A friction material having 40 mass % or more to 80 mass % or less of a matrix of at least one of a metal, an alloy, a metal compound and an intermetallic compound; 5 mass % or more to 30 mass % or less of solid particles of at least one of a carbide, a nitride, an oxide and a sulfide; and 5 mass % or more to 40 mass % or less of a lubricant wherein: the matrix comprises, as elements, at least, 20 mass % or more to 50 mass % or less of Fe, 0.05 mass % or more to 5.0 mass % or less of P, and 40 mass % or more to 75 mass % or less of Ni, based on a total amount of the matrix; and a content of Cu as an element is 15 mass % or less based on a total amount of the matrix.

A sintered compact sputtering target in which a composition ratio based on atomicity is represented by a formula of (Fe.sub.100XPt.sub.X).sub.100AC.sub.A (provided A is a number which satisfies 20A50 and X is a number which satisfies 35X55), wherein C grains are finely dispersed in an alloy, and the relative density is 90% or higher. The production of a magnetic thin film with granular structure is provided without using an expensive simultaneous sputtering device, and a high-density sputtering target capable of reducing the amount of particles generated during sputtering is provided.

An iron-based powder composition including at least an iron-based powder, and a minor amount of a machinability enhancing additive, said additive including at least one titanate compound. The titanate compound being according to the following formula; MxO.nTiO2, wherein x can be 1 or 2 and n is a number from at least 1 and below 20, preferably below 10. M is an alkali metal such as Li, Na, K or an alkaline earth metal such as Mg, Ca, Ba, or combinations thereof. Further, the use of the machinability enhancing additive and a method for producing an iron-based sintered component for easy machining.

A composite magnetic material contains metal magnetic powder composed of metal magnetic particles, and mica interposed between the metal magnetic particles as an inorganic insulator. The mica has an Fe content of 15 wt % or less per 100 wt % of the mica in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. To manufacture the composite magnetic material, first, mixed powder is prepared by mixing the metal magnetic powder and the mica so as to be dispersed into each other. Next, a compact is formed by pressure-molding the mixed powder. Finally, the compact is heat-treated.

A composite magnetic material contains metal magnetic powder composed of metal magnetic particles, and mica interposed between the metal magnetic particles as an inorganic insulator. The mica has an Fe content of 15 wt % or less per 100 wt % of the mica in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. To manufacture the composite magnetic material, first, mixed powder is prepared by mixing the metal magnetic powder and the mica so as to be dispersed into each other. Next, a compact is formed by pressure-molding the mixed powder. Finally, the compact is heat-treated.

A sputtering target for a magnetic recording film which contains carbon, the sputtering target is characterized in that the ratio (I.sub.G/I.sub.D) of peak intensities of the G-band to the D-band in Raman scattering spectrometry is 5.0 or less. The sputtering target for a magnetic recording film, which contains carbon powders dispersed therein, makes it possible to produce a magnetic thin film having a granular structure without using an expensive apparatus for co-sputtering; and in particular, the target is an FePt-based sputtering target. Carbon is a material which is difficult to sinter and has a problem that carbon particles are apt to form agglomerates. There is hence a problem that carbon masses are readily detached during sputtering to generate a large number of particles on the film after sputtering. The high-density sputtering target can solve these problems.

The invention provides an industrial method for producing dispersion-strengthened iron-based materials at low cost and in large-scale. The industrial acid pickling waste solution is treated by spray roasting process after yttrium chloride is added. During the spray roasting process, the solution is atomized into fine droplets, the droplets are contacted with gas and dried into powders, which are heated in air to form metal oxides. The mixed powders of the metal oxides are reduced in hydrogen stream to obtain yttria dispersion-strengthened iron powders. High performance dispersion-strengthened iron materials are obtained by densifying the yttria dispersion-strengthened iron powders. The method has simple process and low cost, and is suitable for large-scale production due to the direct use of acid pickling waste solution from steel factory.

A thermal spray powder is provided for use in a thermal spray technique, such as flame spraying, plasma spraying, cold spraying, and high velocity oxygen fuel spraying (HVOF). The thermal spray powder is formed by water or gas atomization and comprises 3.0 to 7.0 wt. % carbon, 10.0 to 25.0 wt. % chromium, 1.0 to 5.0 wt. % tungsten, 3.5 to 7.0 wt. % vanadium, 1.0 to 5.0 wt. % molybdenum, not greater than 0.5 wt. % oxygen, and at least 40.0 wt. % iron, based on the total weight of the thermal spray powder. The thermal spray powder can be applied to a metal body, such as a piston or piston ring, to form a coating. The thermal spray powder can also provide a spray-formed part.

A downhole tool and a method for fracturing a well, of which the method includes running downhole tool into a wellbore, the downhole tool including a ball seat including a dissolvable material and a protective layer that substantially prevents the dissolvable material from dissolving, and deploying an obstructing member into the wellbore. The obstructing member is caught by the ball seat. The method also includes performing one or more fracturing operations while the obstructing member engages the ball seat. Performing the one or more fracturing operations comprises introducing an abrading fluid to the ball seat, and the abrading fluid erodes at least a portion of the protective layer from the ball seat. The method also includes, after eroding the at least a portion of the protective layer, causing the dissolvable material of the ball seat to at least partially dissolve.

It has been unexpected found that the machinability and corrosion resistance of powder metal parts can be greatly improved by incorporating calcium aluminoferrite powder, such as naturally occurring brownmillerite powder (Ca.sub.2(Al,Fe).sub.2O.sub.5), into the part. Improved machinability is of enormous value in manufacturing countless parts where it is necessary or desirable to machine the part after it has been sintered, such as is frequently the case with gears, rotors and sprockets. In the practice of this invention, calcium aluminoferrite powder can also be incorporated into parts which will not necessarily be machined for the sole purpose of attaining better corrosion resistance. Surprisingly, the incorporation of the calcium aluminoferrite powder into such parts does not significantly compromise the strength, durability, or wear characteristics of the part and generally improves the service life of the part by providing better corrosion resistance.