A method of making property modulated composite materials includes depositing a first layer of material having a first microstructure/nanostructure on a substrate followed by depositing a second layer of material having a second microstructure/nanostructure that differs from the first layer. Multiple first and second layers can be deposited to form a composite material that includes a plurality of adjacent first and second layers. By controlling the microstructure/nanostructure of the layers, the material properties of the composite material formed by this method can be tailored for a specific use. The microstructures/nanostructures of the composite materials may be defined by one or more of grain size, grain boundary geometry, crystal orientation, and a defect density.

The technology described herein sets forth methods of making low stress or stress free coatings and articles using electrodeposition without the use of stress reducing agents in the deposition process. The articles and coatings can be layered or nanolayered wherein in the microstructure/nanostructure and composition of individual layers can be independently modulated.

A printed circuit board for a memory card includes an insulating layer; a mounting part on a first surface of the insulating layer, the mounting part being electrically connected to a memory device; and a terminal part on a second surface of the insulating layer, the terminal part being electrically connected to an external electronic appliance, wherein a same metal layer having a same property is formed on exposed surfaces of the mounting part and the terminal part.

There are provided a silver-plated product having a more excellent wear resistance than that of conventional silver-plated products, and a method for producing the same. The method comprises the steps of: preparing a silver-plating solution which is an aqueous solution containing silver potassium cyanide or silver cyanide, potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide, and a benzothiazole or a derivative thereof; and forming a surface layer of silver on a base material by electroplating at a liquid temperature and at a current density in the silver-plating solution so as to satisfy (BC/A).sup.2/D10 ( C..sup.2.Math.dm.sup.2/A) assuming that a concentration of free cyanide in the silver-plating solution is A (g/L), that a concentration of a benzothiazole content of the benzothiazole or derivative thereof in the silver-plating solution is B (g/L), that the liquid temperature of the silver-plating solution is C ( C.) and that the current density during the electroplating is D (A/dm.sup.2).

A method of electroplating nanograined copper on a substrate includes: providing the substrate; providing an electroplating bath that includes a copper salt, an acid, a leveler, a chlorine compound, an accelerator, a suppressor; and water; and electroplating the substrate in the electroplating bath to form the nanograined copper at room temperature. The suppressor is a ployether polyol compound, the nanograined copper has an average grain size of about 100 nm, and the nanograined copper has a resistivity of about 1.78-1.90 Ohm.Math.cm. A nanograined copper prepared according to the method is also disclosed.

An article for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a substrate and a nickel phosphorous coating disposed on the substrate. The nickel phosphorus coating has a columnar microstructure. A method of applying a coating to an article for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Provided is a shock absorber in which trivalent chromium is used to achieve both high hardness and low frictional force at a high level without using hexavalent chromium which is suspected of causing damage to the human body and the environment, and a method for manufacturing the shock absorber. A shock absorber (100) of the present invention includes: a cylinder (1) which is filled with hydraulic oil (3); a piston rod (2) which is movable in the cylinder (1); and an oil seal (8) which is fixed to the cylinder (1) and slides on the piston rod (2), in which a hard layer mainly containing chromium obtained from a trivalent chromium plating bath is provided on a surface of the piston rod (2), and the hard layer contains both a crystalline material and an amorphous material, and also contains an additive other than chromium.