgical raw materials. A pre-alloy consisting of hard principle forming and binder phase forming elements is subjected to a heat treatment such as nitriding and carburizing after being crushed. The final product is particles composed by hard principle phases and binder metal phases formed "in situ" in an effective binding.

Abstract: Process of restructuring a group of finely divided particles, of granulometries lower than 100 microns, wherein the particles to be restructured are placed in a bath of cryogenic liquid which is inert with respect to the particles, the operation of restructuring is allowed to proceed after which the cryogenic liquid is withdrawn for example by evaporation. Applications to the production of metallic alloys, special polymers, paints, inks, carbon black, special ceramics and pharmaceutical or food products.

Abstract: Producing finely divided U.sub.3 Si by supercooling a melt of uranium and silicon at a high cooling rate of 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.7 .degree. C./sec.

Abstract: Particles for the production of permanent magents are obtained by producing an article having Ca and a rare earth oxide including at least Nd oxide. The article is heated to effect Ca rare earth oxide reduction. Thereafter, particles of -60 mesh or finer are formed from this article. Leaching of Ca from the particles is achieved by contacting the particles with an organic acid having at least 3 carbon atoms, preferably propionic or butanoic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing an oxidic superconductor precursor alloy which comprises mechanicallly allowing metallic elemental constituents of the oxidic superconductor in stoichiometric proportions and in the presence of a process control agent non-detrimental to the superconductor to provide a uniform mechanically alloyed product which is compacted and worked to provide a product form such as wire, tape or thin strip. This product form can then be given the configuration required for use (e.g. open coil) and then oxidized to provide the superconductor.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for producing copper alloys by rapid sdification in order to improve their strength and thermal stability after being exposed to elevated temperatures. The method used to rapidly solidify the molten alloy is either by use of a high pressure non-oxidizing gas spray to atomize the molten alloy into a powder or to pour the molten alloy onto a rotating wheel to form a ribbon which is then attrited into powder. The powder is canned, compacted to full density and cold worked to the desired shape.