A method for manufacturing an alloy formed from a boride of a precious metal, may involve reacting a source of the precious metal with a source of boron in a salt or a mixture of salts in the molten state. An alloy formed from a boride of a precious metal may include crystalline nanoparticles of M.sub.xB.sub.y with M being a precious metal, distributed in an amorphous matrix of B or in an amorphous matrix of B and of M.sub.zB.sub.a.

Preform and manufacturing process producing heterogeneous components with a first fraction (11) made from a first metallic material and having a cellular structure with stochastic or regular cells, and a second fraction (12) made from a second metallic material different from the first metallic material, in which the second fraction (12) at least partly infiltrates the cells of the first fraction (11). The second fraction is poured into the preform which also acts as a mould. The finished product after machining may have a unified surface of the second fraction or several zones exposing the second fraction, the first fraction, the cellular structure which is open or infiltrated with the second metallic fraction, or open zones, in a predetermined design.

A core material including a core and a solder plating layer of a (SnBi)-based solder alloy made of Sn and Bi on a surface of the core. Bi in the solder plating layer is distributed in the solder plating layer at a concentration ratio in a predetermined range of, for example, 91.7% to 106.7%. Bi in the solder plating layer is homogeneous, and thus, a Bi concentration ratio is in a predetermined range over the entire solder plating layer including an inner circumference side and an outer circumference side in the solder plating layer.

The present invention provides a surface treated metal material for burn-in test socket wherein contact resistance between the contact of the socket and other metal materials being inserted is excellently suppressed when used for the contact for burn-in test socket.

The surface treated metal material for burn-in test socket, comprising a base material, a lower layer being constituted with one or two or more selected from the constituent element group A, the constituent element group A consisting of Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Cu, an intermediate layer formed on the lower layer, the intermediate layer being constituted with one or two or more selected from the constituent element group A and one or two selected from a constituent element group B, the constituent element group B consisting of Sn and In, and an upper layer formed on the intermediate layer, the upper layer being constituted with one or two selected from the constituent element group B and one or two or more selected from a constituent element group C, the constituent element group C consisting of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Os and Ir, wherein the thickness of the lower layer is 0.05 m or more and less than 5.00 m, the thickness of the intermediate layer is 0.01 m or more and less than 0.40 m, and the thickness of the upper layer is 0.02 m or more and less than 1.00 m.

An electrically-conductive material containing Ag in an amount of 10 mass % or more and 70 mass % or less, Pd in an amount of 30 mass % or more and 90 mass % or less, Ni in an amount of more than 5 mass % and 45 mass % or less, and inevitable impurities. A ratio of a Ni content (mass %) to a Ag content (mass %) (Ni (mass %)/Ag (mass %)) is 0.1 or more and 5.0 or less, metal structures include a AgPd alloy phase and a PdNi alloy phase, and a volume ratio of the PdNi alloy phase is 18 vol % or more and 80 vol % or less. Ni is added in a high concentration to a AgPd alloy, and the amount of PdNi alloy phases generated as separate phases is controlled to strengthen the entire alloy.

An electrically-conductive material containing Ag in an amount of 10 mass % or more and 70 mass % or less, Pd in an amount of 30 mass % or more and 90 mass % or less, Ni in an amount of more than 5 mass % and 45 mass % or less, and inevitable impurities. A ratio of a Ni content (mass %) to a Ag content (mass %) (Ni (mass %)/Ag (mass %)) is 0.1 or more and 5.0 or less, metal structures include a AgPd alloy phase and a PdNi alloy phase, and a volume ratio of the PdNi alloy phase is 18 vol % or more and 80 vol % or less. Ni is added in a high concentration to a AgPd alloy, and the amount of PdNi alloy phases generated as separate phases is controlled to strengthen the entire alloy.

A composite material includes a first metallic material component and a second metallic material component. The first material component is different from the second material component. The second material component is mixed with the first material component.

Synthetic brochosomes can be prepared by disposing a monolayer of first polymer microspheres on a substrate and forming a layer of metal on the monolayer of the first polymer microspheres. A monolayer of second polymer microspheres is then disposed on the layer of metal to form a template. The second polymer microspheres are smaller than the first polymer microspheres. A brochosome material is then electrodeposited on the template. The brochosome material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide, a polymer or a hybrid thereof. The first polymer microspheres and the second polymer microspheres are then removed to form a coating of synthetic brochosomes of the brochosome material on the substrate.

The present invention provides a process for producing a noble-metal powder, the process being capable of producing, at low cost, a noble-metal powder having a narrow particle-size distribution range, high purity and high crystallinity. The present invention relates to a process for producing a noble-metal powder and including a step in which an acidic aqueous solution of both one or more noble-metal compounds and a calcium compound is prepared, a step in which the acidic aqueous solution is added to a basic aqueous solution to yield one or more oxides or hydroxides of the noble metal(s) or a mixture of two or more thereof and yield a calcium hydroxide, a step in which the oxides or hydroxides of the noble metal(s) or the mixture is reduced with a reducing agent, and a step in which a solid matter including a reduced form of the noble metal(s) is separated and heat-treated.

A variety of polyhedral nanocages are provided having a hollow interior, ultrathin walls, and well-defined facets of metal atoms. The nanocages can include a variety of precious metals such as Pt, Au, Ru, Rh, or Ir. The metal atoms can take a face-centered cubic structure with {111} facets on the surface. The walls can be thin, sometimes less than 1 nm in thickness or only a few atomic layers in thickness. The nanocages can provide for efficient uses of valuable precious metals, among other things, in catalysis. For example, catalysts are provided exhibiting high mass activities in oxygen reduction reactions. Methods of making and methods of using the nanocages and catalysts are also provided.