A method for connecting a first component to a second component to form an assembly forms a press fit connection between the first component and the second component, for which purpose the second component is produced having an annular component section. A recess is formed, in which the first component is at least partially arranged. At least the annular component section of the second component is produced as a sintered component and has net shape or near net shape quality at least in the region of the recess.

A permanent magnet in which demagnetization adjustment can be easily performed and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The permanent magnet contains 22 to 28 mass % of a rare-earth element R, 12 to 23 mass % of Fe, 3 to 9 mass % of Cu, 1 to 4 mass % of Zr, and a remainder consisting of Co and unavoidable impurities, in which, in a demagnetization curve in which the horizontal axis indicates a demagnetization field (kOe) and the vertical axis indicates the total amount of magnetic flux (×10.sup.−5 WbT) in the permanent magnet, the slope of an approximate straight line in demagnetization field ranges from 0 to −11 kOe is 1.2 or smaller.

A permanent magnet in which demagnetization adjustment can be easily performed and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The permanent magnet contains 22 to 28 mass % of a rare-earth element R, 12 to 23 mass % of Fe, 3 to 9 mass % of Cu, 1 to 4 mass % of Zr, and a remainder consisting of Co and unavoidable impurities, in which, in a demagnetization curve in which the horizontal axis indicates a demagnetization field (kOe) and the vertical axis indicates the total amount of magnetic flux (×10.sup.−5 WbT) in the permanent magnet, the slope of an approximate straight line in demagnetization field ranges from 0 to −11 kOe is 1.2 or smaller.

The present invention provides a friction material and a brake pad having excellent wear resistance while exhibiting a high friction coefficient under high-temperature and high-speed conditions. A friction material containing: 40 mass % or more and 80 mass % or less of a matrix containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Ni and Fe; 10 mass % or more and 30 mass % or less of inorganic particles containing zircon particles, titania particles, and mullite particles; and 10 mass % or more and 30 mass % or less of a lubricant containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of graphite, molybdenum disulfide, boron nitride and calcium fluoride, wherein a content of the zircon particles is 30 vol % or more and 36 vol % or less, a content of the titania particles is 30 vol % or more and 36 vol % or less, and a content of the mullite particles is 30 vol % or more and 36 vol % or less with respect to a total content of 100 vol % of the zircon particles, the titania particles, and the mullite particles.

The present invention provides a friction material and a brake pad having excellent wear resistance while exhibiting a high friction coefficient under high-temperature and high-speed conditions. A friction material containing: 40 mass % or more and 80 mass % or less of a matrix containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Ni and Fe; 10 mass % or more and 30 mass % or less of inorganic particles containing zircon particles, titania particles, and mullite particles; and 10 mass % or more and 30 mass % or less of a lubricant containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of graphite, molybdenum disulfide, boron nitride and calcium fluoride, wherein a content of the zircon particles is 30 vol % or more and 36 vol % or less, a content of the titania particles is 30 vol % or more and 36 vol % or less, and a content of the mullite particles is 30 vol % or more and 36 vol % or less with respect to a total content of 100 vol % of the zircon particles, the titania particles, and the mullite particles.

The dust core comprises a plurality of soft magnetic iron-based particles, a coating layer disposed on each of the surfaces of the soft magnetic iron-based particles, an interstitial layer disposed between the coating layers, and a nanopowder disposed between the soft magnetic iron-based particles. The coating layer is a layer of a compound comprising Fe, Si, O, B and N; and the nanopowder is a powder of a compound comprising O, N and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Si, Zr, Co, Al, Mg, Mn and Ni.

The dust core comprises a plurality of soft magnetic iron-based particles, a coating layer disposed on each of the surfaces of the soft magnetic iron-based particles, an interstitial layer disposed between the coating layers, and a nanopowder disposed between the soft magnetic iron-based particles. The coating layer is a layer of a compound comprising Fe, Si, O, B and N; and the nanopowder is a powder of a compound comprising O, N and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Si, Zr, Co, Al, Mg, Mn and Ni.

A caster assembly configured to process and store a material includes a reaction chamber, a storage assembly configured to store material processed in the reaction chamber, and a blower configured to process and store the material. The reaction chamber includes a vessel configured to hold the material in a melted state prior to processing and a powder generating assembly configured to receive the material from the melting vessel. The powder generating assembly includes a feeding chamber and a feeding device disposed at least partially within the feeding chamber. The feeding device includes at least one nozzle configured to inject inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two into the feeding chamber and a material inlet through which the material is configured to flow into the feeding chamber to be exposed to the inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two.

A caster assembly configured to process and store a material includes a reaction chamber, a storage assembly configured to store material processed in the reaction chamber, and a blower configured to process and store the material. The reaction chamber includes a vessel configured to hold the material in a melted state prior to processing and a powder generating assembly configured to receive the material from the melting vessel. The powder generating assembly includes a feeding chamber and a feeding device disposed at least partially within the feeding chamber. The feeding device includes at least one nozzle configured to inject inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two into the feeding chamber and a material inlet through which the material is configured to flow into the feeding chamber to be exposed to the inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two.

An iron-based sintered alloy material having, at the surface of the material, a hardened layer exhibiting a martensite phase containing a solid solution of nitrogen in a supersaturated state. The iron-based sintered alloy material may contain at least one of chromium, copper, molybdenum, manganese and nickel. A production method for the iron-based sintered alloy material includes: subjecting an iron-based sintered alloy substrate containing carbon to a nitriding treatment by heating the substrate to a nitriding temperature of at least 590° C. in an atmosphere containing ammonia, and then performing quenching by rapidly cooling the substrate.