A metal or metal alloy including a region with hierarchical micro-scale and nano-scale structure shapes, the surface region is super-hydrophobic and has a spectral reflectance of less than 30% for at least some wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 0.1 m to 10 m. Methods for forming the hierarchical micro-scale and nano-scale structure shapes on the metal or metal alloy are also described.

A metal or metal alloy including a region with hierarchical micro-scale and nano-scale structure shapes, the surface region is super-hydrophobic and has a spectral reflectance of less than 30% for at least some wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 0.1 m to 10 m. Methods for forming the hierarchical micro-scale and nano-scale structure shapes on the metal or metal alloy are also described.

A method and an apparatus for producing metallic semi-finished products by means of remelting and/or remelt-alloying. Here, the material is melted selectively locally in a melting capillary in the material volume by means of high-energy, focused radiation, the melting capillary is moved through the material and the material is cooled down at a high cooling rate by means of a cooled heat sink, which is located close to the melting capillary and coupled to the material in a well heat-conductive manner.

A method and an apparatus for producing metallic semi-finished products by means of remelting and/or remelt-alloying. Here, the material is melted selectively locally in a melting capillary in the material volume by means of high-energy, focused radiation, the melting capillary is moved through the material and the material is cooled down at a high cooling rate by means of a cooled heat sink, which is located close to the melting capillary and coupled to the material in a well heat-conductive manner.

A multistable structure including local portions arranged to undergo processing by at least one of the physical treatment and chemical treatment so as to form localized stimulations of the treated portions; wherein the treated portions are arranged to interact with the untreated portion of the structure to form a prescribed residual stress distribution associated with the treated portions and the untreated portion of the structure, the prescribed residual stress distribution being arranged to provide at least one alternative stable configuration to the structure.

A multistable structure including local portions arranged to undergo processing by at least one of the physical treatment and chemical treatment so as to form localized stimulations of the treated portions; wherein the treated portions are arranged to interact with the untreated portion of the structure to form a prescribed residual stress distribution associated with the treated portions and the untreated portion of the structure, the prescribed residual stress distribution being arranged to provide at least one alternative stable configuration to the structure.

Aspects are directed to removing a portion of a component that includes wear to generate a void in the component, where a material of the component has a first microstructure, depositing a filler material in the void, subjecting the filler material to a cold working technique to compress the filler material, and applying a heat treatment to cause the filler material to have a second microstructure that is matched to the first microstructure. Aspects are directed to a case of an engine, including: a first portion with a first material that has a first microstructure, and a second portion with a second material that has a second microstructure, where the second microstructure is matched to the first microstructure, where the second material includes a plurality of layers, and where at least one layer of the plurality of layers includes a compressive residual stress.

A process for producing an amorphous ductile brazing foil is provided. According to one example embodiment, the method includes providing a molten mass, and rapidly solidifying the molten mass on a moving cooling surface with a cooling speed of more than approximately 10.sup.5 C./sec to produce an amorphous ductile brazing foil. A process for joining two or more parts is also provided. The process includes inserting a brazing foil between two or more parts to be joined, wherein the parts to be joined have a higher melting temperature than that the brazing foil to form a solder joint and the brazing foil comprises an amorphous, ductile Ni-based brazing foil; heating the solder joint to a temperature above the liquidus temperature of the brazing foil to form a heated solder joint; and cooling the heated solder joint, thereby forming a brazed joint between the parts to be joined.

A process for producing an amorphous ductile brazing foil is provided. According to one example embodiment, the method includes providing a molten mass, and rapidly solidifying the molten mass on a moving cooling surface with a cooling speed of more than approximately 10.sup.5 C./sec to produce an amorphous ductile brazing foil. A process for joining two or more parts is also provided. The process includes inserting a brazing foil between two or more parts to be joined, wherein the parts to be joined have a higher melting temperature than that the brazing foil to form a solder joint and the brazing foil comprises an amorphous, ductile Ni-based brazing foil; heating the solder joint to a temperature above the liquidus temperature of the brazing foil to form a heated solder joint; and cooling the heated solder joint, thereby forming a brazed joint between the parts to be joined.

An amorphous, ductile brazing foil is provided. According to one example embodiment, the composition consists essentially of Ni.sub.restCr.sub.aB.sub.bP.sub.cSi.sub.d with 2 atomic percenta30 atomic percent; 0.5 atomic percentb14 atomic percent; 2 atomic percentc20 atomic percent; 0 atomic percentd14 atomic percent; incidental impurities0.5 atomic percent; rest Ni, where c>b>c/15 and 10 atomic percentb+c+d25 atomic percent.