In an embodiment, an article comprises a plurality of structural units, wherein each structural unit comprises a first portion; a second portion; wherein the second portion contacts the first portion; and a third portion; wherein the third portion is in communication with the first portion and the second portion and is more compressible than the first portion and the second portion; wherein the first portion comprises a first shape memory alloy having a first preset state and wherein the second portion comprises a second shape memory alloy that has a second preset state; wherein the second preset state is different from the first preset state.

A three-dimensional laminated and shaped object having a graded composition is accurately shaped. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus for shaping a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object having a graded composition by laminating a plurality of kinds of materials includes a material supplier that supplies the materials while executing a scan, an irradiator that irradiates the materials with a beam, and a controller that controls the material supplier. The controller controls the material supplier to supply, to a predetermined scanning area of a material scanning area, a necessary amount of a predetermined material for laminating one layer of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object at a predetermined number of times.

A three-dimensional laminated and shaped object having a graded composition is accurately shaped. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus for shaping a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object having a graded composition by laminating a plurality of kinds of materials includes a material supplier that supplies the materials while executing a scan, an irradiator that irradiates the materials with a beam, and a controller that controls the material supplier. The controller controls the material supplier to supply, to a predetermined scanning area of a material scanning area, a necessary amount of a predetermined material for laminating one layer of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object at a predetermined number of times.

A method for fabricating a functionally graded tungsten-copper composite (W—Cu FGC) may include the following steps. A binder alloy powder may be prepared that may include mechanically alloyed metal powders of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn); the binder alloy powder may be mixed with a pure tungsten (W) powder to obtain a modified W powder; a plurality of W—Cu composite powders may be prepared by mixing the modified W powder with pure copper powder with different ratios; the plurality of W—Cu composite powders may then be stacked inside a die; the stacked plurality of W—Cu composite powders may be pressed inside the die to obtain a W—Cu compact; and the W—Cu compact may be sintered to obtain a W—Cu FGC.

A method for fabricating a functionally graded tungsten-copper composite (W—Cu FGC) may include the following steps. A binder alloy powder may be prepared that may include mechanically alloyed metal powders of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn); the binder alloy powder may be mixed with a pure tungsten (W) powder to obtain a modified W powder; a plurality of W—Cu composite powders may be prepared by mixing the modified W powder with pure copper powder with different ratios; the plurality of W—Cu composite powders may then be stacked inside a die; the stacked plurality of W—Cu composite powders may be pressed inside the die to obtain a W—Cu compact; and the W—Cu compact may be sintered to obtain a W—Cu FGC.

A bearing component part, a bearing component and a process for manufacturing the bearing component. The bearing component part comprises at least one circumferential peripheral surface, wherein the circumferential peripheral surface presents at least one groove extending along at least a part of the circumference of the peripheral surface, wherein the groove is arranged to receive a second material, the peripheral surface further presenting a first and a second portion located on opposite sides of the at least one groove along the circumference of the peripheral surface, wherein the bearing component part comprises a weldable metallic material.

A bearing component part, a bearing component and a process for manufacturing the bearing component. The bearing component part comprises at least one circumferential peripheral surface, wherein the circumferential peripheral surface presents at least one groove extending along at least a part of the circumference of the peripheral surface, wherein the groove is arranged to receive a second material, the peripheral surface further presenting a first and a second portion located on opposite sides of the at least one groove along the circumference of the peripheral surface, wherein the bearing component part comprises a weldable metallic material.

An alumina sintered body having a low dielectric loss tangent and a method for manufacturing the alumina sintered body are provided. An alumina sintered body contains Al.sub.2O.sub.3 99.50 mass % or more, and 99.95 mass % or less and sodium and silicon, wherein at a surface layer A in any given cross-section and a central portion B of the cross-section in a depth direction from the surface layer A, a concentration ratio of sodium to silicon in the surface layer A is smaller than the concentration ratio of sodium to silicon at the central portion B.

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a transition piece that has a high degree of freedom in adjustment of a length, a shape, or the like, can carry out a dissimilar metal welding easily, and is easy to perform, and a transition piece. The transition piece includes one end having the same composition as one material to be welded, another end having the same composition as another material to be welded, and an intermediate layer formed between the one end and the other end. The composition of the one end and the composition of the other end become the same as approaching a center. In the method of manufacturing the transition piece according to the invention, at least the intermediate layer among the one end, the other end, and the intermediate layer is formed by a additive manufacturing method.

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a transition piece that has a high degree of freedom in adjustment of a length, a shape, or the like, can carry out a dissimilar metal welding easily, and is easy to perform, and a transition piece. The transition piece includes one end having the same composition as one material to be welded, another end having the same composition as another material to be welded, and an intermediate layer formed between the one end and the other end. The composition of the one end and the composition of the other end become the same as approaching a center. In the method of manufacturing the transition piece according to the invention, at least the intermediate layer among the one end, the other end, and the intermediate layer is formed by a additive manufacturing method.