The disclosure relates to a method for preparing Ti(C,N)-based superhard metal composite materials, with Ti(C,N) powder and (W,Mo,Ta)(C,N) powder as main raw materials and Co powder as binding phase for preparation, thereby obtaining a material in which a microstructure is a double-core rim structure that has both a black core rim and a white core rim. The material has a complete and evenly distributed double-core rim structure. In the condition that the ensured hardness of the material is not reduced and even slightly increased, the toughness of the material is significantly improved, wherein the fracture toughness of the material is in the range of 11.3 to 12.5 MPa.Math.m.sup.1/2.

The disclosure relates to a method for preparing Ti(C,N)-based superhard metal composite materials, with Ti(C,N) powder and (W,Mo,Ta)(C,N) powder as main raw materials and Co powder as binding phase for preparation, thereby obtaining a material in which a microstructure is a double-core rim structure that has both a black core rim and a white core rim. The material has a complete and evenly distributed double-core rim structure. In the condition that the ensured hardness of the material is not reduced and even slightly increased, the toughness of the material is significantly improved, wherein the fracture toughness of the material is in the range of 11.3 to 12.5 MPa.Math.m.sup.1/2.

A nitride phosphor having a composition containing Eu, Si, Al, N, and a group 2 element including at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba. In the composition, a ratio of a total molar content of the group 2 element and Eu to a molar content of Al is 0.8 or more and 1.1 or less, a molar ratio of Eu is 0.002 or more and 0.08 or less, a molar ratio of Si is 0.8 or more and 1.2 or less, and a total molar ratio of Si and Al is 1.8 or more and 2.2 or less. The nitride phosphor has a first peak in a range of 17° 2θ or more and 19° 2θ or less and a second peak in a range of 34° 2θ or more and 35.5° 2θ or less in a CuKα powder X-ray diffraction pattern.

A method for the thermal treatment of a component, in particular a metal powder injection molded component (MIM component) including a nickel base alloy, wherein, after sintering, in particular immediately after sintering, in the injection molding process, the component is exposed for a predetermined holding time to at least one treatment temperature below the sintering temperature. A component, in particular an MIM component, and to an aircraft engine.

A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed on a support structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of the three-dimensional article, lowering the support structure a predetermined distance and rotating the support structure a predetermined angle in a first direction before applying a first powder layer covering the lowered and rotated support structure, rotating the support structure the predetermined angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction before directing the at least one first energy beam from the at least one first energy beam source at selected locations of the first powder layer, the at least one first energy beam source causing the first powder layer on the stationary support structure which is stationary to fuse in the selected locations according to the model to form first portions of the three-dimensional article.

A heater arrangement (20′) for an apparatus (1) for layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object (2) by the consolidation of particulate matter (16), the heater arrangement having a heater arrangement area, and comprising: one or more shrouded radiative heating elements (20′), arranged over the heater arrangement area, the shrouded radiative heating elements being operable to heat particulate matter at a build bed surface of said apparatus to a desired temperature profile; and one or more radiation-restricting shrouds (210), which are arranged in communication with the shrouded radiative heating elements, and each of which form one or more passages for restricting the solid angle over which radiation is emitted by the shrouded radiative elements, each passage having a first end which opens towards at least one of said shrouded radiative heating elements, and a second end which opens to the exterior. Also provided is apparatus for layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object by the consolidation of particulate matter, the apparatus comprising: a working space having opposing bottom and top sides; a build bed surface on said bottom side of the working space and upon which successive layers of said object are formed, the build bed surface comprising a printable area; and a heater arrangement area on said top side of the working space and comprising a plurality of spaced-apart radiative heating elements arranged on said top side of the working space, the radiative heating elements being operable to heat particulate matter at the build bed surface to a desired temperature profile; wherein said plurality of spaced-apart radiative heating elements comprises a first group of four or more radiative heating elements (200); and wherein, as viewed from said top side of the working space, said first group of four or more spaced-apart heating elements is arranged beyond and around the perimeter of printable area and within the heater arrangement area.

The present invention concerns a method of making sintered components made from an iron-based powder composition and the sintered component per se. The method is especially suited for producing components which will be subjected to wear at elevated temperatures, consequently the components consists of a heat resistant stainless steel with hard phases including chromium carbo-nitrides. Examples of such components are parts in turbochargers for internal combustion engines.

A flexible porous metal foil sheet made of a metal porous material which use a solid solution alloy, a metal element of a face-centered cubic structure or a metal element of a body-centered cubic structure as the matrix phase, wherein the thickness of the sheet is greater than 200 μm and less than or equal to 1500 μm, the average aperture is 0.05˜100 μm, and the porosity is 15%˜70%. The method for making the flexible porous metal foil comprises: (1) making viscous suspension or muddy paste of raw material powder that will form the metal porous material using a dispersing agent and a binding agent; (2) injecting the suspension or paste into a mold for making membrane, and drying the suspension or paste to form a homogeneous membrane; (3) pressing the membrane to improve the stacking density of the powder particles; and (4) sintering the pressed membrane to obtain the flexible porous metal foil. The flexible porous metal foil has more uniform aperture distribution, and better flatness of the foil.

A flexible porous metal foil sheet made of a metal porous material which use a solid solution alloy, a metal element of a face-centered cubic structure or a metal element of a body-centered cubic structure as the matrix phase, wherein the thickness of the sheet is greater than 200 μm and less than or equal to 1500 μm, the average aperture is 0.05˜100 μm, and the porosity is 15%˜70%. The method for making the flexible porous metal foil comprises: (1) making viscous suspension or muddy paste of raw material powder that will form the metal porous material using a dispersing agent and a binding agent; (2) injecting the suspension or paste into a mold for making membrane, and drying the suspension or paste to form a homogeneous membrane; (3) pressing the membrane to improve the stacking density of the powder particles; and (4) sintering the pressed membrane to obtain the flexible porous metal foil. The flexible porous metal foil has more uniform aperture distribution, and better flatness of the foil.

A sintering and debinding system includes a debinding chamber configured to switch between an open state and a closed state, the open state being configured to permit receipt or removal of at least one part within or from the debinding chamber and a sintering chamber operably connected to the debinding chamber and being vertically positioned above or below the debinding chamber. The sintering system also includes a shelf structure configured to receive the at least one part, the shelf structure being movable between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber and a gate valve configured to switch between an open state and a closed state, the gate valve being configured to selectively permit or block fluid communication between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber. The gate valve is configured such that: when the gate valve is in an open state, fluid communication between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber is permitted and the shelf structure is movable between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber. The gate valve is further configured such that, when the gate valve is in the closed state, fluid communication between the debinding chamber and sintering chamber is restricted, and at least one of: (i) movement of the shelf structure between the debinding chamber and the sintering chamber is restricted or (ii) the debinding chamber is configured to permit receipt within and removal of the at least one part from the debinding chamber.