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.

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.

While a molten metal of copper heated to a temperature, which is higher than the melting point of copper by 250 to 700° C. (preferably 350 to 650° C. and more preferably 450 to 600° C.), is allowed to drop, a high-pressure water is sprayed onto the heated molten metal of copper in a non-oxidizing atmosphere (such as an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon, hydrogen or carbon monoxide) to rapidly cool and solidify the heated molten metal of copper to produce a copper powder which has an average particle diameter of 1 to 10 μm and a crystallite diameter Dx.sub.(200) of not less than 40 nm on (200) plane thereof, the content of oxygen in the copper powder being 0.7% by weight or less.

Tantalum powder that is highly spherical is described. The tantalum powder can be useful in additive manufacturing and other uses. Methods to make the tantalum powder are further described as well as methods to utilize the tantalum powder in additive manufacturing processes. Resulting products and articles using the tantalum powder are further described.

Tantalum powder that is highly spherical is described. The tantalum powder can be useful in additive manufacturing and other uses. Methods to make the tantalum powder are further described as well as methods to utilize the tantalum powder in additive manufacturing processes. Resulting products and articles using the tantalum powder are further described.

A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.

A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.

The present disclosure discloses a method for coating a magnetic powder core with sodium silicate, including: using polyoxyethylene laurylether phosphate as a dispersant for sodium silicate and lignosulfonate as a dispersant for a metal magnetic powder, mixing a dispersed sodium silicate solution and a dispersed metal magnetic powder, coating the dispersed metal magnetic powder, and drying: adding an insulating adhesive and a lubricant, subjecting the resulting mixture to a compression molding, and finally, carrying out a high-temperature annealing treatment to obtain a sodium silicate coated magnetic powder core.

The present disclosure discloses a method for coating a magnetic powder core with sodium silicate, including: using polyoxyethylene laurylether phosphate as a dispersant for sodium silicate and lignosulfonate as a dispersant for a metal magnetic powder, mixing a dispersed sodium silicate solution and a dispersed metal magnetic powder, coating the dispersed metal magnetic powder, and drying: adding an insulating adhesive and a lubricant, subjecting the resulting mixture to a compression molding, and finally, carrying out a high-temperature annealing treatment to obtain a sodium silicate coated magnetic powder core.

The present invention relates to an alloy with formula of RE-M-B—Fe as defined herein and oxygen content less than 0.9 wt %, wherein said RE is in the range of 29.0 weight % to 33.0 weight %; M is in the range of 0.25 weight % to 1.0 weight %; B is in the range of 0.8 weight % to 1.1 weight %; and Fe makes up the balance. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing a RE-M-Fe—B magnetic powder, as defined herein comprising the steps of: (a) melt spinning a RE-M-Fe—B alloy composition to obtain a melt-spun powder; (b) pressing the melt-spun powder of step (a) to obtain a compact body; (c) hot deforming the compact body of step (b) to obtain a die-upset magnet; (d) crushing the die-upset magnet of step (c) to obtain a powder; (e) milling and sieving the powder of step (d); and (f) passivating the powder of step (e) to obtain a magnetic powder; wherein: each of steps (d) to (f) is performed under a low oxygen environment and transfer between each of steps (d) to (f) is a sealed transfer; and wherein the oxygen content of the low oxygen environment and during each sealed transfer is below 0.5 weight %.