Alloy powder comprises particles. The particles include specific particles. Each of the specific particles has a surface layer on which a divided trace is formed.

A ferritic stainless steel sheet is provided that has a predetermined chemical composition, wherein: a grain size number is 6.0 or more; the ferritic stainless steel sheet satisfies the formulas [A+B≥9.0] and [X+Y≥9.0] with respect to crystal orientation intensities of a ferrite phase obtained by X-ray diffraction; and the sheet thickness is 1.0 mm or more. A represents a {111}<112> crystal orientation intensity at a center portion of sheet thickness, B represents a {111}<112> crystal orientation intensity at a ⅛ portion of the sheet thickness, X represents a {322}<236> crystal orientation intensity at a center portion of sheet thickness, and Y represents a {322}<236> crystal orientation intensity at a ⅛ portion of the sheet thickness.

A caster assembly configured to process and store a material includes a reaction chamber, a storage assembly configured to store material processed in the reaction chamber, and a blower configured to process and store the material. The reaction chamber includes a vessel configured to hold the material in a melted state prior to processing and a powder generating assembly configured to receive the material from the melting vessel. The powder generating assembly includes a feeding chamber and a feeding device disposed at least partially within the feeding chamber. The feeding device includes at least one nozzle configured to inject inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two into the feeding chamber and a material inlet through which the material is configured to flow into the feeding chamber to be exposed to the inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two.

A caster assembly configured to process and store a material includes a reaction chamber, a storage assembly configured to store material processed in the reaction chamber, and a blower configured to process and store the material. The reaction chamber includes a vessel configured to hold the material in a melted state prior to processing and a powder generating assembly configured to receive the material from the melting vessel. The powder generating assembly includes a feeding chamber and a feeding device disposed at least partially within the feeding chamber. The feeding device includes at least one nozzle configured to inject inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two into the feeding chamber and a material inlet through which the material is configured to flow into the feeding chamber to be exposed to the inert fluid, where the fluid is a gas, liquid, or combination of the two.

Provided are maraging steel alloys having improved microstructures. Some variations provide maraging steel alloys including a base maraging steel alloy, a grain refiner, and optionally, a strengthening element. The base maraging steel alloy is surface-functionalized with the grain refiner. Other variations provide a method of method of manufacturing maraging steel including mixing a base maraging steel alloy with a grain refiner resulting in a maraging steel mixture, melting the maraging steel mixture, and solidifying the maraging steel mixture forming an equiaxed microstructure.

A sintered magnet body (R.sub.aT.sup.1.sub.bM.sub.cB.sub.d) coated with a powder mixture of an intermetallic compound (R.sup.1.sub.iM.sup.1.sub.j, R.sup.1.sub.xT.sup.2.sub.yM.sup.1.sub.z, R.sup.1.sub.iM.sup.1.sub.jH.sub.k), alloy (M.sup.1.sub.dM.sup.2.sub.e) or metal (M.sup.1) powder and a rare earth (R.sup.2) oxide is diffusion treated. The R.sup.2 oxide is partially reduced during the diffusion treatment, so a significant amount of R.sup.2 can be introduced near interfaces of primary phase grains within the magnet through the passages in the form of grain boundaries. The coercive force is increased while minimizing a decline of remanence.

A sintered magnet body (R.sub.aT.sup.1.sub.bM.sub.cB.sub.d) coated with a powder mixture of an intermetallic compound (R.sup.1.sub.iM.sup.1.sub.j, R.sup.1.sub.xT.sup.2.sub.yM.sup.1.sub.z, R.sup.1.sub.iM.sup.1.sub.jH.sub.k), alloy (M.sup.1.sub.dM.sup.2.sub.e) or metal (M.sup.1) powder and a rare earth (R.sup.2) oxide is diffusion treated. The R.sup.2 oxide is partially reduced during the diffusion treatment, so a significant amount of R.sup.2 can be introduced near interfaces of primary phase grains within the magnet through the passages in the form of grain boundaries. The coercive force is increased while minimizing a decline of remanence.

A steel wire which has excellent cold coiling workability, and which has an excellent fatigue limit when made into a spring is provided. A chemical composition of the steel wire according to the present, embodiment containing, in mass %, C: 0.50 to 0.80%, Si: 1.20 to less than 2.50%, Mn: 0.25 to 1.00%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Cr: 0.40 to 1.90%, V: 0.05 to 0.60%, and N: 0.0100% or less, with the balance being Fe and impurities. In the steel wire, a number density of V-based precipitates having a maximum diameter ranging from 2 to 10 nm is 5000 to 80000 pieces/μm.sup.3.

A steel wire which has excellent cold coiling workability, and which has an excellent fatigue limit when made into a spring is provided. A chemical composition of the steel wire according to the present, embodiment containing, in mass %, C: 0.50 to 0.80%, Si: 1.20 to less than 2.50%, Mn: 0.25 to 1.00%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Cr: 0.40 to 1.90%, V: 0.05 to 0.60%, and N: 0.0100% or less, with the balance being Fe and impurities. In the steel wire, a number density of V-based precipitates having a maximum diameter ranging from 2 to 10 nm is 5000 to 80000 pieces/μm.sup.3.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low thermal expansion cast steel having a high yield strength at room temperature, a high rigidity, and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The low thermal expansion cast steel of the present invention is obtained by suitably heat treating a cast steel comprising, by mass %, C: 0 to 0.1%, Si: 0 to 0.5%, Mn: 0 to 0.5%, S: 0 to 0.05%, Ni: 29.0 to 34.0%, Co: 0 to 8%, and a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities so that the 0.2% proof stress becomes 350 MPa or more, the Young's modulus becomes 130 GPa or more, and the average coefficient of thermal expansion at 18 to 28° C. becomes 2.0×10.sup.−6/° C. or less.