A self-stressing shape memory alloy (SMA)/fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite patch is disclosed that can be used to repair cracked steel members or other civil infrastructures. Prestressed carbon FRP (CFRP) patches have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional methods of repair. However, prestressing these patches typically requires heavy and complex fixtures, which is impractical in many applications. This disclosure describes a new approach in which the prestressing force is applied by restraining the shape memory effect of nickel titanium niobium alloy (NiTiNb) SMA wires. The wires are subsequently embedded in an FRP overlay patch. This method overcomes the practical challenges associated with conventional prestressing.

The disclosure describes a tempered vacuum glass, which comprises: at least two glass sheets arranged parallel to each other; surrounding edges of adjacent glass sheets being sealed using an edge sealing structure; and support members placed in an array between the adjacent glass sheets to form a vacuum space. The edge sealing structure is a metallic edge-sealing structure. The structure comprises a first transition layer, a first metallized layer, a first intermetallic compound layer, a solder layer, a second intermetallic compound layer, a second metallized layer, and a second transition layer stacked in that order. The first and second metallized layers are in a spongy skeleton structure formed by sintering a metal paste. The first and second transition layers are formed by sintering the metal paste on the adjacent glass sheets, and contain a glass phase layer including metallic particles and a metal oxide layer with a net structure.

A support frame for a pellicle includes a frame body made of an aluminum alloy. The frame body has: a top surface onto which a pellicle film is bonded; and an underside surface onto which a transparent substrate is bonded. A material of which the frame body is made has a Young's modulus larger than that of which the transparent substrate is made. The structure described above makes it possible to reduce deformation of the transparent substrate.

A support frame for a pellicle includes a frame body made of an aluminum alloy. The frame body has: a top surface onto which a pellicle film is bonded; and an underside surface onto which a transparent substrate is bonded. A material of which the frame body is made has a Young's modulus larger than that of which the transparent substrate is made. The structure described above makes it possible to reduce deformation of the transparent substrate.

A carbothermic reduction method is provided for reducing a La-, Ce-, MM-, and/or Y-containing oxide in the presence of carbon and a source of a reactant element comprising Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, and/or P to form an intermediate alloy material including a majority of La, Ce, MM, and/or Y and a minor amount of the reactant element. The intermediate material is useful as a master alloy for in making negative electrode materials for a metal hydride battery, as hydrogen storage alloys, as master alloy additive for addition to a melt of commercial Mg and Al alloys, steels, cast irons, and superalloys; or in reducing Sm.sub.2O.sub.3 to Sm metal for use in SmCo permanent magnets.

A carbothermic reduction method is provided for reducing a La-, Ce-, MM-, and/or Y-containing oxide in the presence of carbon and a source of a reactant element comprising Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, and/or P to form an intermediate alloy material including a majority of La, Ce, MM, and/or Y and a minor amount of the reactant element. The intermediate material is useful as a master alloy for in making negative electrode materials for a metal hydride battery, as hydrogen storage alloys, as master alloy additive for addition to a melt of commercial Mg and Al alloys, steels, cast irons, and superalloys; or in reducing Sm.sub.2O.sub.3 to Sm metal for use in SmCo permanent magnets.

High-strength, lightweight alloy components, such as automotive components, capable of high temperature performance comprising aluminum, silicon, and iron and/or nickel are provided, along with methods of making such high-strength, lightweight alloy components. A high-energy stream, such as a laser or electron beam, may be selectively directed towards a precursor material to melt a portion of the precursor material in a localized region. The molten precursor material is cooled at a rate of greater than or equal to about 1.010.sup.5 K/second to form a solid high-strength, lightweight alloy component comprising a stable ternary cubic phase having high heat resistance and high strength. The stable ternary phase may be Al.sub.xFe.sub.ySi.sub.z, where x ranges from about 4 to about 5 or about 7.2 to about 7.6, y is about 1.5 to about 2.2, and z is about 1. The stable ternary phase may also be Al.sub.6Ni.sub.3Si.

The present invention provides amorphous bi-functional catalytic aluminum metallic glass particles having an aluminum metallic glass core and 2 or more transition metals disposed on the surface of the aluminum metallic glass core to form amorphous bi-functional aluminum metallic glass particles with catalytic activity.

A process for manufacturing a reclaimed alloy material includes the steps of crushing a magnetic core including an amorphous alloy ribbon; putting a prepared organic solvent and crushed pieces obtained in the step of crushing into a container and putting the crushed pieces into contact with the organic solvent in the container; selectively discharging the organic solvent from the container after putting the crushed pieces into contact with the organic solvent; and evaporating, after discharging the organic solvent, the organic solvent remaining in the container. The crushed pieces, removed from the container after the organic solvent is evaporated, is reused as a reclaimed alloy material.

A molten metal temperature control method includes: with respect to relations among a spheroidization distance traveled by a molten metal of an alloy from a nozzle tip to a position where the molten metal turns into droplets, the temperature of the molten metal inside the crucible, and a pressure acting on the molten metal inside the crucible, obtaining a relation between the temperature and the spheroidization distance at a predetermined pressure, and setting a predetermined temperature range of the temperature; measuring a spheroidization distance when discharging the molten metal from the crucible at the predetermined pressure, and specifying a temperature corresponding to the measured spheroidization distance; and comparing the specified temperature and the predetermined temperature range, and when the specified temperature is outside the predetermined temperature range, controlling the specified temperature so as to be within the predetermined temperature range by adjusting the temperature inside the crucible.