A cemented carbide body includes WC in a metallic binder phase. The cemented carbide body has a bulk portion and a surface portion. The grain size of the WC in the surface portion is smaller than the grain size in the bulk portion of the body and this gives an increased surface hardness and an increased wear resistance. The median grain thickness, tg, of WC in the surface portion is 20-300 nm and the average grain size in the bulk portion is 0.5-8 μm. A method of surface hardening a cemented carbide body is also provided.

Methodologies, systems, and devices are provided for producing metal spheroidal powder products. By utilizing a microwave plasma, control over spheriodization and resulting microstructure can be tailored to meet desired demands.

There is provided a method of treating a nickel base super alloy (NiSa) article. First, the NiSa article having fine grains is obtained. The NiSa article has a uniform distribution of the fine grains and substantially uniform mechanical properties throughout. One or more regions within the NiSa article are mechanically deformed. Then, the NiSa article is heat treated to obtain coarse grains in the one or more regions, the coarse grains having a size that is larger than that of the fine grains of the NiSa article outside of the one or more regions.

There is provided a method of treating a nickel base super alloy (NiSa) article. First, the NiSa article having fine grains is obtained. The NiSa article has a uniform distribution of the fine grains and substantially uniform mechanical properties throughout. One or more regions within the NiSa article are mechanically deformed. Then, the NiSa article is heat treated to obtain coarse grains in the one or more regions, the coarse grains having a size that is larger than that of the fine grains of the NiSa article outside of the one or more regions.

An additive manufacturing process includes applying a layer of a building material on a building support or an already applied and selectively solidified layer and selectively solidifying the applied layer by electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation. All positions in the layer that correspond to a cross-section of the object are scanned by electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation such that at these positions the powder is melted at least at its surface. At least one cross-section includes an inner region and a surface region. The step of applying a layer and the step of selectively solidifying the layer are repeated until all cross-sections of the object are solidified. At least a portion of the surface region is scanned at least twice before scanning of the inner region starts.

A powder bed material can include from 80 wt % to 100 wt % metal particles having a D50 particle size distribution value from 4 μm to 150 μm. From 10 wt % to 100 wt % of the metal particles can be surface-activated metal particles having in intact inner volume and an outer volume with structural defects. The structural defects can exhibit an average surface grain density of 50,000 to 5,000,000 per mm.sup.2.

A powder bed material can include from 80 wt % to 100 wt % metal particles having a D50 particle size distribution value from 4 μm to 150 μm. From 10 wt % to 100 wt % of the metal particles can be surface-activated metal particles having in intact inner volume and an outer volume with structural defects. The structural defects can exhibit an average surface grain density of 50,000 to 5,000,000 per mm.sup.2.

Methodologies, systems, and devices are provided for producing metal spheroidal powder products. By utilizing a microwave plasma, control over spheriodization and resulting microstructure can be tailored to meet desired demands.

The present disclosure generally relates to turbine engine components having multiple controlled metallic grain orientations. In general, the primary grain orientation is aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the turbine engine component while the secondary grain orientation is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Such controlled grain orientations provide the blades and vanes with increased strength to withstand the thermal-mechanical stresses of the turbine operation. The disclosure also relates to turbines having these fortified components, and methods of manufacturing the components.

The present disclosure generally relates to turbine engine components having multiple controlled metallic grain orientations. In general, the primary grain orientation is aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the turbine engine component while the secondary grain orientation is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Such controlled grain orientations provide the blades and vanes with increased strength to withstand the thermal-mechanical stresses of the turbine operation. The disclosure also relates to turbines having these fortified components, and methods of manufacturing the components.