A titanium based, ceramic reinforced body formed from an alloy having from about 3 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of zirconium, about 10 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of niobium, from about 0.5 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of silicon, and from about 63 wt. % to about 86.5 wt. % of titanium. The alloy has a hexagonal crystal lattice a phase of from about 20 vol % to about 70 vol %, and a cubic body centered crystal lattice phase of from about 30 vol. % to about 80 vol. %. The body has an ultimate tensile strength of about 950 MPa or more, and a Young's modulus of about 150 GPa or less. A molten substantially uniform admixture of a zirconium, niobium, silicon, and titanium alloy is formed, cast into a shape, and cooled into body. The body may then be formed into a desired shape, for example, a medical implant and optionally annealed.

The invention discloses a high-precision zinc-based alloy electrode wire, the external shell thereof consisting of: Zn: 70.5-95%; Cu: 2.5-27%; X: 0.02-4.0%; Y: 0.002-0.4%, and unavoidable impurities; where, X refers to any two kinds of metals selected from Ni, Ag, Cr, Si and Zr, and the weight percentage of each of these two kinds of metals is 0.01-2.0%; and Y refers to any two kinds of metals selected from Ti, Al, Co, B, and P, and the weight percentage of each of these two kinds of metals is 0.001-0.2%; the -phase in a metallurgical structure of the external shell is above 80 wt %. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the electrode wire, which has high surface smoothness of the cut metal workpieces to improve the cutting precision. The method has simple process, high maneuverability, less steps, so as to facilitate large-scale and automated production.

The present invention provides a method for casting a slab with good cast surface quality. The method includes pouring molten metal 8 into a mold 2 from one of the paired shorter sides of the mold 2 while allowing superheat T [ C.], which is a temperature difference obtained by subtracting the melting point Tm [ C.] of the raw material from the temperature Tin [ C.] of the molten material on the surface of the molten metal in the mold and at the pouring point of the molten metal, to satisfy the following Formula (1) and Formula (2):
0.0014T.sup.2 +0.0144T+699.45>800 Formula (1)
0.0008T.sup.2 +0.2472T+853.02<1250 Formula (2)

A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

In production of a reactive metal using a melting furnace for producing metal having a hearth, ingots can be efficiently produced by efficiently cooling the ingots extracted from the mold provided in the melting furnace. In addition, an apparatus structure in which multiple ingots can be produced with high efficiency and high quality from one hearth, is provided. A melting furnace for producing metal is provided, the furnace has a hearth for having molten metal formed by melting raw material, a mold in which the molten metal is poured, an extracting jig which is provided below the mold for extracting ingot cooled and solidified downwardly, a cooling member for cooling the ingot extracted downwardly of the mold, and an outer case for keeping the hearth, the mold, the extracting jig, and the cooling member separated from the air, wherein at least one mold and extracting jig are provided in the outer case, and the cooling member is provided between the outer case and the ingot, or between the multiple ingots.

A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

An example mold assembly system includes a mold assembly including a mold forming a bottom of the mold assembly, a funnel operatively coupled to the mold, and an infiltration chamber defined at least partially by the mold and the funnel, the infiltration chamber being used for forming an infiltrated downhole tool. A mold assembly cap is positionable on the mold assembly and including a sidewall extendable about an outer periphery of the mold assembly at least partially along a height of the mold assembly. The sidewall exhibits a horizontal cross-sectional shape that accommodates a shape of the mold assembly and the sidewall is made of a thermal material that promotes directional solidification of the infiltrated downhole tool during fabrication.

The disclosure is directed to an apparatus comprising feedback-assisted control of the heating process in rapid discharge heating and forming of metallic glass articles.

The present invention provides a method for casting a slab with good cast surface quality. The method includes pouring molten metal 8 into a mold 2 from one of the paired shorter sides of the mold 2 while allowing superheat T [ C.], which is a temperature difference obtained by subtracting the melting point Tm [ C.] of the raw material from the temperature Tin [ C.] of the molten material on the surface of the molten metal in the mold and at the pouring point of the molten metal, to satisfy the following Formula (1) and Formula (2):

0.0014T.sup.2 +0.0144T+699.45>800 Formula (1)

0.0008T.sup.2 +0.2472T+853.02<1250 Formula (2)

This copper alloy for an electronic/electric device includes Mg at an amount of 3.3 atom % to 6.9 atom % with a remainder substantially being Cu and inevitable impurities, wherein a strength ratio TS.sub.TD/TS.sub.LD is more than 1.02, and the strength ratio TS.sub.TD/TS.sub.LD is calculated from a strength TS.sub.TD measured by a tensile test carried out in a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction and a strength TS.sub.LD measured by a tensile test carried out in a direction parallel to the rolling direction.