The present invention relates to a methods, computer program products, program elements, and apparatuses for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together so as to form the article. The method comprising the steps of providing at least one electron beam source emitting an electron beam for at least one of heating or fusing the powder material, where the electron beam source comprises a cathode and an anode, and varying an accelerator voltage between the cathode and the anode between at least a first and second predetermined value during the forming of the three-dimensional article.

The present invention relates to a methods, computer program products, program elements, and apparatuses for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together so as to form the article. The method comprising the steps of providing at least one electron beam source emitting an electron beam for at least one of heating or fusing the powder material, where the electron beam source comprises a cathode and an anode, and varying an accelerator voltage between the cathode and the anode between at least a first and second predetermined value during the forming of the three-dimensional article.

A method for producing a sintered member, including the steps of: preparing a raw powder; press-forming the raw powder to produce a green compact; and sintering the green compact by high-frequency induction heating, wherein a temperature of the green compact in the sintering step is controlled to satisfy all the following conditions (I) to (III): (I) the temperature is increased without maintaining the temperature in a temperature range equal to or higher than an A.sub.1 point of an Fe—C phase diagram and lower than the sintering temperature of the green compact, (II) a heating rate is set to 12° C./s or more in a temperature range of the A.sub.1 point to an A.sub.3 point of the Fe—C phase diagram, and (III) a heating rate is set to 4° C./s or more in a temperature range of the A.sub.3 point of the Fe—C phase diagram to the sintering temperature of the green compact.

A three-dimensional porous catalyst, catalyst carrier or absorbent structure of stacked strands of catalyst, catalyst carrier or absorbent material, composed of layers of spaced-apart parallel strands, wherein parallel strands within a layer are arranged in groups of two or more closely spaced-apart, equidistant strands separated by a small distance, wherein the groups of equidistant strands are separated from adjacent strands or adjacent groups of strands by a larger distance.

A three-dimensional porous catalyst, catalyst carrier or absorbent structure of stacked strands of catalyst, catalyst carrier or absorbent material, composed of layers of spaced-apart parallel strands, wherein parallel strands within a layer are arranged in groups of two or more closely spaced-apart, equidistant strands separated by a small distance, wherein the groups of equidistant strands are separated from adjacent strands or adjacent groups of strands by a larger distance.

A method for producing a composite magnetic body includes: pressure molding a metal magnetic material into a predetermined shape, the metal magnetic material being an Fe—Si-based metal magnetic material; performing a primary heat treatment of heating the metal magnetic material in an atmosphere with a first oxygen partial pressure to form an Si oxide coating film on a surface of the metal magnetic material; and performing a secondary heat treatment of heating the metal magnetic material that has undergone the primary heat treatment in an atmosphere with a second oxygen partial pressure, which is higher than the first oxygen partial pressure, to form an Fe oxide layer at least partially on a surface of the Si oxide coating film.

A cermet, as a base, containing a plurality of hard particles and a bonded phase between the plurality of hard particles. Each of the plurality of hard particles, when viewed in cross section, includes a first region containing Ti, N, and C, and contains a titanium carbonitride phase as a main constituent. Each of the plurality of hard particles, when viewed in cross-section, includes a second region containing one or more metal elements selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Co, and Ni in a larger amount than the first region. The content of the one or more metal elements in the second region is 9.5 mass % or more in a total amount. A cutting tool has a length extending from a first end to a second end, and includes a holder and the insert described above.

A cermet, as a base, containing a plurality of hard particles and a bonded phase between the plurality of hard particles. Each of the plurality of hard particles, when viewed in cross section, includes a first region containing Ti, N, and C, and contains a titanium carbonitride phase as a main constituent. Each of the plurality of hard particles, when viewed in cross-section, includes a second region containing one or more metal elements selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Co, and Ni in a larger amount than the first region. The content of the one or more metal elements in the second region is 9.5 mass % or more in a total amount. A cutting tool has a length extending from a first end to a second end, and includes a holder and the insert described above.

A diamond sintered material includes diamond grains, wherein a content ratio of the diamond grains is more than or equal to 80 volume % and less than or equal to 99 volume % with respect to the diamond sintered material, an average grain size of the diamond grains is more than or equal to 0.1 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm, and a dislocation density of the diamond grains is more than or equal to 1.2×10.sup.16 m.sup.−2 and less than or equal to 5.4×10.sup.19 m.sup.−2.

A method of forming a super hard polycrystalline construction comprises forming a liquid suspension of a first mass of nano-ceramic particles and a mass of particles or grains of super hard material having an average particle or grain size of 1 or more microns, dispersing the particles or grains in the liquid suspension to form a substantially homogeneous suspension, drying the suspension to form an admix of the nano-ceramic and super hard grains or particles, and forming a pre-sinter assembly comprising the admix. The pre-sinter assembly is then sintered to form a body of polycrystalline super hard material comprising a first fraction of super hard grains and a second fraction, the nano-ceramic particles forming the second fraction.

The super hard grains are spaced along at least a portion of the peripheral surface by one or more nano-ceramic grains, the super hard grains having a greater average grain size than that of the grains in the second fraction which have an average size of less than around 999 nm.