In one aspect, methods of making freestanding metal matrix composite articles and alloy articles are described. A method of making a freestanding composite article described herein comprises disposing over a surface of the temporary substrate a layered assembly comprising a layer of infiltration metal or alloy and a hard particle layer formed of a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and the hard particles. The layered assembly is heated to infiltrate the hard particle layer with metal or alloy providing a metal matrix composite, and the metal matrix composite is separated from the temporary substrate. Further, a method of making a freestanding alloy article described herein comprises disposing over the surface of a temporary substrate a flexible sheet comprising organic binder and powder alloy and heating the sheet to provide a sintered alloy article. The sintered alloy article is then separated from the temporary substrate.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes an element body formed of a thermoelectric conversion material of a silicide-based compound, and electrodes each formed on one surface of the element body and the other surface opposite the one surface. The electrodes are formed of a sintered body of a copper silicide, and the electrodes and the element body are directly joined.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes an element body formed of a thermoelectric conversion material of a silicide-based compound, and electrodes each formed on one surface of the element body and the other surface opposite the one surface. The electrodes are formed of a sintered body of a copper silicide, and the electrodes and the element body are directly joined.

A metal powder contains not less than 0.10 mass % and not more than 1.00 mass % of at least one of chromium and silicon, and a balance of copper. The total content of the chromium and the silicon is not more than 1.00 mass %. In accordance with an additive manufacturing method for this metal powder, an additively-manufactured article made from a copper alloy is provided. The additively-manufactured article has both an adequate mechanical strength and an adequate electrical conductivity.

A metal powder contains not less than 0.10 mass % and not more than 1.00 mass % of at least one of chromium and silicon, and a balance of copper. The total content of the chromium and the silicon is not more than 1.00 mass %. In accordance with an additive manufacturing method for this metal powder, an additively-manufactured article made from a copper alloy is provided. The additively-manufactured article has both an adequate mechanical strength and an adequate electrical conductivity.

Provided are a slide material in which the joining strength between a Bi-containing copper alloy layer and a substrate is improved, and a method for manufacturing the slide material. The slide material according to the present invention has a substrate and a copper alloy layer. The copper alloy layer comprises a copper alloy containing 4.0-25.0 mass % of Bi and has a structure in which Bi phases are scattered in a copper alloy structure. The contact area ratio of Bi phases of the copper alloy layer at the joining interface with the substrate is not more than 2.0%. The slide material is manufactured by casting a molten copper alloy onto a substrate and causing the copper alloy to solidify unidirectionally.

Provided are a slide material in which the joining strength between a Bi-containing copper alloy layer and a substrate is improved, and a method for manufacturing the slide material. The slide material according to the present invention has a substrate and a copper alloy layer. The copper alloy layer comprises a copper alloy containing 4.0-25.0 mass % of Bi and has a structure in which Bi phases are scattered in a copper alloy structure. The contact area ratio of Bi phases of the copper alloy layer at the joining interface with the substrate is not more than 2.0%. The slide material is manufactured by casting a molten copper alloy onto a substrate and causing the copper alloy to solidify unidirectionally.

A multi-layer sliding bearing element made from a composite material includes a supporting metal layer and a further layer formed of a cast alloy of a leadfree copper base alloy, in which sulfide precipitates are contained. The copper base alloy contains between 0.1 wt. % and 3 wt. % sulfur, between 0.01 wt. % and 4 wt. % iron, up to 2 wt. % phosphorus, at least one element from a first group consisting of zinc, tin, aluminum, manganese, nickel, silicon, chromium, indium of in total between 0.1 wt. % and 49 wt. %, and at least one element from a second group consisting of silver, magnesium, indium, cobalt, titanium, zirconium, arsenic, lithium, yttrium, calcium, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, antimony, selenium, tellurium, bismuth, niobium, palladium, wherein the summary proportion of the elements of the second group amounts to between 0 wt. % and 2 wt. %, and the balance is constituted by copper.

A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au) and at least one other secondary atom, the at least one other secondary atom selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), manganese (Mn), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), and combinations thereof; erbium (Er), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), zinc (Zn), and combinations thereof; and barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), gadolinium (Gd), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), osmium (Os), phosphorus (P), rubidium (Rb), rhenium (Re), selenium (Se), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), thallium (Th), and combinations thereof.

Disclosed herein is an alloy for a vehicle garnish, which is made by mixing Cu as a base with Mg and Si to have a composition of Cu.sub.aMg.sub.bSi.sub.c, wherein the alloy can have a color close to Au and the color of the alloy can be changed, and wherein the allow can also be made to have a low specific gravity and at a low cost.