A method for low-temperature interstitial case formation on a self-passivating metal workpiece includes exposing the workpiece in a heated gaseous environment comprising oxygen to pyrolysis products of a nonpolymeric reagent comprising nitrogen and carbon.

Metal components subject to wear or contact fatigue in a first area, and subject to bending, axial and/or torsional stress loading in a second area comprise a surface hardened, first surface layer in the first area, and a surface compressive-stress treated, second surface layer in the second area. The second surface layer has a material hardness different from, and typically lower than, the first surface layer, and induced residual compressive stress to improve fatigue strength. Example components described include a gear, a cog, a pinion, a rack, a splined shaft, a splined coupling, a torqueing tool and a nut driving tool. A hybrid manufacturing process is described, including area-selective surface hardening combined with a process to add compressive stress to fatigue failure prone areas.

Metal components subject to wear or contact fatigue in a first area, and subject to bending, axial and/or torsional stress loading in a second area comprise a surface hardened, first surface layer in the first area, and a surface compressive-stress treated, second surface layer in the second area. The second surface layer has a material hardness different from, and typically lower than, the first surface layer, and induced residual compressive stress to improve fatigue strength. Example components described include a gear, a cog, a pinion, a rack, a splined shaft, a splined coupling, a torqueing tool and a nut driving tool. A hybrid manufacturing process is described, including area-selective surface hardening combined with a process to add compressive stress to fatigue failure prone areas.

A method for manufacturing a watch component is a method for manufacturing a watch component formed of austenitized ferritic stainless steel including a base formed of a ferrite phase and a surfacing layer formed of an austenitized phase in which the ferrite phase is austenitized, the method including a first processing step for forming a hole portion or a recessed portion at a base material formed of ferrite stainless steel, a heat treatment step for performing a nitrogen absorption treatment on the base material to form the surfacing layer at a surface side of the base, and a second processing step for cutting a surfacing layer corresponding to the hole portion or the recessed portion to form the watch component.

An annealing separator for an oriented electrical steel sheet including: a first component includes a Mg oxide or a Mg hydroxide; and a second component including one kind among oxides and hydroxides of a metal selected from Al, Ti, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ca, Zn, Na, K, Mo, In, Sb, Ba, Bi, and Mn, or two or more kinds thereof.

An annealing separator for an oriented electrical steel sheet including: a first component includes a Mg oxide or a Mg hydroxide; and a second component including one kind among oxides and hydroxides of a metal selected from Al, Ti, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ca, Zn, Na, K, Mo, In, Sb, Ba, Bi, and Mn, or two or more kinds thereof.

A hybrid method of surface hardening metallic components using a combination of chemical modification achieved through additive manufacturing and/or diffusion-based processing with transformation-based processing using a high energy density heat source. The hybrid process results in increased surface hardness and/or increased average case hardness and/or increased case depth compared to either treatment individually.

A hybrid method of surface hardening metallic components using a combination of chemical modification achieved through additive manufacturing and/or diffusion-based processing with transformation-based processing using a high energy density heat source. The hybrid process results in increased surface hardness and/or increased average case hardness and/or increased case depth compared to either treatment individually.

An L1.sub.0 type iron-nickel (FeNi) ordered alloy has an L1.sub.0 type ordered structure and contains sulfur. The L1.sub.0 type FeNi ordered alloy may have a sulfur content in a range from 0.01% by mass to 10% by mass. A manufacturing method of an L1.sub.0 type FeNi ordered alloy includes performing a nitriding treatment to an FeNi alloy containing sulfur to obtain a nitride containing Fe and Ni.

An L1.sub.0 type iron-nickel (FeNi) ordered alloy has an L1.sub.0 type ordered structure and contains sulfur. The L1.sub.0 type FeNi ordered alloy may have a sulfur content in a range from 0.01% by mass to 10% by mass. A manufacturing method of an L1.sub.0 type FeNi ordered alloy includes performing a nitriding treatment to an FeNi alloy containing sulfur to obtain a nitride containing Fe and Ni.