A welding flux including a titanate and a nanoparticulate Niobium compound chosen from among Niobium oxides, alkali niobates and mixtures thereof.

A Ni-based alloy flux-cored wire includes the contents of Mn and Nb that are adjusted so that, from the wire, it is possible to obtain a weld metal having an excellent bead shape, good arc stability, spattering inhibition effect, good strength, good defect resistance, and good crack resistance. The Ni-based alloy flux-cored wire produces a weld metal having an excellent bead shape in multiple position welding of Ni-based alloy, 9% Ni steel, and high corrosion-resistance austenitic stainless steel, and an effect of producing a weld metal having good strength, defect resistance, and crack resistance.

A Ni-based alloy flux-cored wire includes the contents of Mn and Nb that are adjusted so that, from the wire, it is possible to obtain a weld metal having an excellent bead shape, good arc stability, spattering inhibition effect, good strength, good defect resistance, and good crack resistance. The Ni-based alloy flux-cored wire produces a weld metal having an excellent bead shape in multiple position welding of Ni-based alloy, 9% Ni steel, and high corrosion-resistance austenitic stainless steel, and an effect of producing a weld metal having good strength, defect resistance, and crack resistance.

A flux-cored wire may be used with an Ar—CO.sub.2 mixed gas, the wire having a steel sheath filled with a flux. Such flux-cored wires may include, as a total of the steel sheath and the flux, relative to a total wire mass: Fe in 92 mass % or more, total Si in a 0.50 mass % or more and 1.50 mass % 15 or less, Mn in 1.00 mass % or more and 3.00 mass % or less, total Li in 0.010 mass % or more and 0.10 mass % or less, and total Mg in 0.02 mass % or more and less than 0.50 mass %, C in 0.15 mass % or less, P in 0.030 mass % or less, S in 0.030 mass % or less, and a slag forming agent in 0.50 mass % or less.

A flux-cored wire may be used with an Ar—CO.sub.2 mixed gas, the wire having a steel sheath filled with a flux. Such flux-cored wires may include, as a total of the steel sheath and the flux, relative to a total wire mass: Fe in 92 mass % or more, total Si in a 0.50 mass % or more and 1.50 mass % 15 or less, Mn in 1.00 mass % or more and 3.00 mass % or less, total Li in 0.010 mass % or more and 0.10 mass % or less, and total Mg in 0.02 mass % or more and less than 0.50 mass %, C in 0.15 mass % or less, P in 0.030 mass % or less, S in 0.030 mass % or less, and a slag forming agent in 0.50 mass % or less.

A soldering method in which abrasive particles, in particular cubic boron nitride, are applied in a matrix composed of a solder material and are intended to have better adhesion in the matrix material. The particle which includes an abrasive particle, in particular of cubic boron nitride, is coated with a metal. A method for producing a layer on a substrate, wherein a solder material is applied as metallic matrix material such with particles, in particular solder material in the form of a soldering paste, a soldering tape, a solder powder, by an application method, in particular by a welding process or a thermal spraying process.

A soldering method in which abrasive particles, in particular cubic boron nitride, are applied in a matrix composed of a solder material and are intended to have better adhesion in the matrix material. The particle which includes an abrasive particle, in particular of cubic boron nitride, is coated with a metal. A method for producing a layer on a substrate, wherein a solder material is applied as metallic matrix material such with particles, in particular solder material in the form of a soldering paste, a soldering tape, a solder powder, by an application method, in particular by a welding process or a thermal spraying process.

The present invention relates to a flux-cored wire for positive polarity gas-shielded arc welding use, in which a flux contains a metal powder and also contains BaF.sub.2 and SrF.sub.2 and AlF.sub.3 and/or CaF.sub.2 as fluorides wherein the content of BaF.sub.2 is 1.0 to 4.5%, the content of SrF.sub.2 is 2.0% or less, the content of CaF.sub.2 is 0.45% or less and the content of AlF.sub.3 is 0.70% or less, at least one of metal elements constituting the flux and the fluorides is a strong deoxidizing metal element having a specified standard formation Gibbs energy, and the content of each of an oxide and a carbonate in the flux is 0.5% or less.

The present invention relates to a flux-cored wire for positive polarity gas-shielded arc welding use, in which a flux contains a metal powder and also contains BaF.sub.2 and SrF.sub.2 and AlF.sub.3 and/or CaF.sub.2 as fluorides wherein the content of BaF.sub.2 is 1.0 to 4.5%, the content of SrF.sub.2 is 2.0% or less, the content of CaF.sub.2 is 0.45% or less and the content of AlF.sub.3 is 0.70% or less, at least one of metal elements constituting the flux and the fluorides is a strong deoxidizing metal element having a specified standard formation Gibbs energy, and the content of each of an oxide and a carbonate in the flux is 0.5% or less.

A composite material comprising a plurality of round particles bound together by a binding material. Each of the plurality of round particles includes a wear resistant element, an intermediate coating on the wear resistant element, and a round outer layer encapsulating the intermediate coating and the wear resistant element. The intermediate coating is metallurgically bonded to the wear resistant element, and is metallurgically bondable to the binding material.