A soft magnetic powder of the invention has a composition represented by Fe.sub.100-a-b-c-d-e-fCu.sub.aSi.sub.bB.sub.cM.sub.dM.sub.eX.sub.f (at %) [wherein M is Nb, W, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, or Mo, M is V, Cr, Mn, Al, a platinum group element, Sc, Y, Au, Zn, Sn, or Re, X is C, P, Ge, Ga, Sb, In, Be, or As, and a, b, c, d, e, and f are numbers that satisfy the following formulae: 0.1a3, 0<b30, 0<c25, 5b+c30, 0.1d30, 0e10, and 0f10], wherein a crystalline structure having a particle diameter of 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less is contained in an amount of 40 vol % or more, and the difference in the coercive force of the powder after classification satisfies predetermined conditions.

A granulated material having an improved size distribution and a method and apparatus for the production of such a granular material where the grain size and grain size distribution is controlled by the use of a rotating distributor. The rotating distributor includes an upper inlet opening, sidewalls, a bottom and at least one row of openings at the lower end of the sidewalls. The openings in the sidewalls have a size of at least 5 mm in the smallest dimension.

A granulated material having an improved size distribution and a method and apparatus for the production of such a granular material where the grain size and grain size distribution is controlled by the use of a rotating distributor. The rotating distributor includes an upper inlet opening, sidewalls, a bottom and at least one row of openings at the lower end of the sidewalls. The openings in the sidewalls have a size of at least 5 mm in the smallest dimension.

Embodiments of a method for producing powder mixtures having uniform dispersion of ceramic particles within larger superalloy particles are provided, as are embodiments of superalloy powder mixtures. In one embodiment, the method includes producing an initial powder mixture comprising ceramic particles mixed with superalloy mother particles having an average diameter larger than the average diameter of the ceramic particles. The initial powder mixture is formed into a consumable solid body. At least a portion of the consumable solid body is gradually melted, while the consumable solid body is rotated at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture in which the ceramic particles are embedded within the superalloy mother particles.

Embodiments of a method for producing powder mixtures having uniform dispersion of ceramic particles within larger superalloy particles are provided, as are embodiments of superalloy powder mixtures. In one embodiment, the method includes producing an initial powder mixture comprising ceramic particles mixed with superalloy mother particles having an average diameter larger than the average diameter of the ceramic particles. The initial powder mixture is formed into a consumable solid body. At least a portion of the consumable solid body is gradually melted, while the consumable solid body is rotated at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture in which the ceramic particles are embedded within the superalloy mother particles.

Embodiments of a method for producing powder mixtures having uniform dispersion of ceramic particles within larger superalloy particles are provided, as are embodiments of superalloy powder mixtures. In one embodiment, the method includes producing an initial powder mixture comprising ceramic particles mixed with superalloy mother particles having an average diameter larger than the average diameter of the ceramic particles. The initial powder mixture is formed into a consumable solid body. At least a portion of the consumable solid body is gradually melted, while the consumable solid body is rotated at a rate of speed sufficient to cast-off a uniformly dispersed powder mixture in which the ceramic particles are embedded within the superalloy mother particles.

A method for producing a water-atomized metal powder, comprising applying water to a molten metal stream, dividing the molten metal stream into a metal powder, and cooling the metal powder, wherein the metal powder is further subjected to secondary cooling with cooling capacity having a minimum heat flux point (MHF point) higher than the surface temperature of the metal powder in addition to the cooling and the secondary cooling is performed from a temperature range where the temperature of the metal powder after the cooling is not lower than the cooling start temperature necessary for amorphization nor higher than the minimum heat flux point (MHF point).

High strength precipitation hardening stainless steel alloy is disclosed. The steel alloy has a composition by weight %, about: 30.0% max nickel (Ni), 0.0 to 15.0% cobalt (Co), 25.0% max chromium (Cr), 5.0% max molybdenum (Mo), 5.0% max titanium (Ti), 5.0% max vanadium (V), and iron (Fe) and inevitable impurities are in balance. The steel alloy is predominantly hardened (strengthened) by precipitates: two or more binary intermetallic phases Ni.sub.3Ti and Ni.sub.3V and complex intermetallic phases (Ni, Me1).sub.3(Ti, Me2) and (Ni, Me1).sub.3(V, Me2), wherein M1 is one or more elements of Ni-site substitution and M2 is one or more elements of Ti and V-site substitutions. The disclosed steel alloy provides a unique combination of corrosion resistance, strength and toughness.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided: a soft magnetic flattened powder having an average particle diameter, excellent sheet moldability, and a high magnetic permeability; and a method for producing the soft magnetic flattened powder. The soft magnetic flattened powder according to the present invention includes an FeSiAl-based alloy, an average particle diameter D.sub.50 being 30 to less than 50 m; a coercive force Hc measured by applying a magnetic field in the longitudinal direction of the flattened powder being 176 A/m or less; the ratio of a tap density to a true density being 0.18 or less; a specific surface area BET value being 0.6 m.sup.2/g or more; the amount of contained oxygen being 0.6 mass % or less; and the BET value and oxygen value of the soft magnetic powder satisfying expression (1): [oxygen value/BET value0.50 mg.Math.g/m.sup.2 (excluding zero)].

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided: a soft magnetic flattened powder having an average particle diameter, excellent sheet moldability, and a high magnetic permeability; and a method for producing the soft magnetic flattened powder. The soft magnetic flattened powder according to the present invention includes an FeSiAl-based alloy, an average particle diameter D.sub.50 being 30 to less than 50 m; a coercive force Hc measured by applying a magnetic field in the longitudinal direction of the flattened powder being 176 A/m or less; the ratio of a tap density to a true density being 0.18 or less; a specific surface area BET value being 0.6 m.sup.2/g or more; the amount of contained oxygen being 0.6 mass % or less; and the BET value and oxygen value of the soft magnetic powder satisfying expression (1): [oxygen value/BET value0.50 mg.Math.g/m.sup.2 (excluding zero)].