A composite member includes: a substrate formed of a composite material containing a plurality of diamond grains and a metal phase; and a coating layer made of metal. The surface of the substrate includes a surface of the metal phase, and a protrusion formed of a part of at least one diamond grain of the diamond grains and protruding from the surface of the metal phase. In a plan view, the coating layer includes a metal coating portion, and a grain coating portion. A ratio of a thickness of the grain coating portion to a thickness of the metal coating portion is equal to or less than 0.80. The coating layer has a surface roughness as an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 2.0 μm.

In some examples, a method includes forming a photoresist layer on a surface of a metallic substrate and developing the photoresist layer to define a pattern exposing a portion of the surface of the metallic substrate. The method also may include forming an electrically conductive layer on a surface of the photoresist layer and the exposed portions of the surface of the metallic substrate. The electrically conductive layer contacts the exposed portions of the surface of the metallic substrate. The method may further include submerging the substrate, the photoresist layer, and the electrically conductive layer in an electrolyte solution; and applying a voltage to between a cathode and an anode submerged in the electrolyte solution to anisotropically etch the metallic substrate where the electrically conductive layer contacts the exposed portions of the surface of the metallic substrate to form at least one feature in the metallic substrate.

A solder-coated ball (10A) includes a spherical core containing Ni and P; and a solder layer (12) formed to coat the core (11). A solder-coated ball (10B) further includes a Cu plating layer (13) formed between the core (11) and the solder layer (12). A solder-coated ball (10C) further includes an Ni plating layer (14) formed between the Cu plating layer (13) and the solder layer (12).

Horizontal methods of electroless metal plating with ionic catalysts have improved plating performance by reducing undesired foaming. The reduced foaming prevents loss of ionic catalyst from the catalyst bath and prevents scum formation which inhibits catalyst performance. The horizontal methods also inhibit ionic catalyst precipitation and improve adhesion of the ionic catalyst to the substrate. The horizontal method can be used to plate through-holes and vias of various types of substrates.

There is provided a silver-coated copper powder, which has excellent storage stability (reliability), and a method for producing the same. A silver-coated copper powder obtained by coating the surface of a copper powder, which is obtained by the atomizing method or the like, with 5 wt % or more (with respect to the silver-coated copper powder) of a silver containing layer of silver or a silver compound, is added to a gold plating solution, which is a potassium gold cyanide solution (to which at least one of tripotassium citrate monohydrate, anhydrous citric acid and L-aspartic acid is preferably added), to cause 0.01 wt % or more (with respect to the silver-coated copper powder) of gold to be supported on the surface of the copper powder coated with the silver containing layer.

Endodontic instruments for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth are disclosed. In one form, the instruments include an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank comprises a titanium alloy, and the shank is prepared by heat-treating the shank at a temperature above 25° C. in an atmosphere consisting essentially of a gas unreactive with the shank. In another form, the endodontic instruments have an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank consists essentially of a titanium alloy selected from alpha-titanium alloys, beta-titanium alloys, and alpha-beta-titanium alloys. The instruments solve the problems encountered when cleaning and enlarging a curved root canal.

Provided is a method for fabricating a magnesium-containing electrode by a plating method. In the fabrication process disclosure, a plating solution used in the plating method includes a solvent containing an ether. The solvent includes a first magnesium salt having a disilazide structure represented by a formula (R.sub.3Si).sub.2N and a second magnesium salt that does not have a disilazide structure. In the formula, R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 or more and 10 or less carbon atoms.

A decorative article has a substrate of which at least part of the surface is configured with Ti or stainless steel; and a coating made of primarily TiC and disposed on the substrate. The coating has at least a first region, and a second region disposed closer to the substrate than the first region. The elastic modulus of the second region is greater than the elastic modulus of the first region.

Nanocomposite magnetic materials, methods of manufacturing nanocomposite magnetic materials, and magnetic devices and systems using these nanocomposite magnetic materials are described. A nanocomposite magnetic material can be formed using an electro-infiltration process where nanomaterials (synthesized with tailored size, shape, magnetic properties, and surface chemistries) are infiltrated by electroplated magnetic metals after consolidating the nanomaterials into porous microstructures on planar substrates. The nanomaterials may be considered the inclusion phase, and the magnetic metals may be considered the matrix phase of the multi-phase nanocomposite.

A printed circuit board has a double-sided substrate with an insulation layer, a bonding member, a base layer of an aluminum material, and a circuit pattern; a second insulation layer; a second bonding member; a second base layer; a through hole; a zinc substitution layer; a plating layer; and a second circuit pattern.