A method of modifying the physical characteristics of a base titanium alloy article previously manufactured through a selective melting process is disclosed. The method includes introducing hydrogen through a thermohydrogen process to the base titanium alloy article, the resulting titanium alloy article exhibiting an isotropic and fine grained equiaxed microstructure. The thermohydrogen process may include introducing hydrogen into the base titanium alloy article to lower the beta transus temperature, heating the base titanium article above the lowered beta transus temperature to form hydrided beta, lowering the temperature of the base titanium alloy article to affect a eutectoid transformation, and dehydriding the base titanium alloy article via vacuum heating. The base titanium alloy article may have an elevated oxygen content and/or hydrogen may be introduced at 0.4 weight percent or greater.

A method of modifying the physical characteristics of a base titanium alloy article previously manufactured through a selective melting process is disclosed. The method includes introducing hydrogen through a thermohydrogen process to the base titanium alloy article, the resulting titanium alloy article exhibiting an isotropic and fine grained equiaxed microstructure. The thermohydrogen process may include introducing hydrogen into the base titanium alloy article to lower the beta transus temperature, heating the base titanium article above the lowered beta transus temperature to form hydrided beta, lowering the temperature of the base titanium alloy article to affect a eutectoid transformation, and dehydriding the base titanium alloy article via vacuum heating. The base titanium alloy article may have an elevated oxygen content and/or hydrogen may be introduced at 0.4 weight percent or greater.

An additive method for preparing a large die blank for isothermal forging comprising preparing a plurality of titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy plate-shaped elements of a preset shape; preparing a plurality of foil-shaped intermediate layers of pure tantalum, a niobium-tungsten alloy and a tantalum-tungsten alloy of a preset shape; forming an assembly of a preset configuration, such that the foil-shaped intermediate layers are sandwiched between the titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy plate-shaped elements; applying an axial pressure to the assembly under high-temperature vacuum to perform diffusion connections to obtain a primary blank; subjecting the primary blank to a homogenization treatment under a high temperature, vacuum or inert gas protection to homogenize the structure and components at a connection interface in the primary blank; and cooling the homogenized primary blank to obtain a die blank.

An additive method for preparing a large die blank for isothermal forging comprising preparing a plurality of titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy plate-shaped elements of a preset shape; preparing a plurality of foil-shaped intermediate layers of pure tantalum, a niobium-tungsten alloy and a tantalum-tungsten alloy of a preset shape; forming an assembly of a preset configuration, such that the foil-shaped intermediate layers are sandwiched between the titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy plate-shaped elements; applying an axial pressure to the assembly under high-temperature vacuum to perform diffusion connections to obtain a primary blank; subjecting the primary blank to a homogenization treatment under a high temperature, vacuum or inert gas protection to homogenize the structure and components at a connection interface in the primary blank; and cooling the homogenized primary blank to obtain a die blank.

A wire comprising a wire core with a surface, the wire core having a coating layer superimposed on its surface, wherein the wire core includes: (a) pure silver consisting of silver and further components; or (b) doped silver consisting of silver, at least one doping element, and further components; or (c) a silver alloy consisting of silver, palladium and further components; or (d) a silver alloy consisting of silver, palladium, gold, and further components; or (e) a doped silver alloy consisting of silver, palladium, gold, at least one doping element, and further components, wherein the individual amount of any further component is less than 30 wt.-ppm and the individual amount of any doping element is at least 30 wt.-ppm, and the coating layer is a single-layer of gold or palladium or a double-layer comprised of an inner layer of nickel or palladium and an adjacent outer layer of gold.

A wire comprising a wire core with a surface, the wire core having a coating layer superimposed on its surface, wherein the wire core includes: (a) pure silver consisting of silver and further components; or (b) doped silver consisting of silver, at least one doping element, and further components; or (c) a silver alloy consisting of silver, palladium and further components; or (d) a silver alloy consisting of silver, palladium, gold, and further components; or (e) a doped silver alloy consisting of silver, palladium, gold, at least one doping element, and further components, wherein the individual amount of any further component is less than 30 wt.-ppm and the individual amount of any doping element is at least 30 wt.-ppm, and the coating layer is a single-layer of gold or palladium or a double-layer comprised of an inner layer of nickel or palladium and an adjacent outer layer of gold.

Alloy for the manufacturing of jewels or clock components with minimum concentrations of gold of 75 wt %, of copper between 5% and 21%, of silver between 0% and 21%, of iron between 0.5% and 4% and vanadium between 0.1% and 2.0%, intended to increase the tarnishing-resistance of alloys with a minimum content of gold of 75 wt % under environments in which Sulphur- and chlorine-compounds are present.

Alloy for the manufacturing of jewels or clock components with minimum concentrations of gold of 75 wt %, of copper between 5% and 21%, of silver between 0% and 21%, of iron between 0.5% and 4% and vanadium between 0.1% and 2.0%, intended to increase the tarnishing-resistance of alloys with a minimum content of gold of 75 wt % under environments in which Sulphur- and chlorine-compounds are present.

There is proposed a method of surface-treating a cast intermetallic component, which is intended primarily to reduce or remove surface porosity from the component. The method includes the steps of: providing a cast intermetallic component; placing the component in an inert atmosphere; focussing a laser beam on a surface of the component; traversing the laser beam over at least a region of said surface while the component is in said inert atmosphere; and controlling the laser beam during said traversing step so as to locally melt the intermetallic material of the component to a depth of no more than 300 m, as measured from said surface of the component.

There is proposed a method of surface-treating a cast intermetallic component, which is intended primarily to reduce or remove surface porosity from the component. The method includes the steps of: providing a cast intermetallic component; placing the component in an inert atmosphere; focussing a laser beam on a surface of the component; traversing the laser beam over at least a region of said surface while the component is in said inert atmosphere; and controlling the laser beam during said traversing step so as to locally melt the intermetallic material of the component to a depth of no more than 300 m, as measured from said surface of the component.