An article includes a substrate and a barrier layer on the substrate. The barrier layer includes a matrix, diffusive particles dispersed in the matrix, and gettering particles dispersed in the matrix. The gettering particles include at least one alloyed metal silicide. A composite material and a method of fabricating an article are also disclosed.

A pull-tab sealing member for a container containing an upper laminate forming a pull-tab bonded to a lower laminate capable of being heat sealed to a container's mouth or opening. The upper laminate defines the pull tab wholly within a perimeter or circumference of the seal. The sealing member further includes a sub tab layer or member under the gripping tab for concentric structural support.

A pull-tab sealing member for a container containing an upper laminate forming a pull-tab bonded to a lower laminate capable of being heat sealed to a container's mouth or opening. The upper laminate defines the pull tab wholly within a perimeter or circumference of the seal. The sealing member further includes a sub tab layer or member under the gripping tab for structural support.

The present invention relates to light weight composite materials which comprise a metallic layer and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing a filled thermoplastic polymer which includes a thermoplastic polymer and a metallic fiber. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding. The invention also relates to methods for producing a sheet of the polymeric layer.

A hot-pressed member includes a steel sheet, a Ni-diffusion region present in a surface layer of the steel sheet, and an intermetallic compound layer and a ZnO layer which are provided in order on the Ni-diffusion region, the intermetallic compound layer corresponding to a phase present in a phase equilibrium diagram of a ZnNi alloy, wherein a spontaneous immersion potential indicated in a 0.5 M NaCl aqueous air-saturated solution at 25 C.5 C. is 600 to 360 mV based on a standard hydrogen electrode.

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes for use in die level testing of semiconductor devices) from a core material and a shell or coating material that partially coats the surface of the structure. Other embodiments are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for producing structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material that completely coats the surface of each layer from which the probe is formed including interlayer regions. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material wherein the coating material is located around each layer of the structure without locating the coating material in inter-layer regions.

A metal conducting structure includes a first metal conducting layer, a second metal conducting layer, and a third metal conducting layer. The first metal conducting layer consists of a first polymer material and first metal particles. The first metal conducting layer is covered by the second metal conducting layer which is a structure with pores, the structure consists of second metal particles. The second metal conducting layer is covered by the third metal conducting layer. The pores of the second metal conducting layer are filled with a metal material of the third metal conducting layer.

The present invention relates to light weight composite materials which comprise a metallic layer and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing a filled thermoplastic polymer which includes a thermoplastic polymer and a metallic fiber. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding.

A plate-shaped heat dissipation member includes a metal-silicon carbide composite containing aluminum or magnesium, in which at least one of two main surfaces of the heat dissipation member is curved to be convex in an outward direction of the heat dissipation member, and when a flatness of the one main surface defined by JIS B 0621 is represented by f.sub.1 and a flatness of the other main surface different from the one main surface defined by JIS B 0621 is represented by f.sub.2, f.sub.2 is less than f.sub.1 by 10 m or more.

A pull-tab sealing member for a container containing an upper laminate forming a pull-tab bonded to a lower laminate capable of being heat sealed to a container's mouth or opening. The upper laminate defines the pull tab wholly within a perimeter or circumference of the seal. The sealing member further includes a sub tab layer or member under the gripping tab for concentric structural support.