An amorphous soft magnetic alloy of the formula (Fe.sub.1-αTM.sub.α).sub.100-w-x-y-zP.sub.wB.sub.xL.sub.ySi.sub.z Ti.sub.pC.sub.qMn.sub.rCu.sub.s, wherein TM is Co or Ni; L is Al, Cr, Zr, Mo or Nb; 0≤α≤0.3, 2≤w≤18 at %, 2≤x≤18 at %, 15≤w+x≤23 at %, 1<y≤5 at %, 0≤z≤4 at %; p, q, r, and s represents an addition ratio such that the total mass of Fe, TM, P, B, L and Si is 100, and 0≤p≤0.3, 0≤q≤0.5, 0≤r≤2, 0≤s≤1 and r+s>0; the composition fulfills one of the following conditions: L is Cr, Zr, Mo or Nb; or L is a combination of Al and Cr, Zr, Mo or Nb, wherein 0<Al≤5 at %, 1≤Cr≤4 at %, 0<Zr≤5 at %, 2≤Mo≤5 at %, and 2≤Nb≤5 at %; the alloy has a crystallization start temperature (Tx) which is 550° C. or less, a glass transition temperature (Tg) which is 520° C. or less, and a supercooled liquid region represented by ΔTx=Tx−Tg, which is 20° C. or more.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes: a thermoelectric conversion material portion composed of a material having a band gap; a first electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric conversion material portion; a second electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric conversion material portion and disposed to be separated from the first electrode; and a sealing portion that seals the thermoelectric conversion material portion. A partial pressure of oxygen in a region surrounding the thermoelectric conversion material portion is maintained by the sealing portion so as to be lower than a partial pressure of oxygen in an external air.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of sodium-based solid compounds, such as sodium-based solid alloys and sodium-based crystalline phases by ball-milling using metallic sodium as starting material. The invention also relates to some sodium-based crystalline P′2-phases and to Na-based vanadium phosphates phases (Na.sub.(3+y)V.sub.2(PO.sub.4).sub.3) with 0<y≤3 and Na-based vanadium fluorophosphates phases (Na.sub.(3+z)V.sub.2(PO.sub.4).sub.2F.sub.3) with 0<z≤3, in particular Na.sub.4V.sub.2(PO.sub.4).sub.2F.sub.3, obtained by such a process and to their use, as active material for positive electrode, in a Na-ion battery.

Disclosed is a partially diffusion-alloyed steel powder having excellent fluidity, formability, and compressibility without containing Ni, Cr, and Si. A partially diffusion-alloyed steel powder having excellent fluidity, formability, and compressibility that includes an iron-based powder and Mo diffusionally adhered to a surface of the iron-based powder, in which Mo content is 0.2 mass % to 2.0 mass %, a weight-based median diameter D50 is 40 μm or more, and among particles contained in the partially diffusion-alloyed steel powder, those particles having an equivalent circular diameter of 50 μm to 200 μm have a number average of solidity of 0.70 to 0.86, the solidity being defined as (particle cross-sectional area/envelope-inside area).

A powder reclamation system for reclaiming a metal powder from a metal powder processing device is provided. The powder reclamation system includes a filter housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a filtered reclaimed powder hopper in communication with the outlet of the filter housing for receiving a filtered reclaimed powder; a powder recirculation passageway configured for providing a flow of powder to a metal powder processing device, the powder recirculation passageway in flow communication with the filtered reclaimed powder hopper; a virgin powder hopper containing a virgin powder also in communication with the powder recirculation passageway; and a controller operable with the powder reclamation system for providing a mixture of the filtered reclaimed powder and the virgin powder through the powder recirculation passageway.

A powder reclamation system for reclaiming a metal powder from a metal powder processing device is provided. The powder reclamation system includes a filter housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a filtered reclaimed powder hopper in communication with the outlet of the filter housing for receiving a filtered reclaimed powder; a powder recirculation passageway configured for providing a flow of powder to a metal powder processing device, the powder recirculation passageway in flow communication with the filtered reclaimed powder hopper; a virgin powder hopper containing a virgin powder also in communication with the powder recirculation passageway; and a controller operable with the powder reclamation system for providing a mixture of the filtered reclaimed powder and the virgin powder through the powder recirculation passageway.

A powder sieving system is provided. The powder sieving system includes a filter housing including a filter for separating powder into a first portion larger than a predetermined size and a second portion smaller than a predetermined size, the powder being a reactive metal powder; a network of passageways configured to move the powder through the powder sieving system, the network of passageways located upstream of the filter housing and downstream of the filter housing, the network of passageways comprising one or more carrier gas passageways for primarily transporting a carrier gas flow and one or more powder passageways for transporting a mixture flow of carrier gas and the powder; and a first sensor in communication with a portion of the powder sieving system, the first sensor configured to monitor an amount of oxygen within the network of passageways, wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor.

A powder sieving system is provided. The powder sieving system includes a filter housing including a filter for separating powder into a first portion larger than a predetermined size and a second portion smaller than a predetermined size, the powder being a reactive metal powder; a network of passageways configured to move the powder through the powder sieving system, the network of passageways located upstream of the filter housing and downstream of the filter housing, the network of passageways comprising one or more carrier gas passageways for primarily transporting a carrier gas flow and one or more powder passageways for transporting a mixture flow of carrier gas and the powder; and a first sensor in communication with a portion of the powder sieving system, the first sensor configured to monitor an amount of oxygen within the network of passageways, wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor.

According to an embodiment, a method of forming a porous layer includes forming a porous layer containing a noble metal on a surface made of a semiconductor by displacement plating. The plating solution used in the displacement plating contains a noble metal source, hydrogen fluoride, and an adjusting agent adjusting a pH value or zeta potential. The noble metal source produces an ion containing the noble metal in water. The plating solution has a pH value in a range of 1 to 6.

A system is provided for use with a volume of metal particles suspended in electroplating solution. The system includes: a positional tip operable to have a positive electrical bias; a dispenser operable to dispense at least one of the metal particles and the electroplating solution; a metal base depositing system operable to deposit a metal base; a controller operable to control the positional tip to move and to control the dispenser to dispense the at least one of the metal particles and the electroplating solution; and a voltage controller operable to provide the positive electrical bias to the positional tip and to provide a negative electrical bias to the metal base so as to electroplate metal onto the metal base from the particles suspended in the electroplating solution and so as to three-dimensionally print a metal shape.