A valve is provided, in particular an injection valve, having a valve seat and a valve needle which extends along a closing direction for the most part, the valve seat having a valve-seat surface, and a valve-closing element is mounted on an end of the valve needle facing the valve seat, the valve-closing element being able to be moved between an open position and a closed position, and the valve-closing element together with the valve-seat surface forming a sealing seat in the closed position, the valve-closing element having a greater core hardness and/or surface hardness than the valve-seat surface.

The present invention describes a process for coating conductive component in a plasma reactor and a conductive component coating, wherein the process includes the steps of cleaning, mechanical support deposition, topographic modification by plasma bombardment, chemical support layer deposition and amorphous carbon layer deposition (Diamond-Like Carbon). In one embodiment, the process is in single cycle. The present invention pertains to the fields of Materials Engineering, Physics and Chemistry.

The present invention describes a process for coating conductive component in a plasma reactor and a conductive component coating, wherein the process includes the steps of cleaning, mechanical support deposition, topographic modification by plasma bombardment, chemical support layer deposition and amorphous carbon layer deposition (Diamond-Like Carbon). In one embodiment, the process is in single cycle. The present invention pertains to the fields of Materials Engineering, Physics and Chemistry.

A method for treating a workpiece made from a self-passivating metal and having a Beilby layer is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the workpiece to the vapors produced by heating a reagent having a guanidine [HNC(NH.sub.2).sub.2] moiety and complexed with HCl to activate the workpiece for low temperature interstitial surface hardening.

Process for pre-treatment of a surface of a chromium containing corrosion resistant metallic substrate prior to further processing, wherein the metallic substrate is brought into contact with an in-situ generated activating agent, being the thermal decomposition product of a hydrofluoroolefin, the substrate and the activating agent are heated, and optionally the activating agent is partly or entirely removed before further processing.

Process for pre-treatment of a surface of a chromium containing corrosion resistant metallic substrate prior to further processing, wherein the metallic substrate is brought into contact with an in-situ generated activating agent, being the thermal decomposition product of a hydrofluoroolefin, the substrate and the activating agent are heated, and optionally the activating agent is partly or entirely removed before further processing.

The invention relates to a method for producing a sintered component comprising the steps: providing a metallic powder; filling the powder into a powder press; pressing the powder to form a green compact; removing the green compact from the powder press; sintering the green compact into a sintered component with pores; optional redensification of the sintered component; hardening of the sintered component, wherein the pores of the sintered component, prior to hardening at least in that region of the surface of the sintered component which is subjected to a hardening, are at least partially filled with a filling agent.

The present application relates to a method for producing at least one component for a hydraulic displacement unit, wherein the method is characterized by the steps: prefabrication of a blank component for the at least one component, wherein at least one defined surface region of the blank component is fabricated intentionally with oversize, surface-hardening of the blank component, and final forming of the component from the hardened blank component by removal of the excessive material at the at least one defined surface region fabricated with oversize.

The present application relates to a method for producing at least one component for a hydraulic displacement unit, wherein the method is characterized by the steps: prefabrication of a blank component for the at least one component, wherein at least one defined surface region of the blank component is fabricated intentionally with oversize, surface-hardening of the blank component, and final forming of the component from the hardened blank component by removal of the excessive material at the at least one defined surface region fabricated with oversize.

A medical instrument with excellent operability is provided. The medical instrument includes stick-shaped extra-narrow metal members. The extra-narrow member has a hardened layer formed on the surface thereof without losing flexibility.