A light metal material having a tensile strength of >180 MPa at room temperature is provided, as well as a method for producing such a light metal material and the use of such a light metal material as a piston component in a rotary piston engine.

The present invention has an object to provide a catalyst having excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity. The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a catalyst support and a catalyst metal supported on the catalyst support, wherein a specific surface area of the catalyst per support weight is 715 m.sup.2/g support or more or a covering ratio of the catalyst metal with an electrolyte is less than 0.5, and an amount of an acidic group of the catalyst per support weight is 0.75 mmol/g support or less.

The present invention has an object to provide a catalyst having excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity. The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a catalyst support and a catalyst metal supported on the catalyst support, wherein a specific surface area of the catalyst per support weight is 715 m.sup.2/g support or more or a covering ratio of the catalyst metal with an electrolyte is less than 0.5, and an amount of an acidic group of the catalyst per support weight is 0.75 mmol/g support or less.

An aluminum alloy has a composition including silicon in an amount of 0.6 mass % to 1.5 mass %, magnesium in an amount of 0.5 mass % to 1.3 mass %, copper in an amount of 0.1 mass % to 1.2 mass %, and manganese in an amount of 0.2 mass % to 1.15 mass %, with the balance consisting of aluminum and inevitable impurities. An average of degrees of orientation of a 111 plane determined by X-ray diffraction of a whole area of a section in a state of having been subjected to solution treatment and aging treatment is 50% or more, and a variance of the degrees of orientation of the 111 plane is 45% or less.

A copper alloy sheet material having improved etching characteristics contains (in mass %) Ni: 1.00 to 4.50%, Si: 0.10 to 1.40%, and optionally one or more kind of Co, Mg, Cr, P, B, Mn, Sn, Ti, Zr, Al, Fe, Zn, and Ag. The sheet material has an area ratio S.sub.B/S.sub.s of 0.40 or more in an EBSD measurement on a cross section perpendicular to a rolling direction, wherein S.sub.s represents area of a region satisfying at least one of conditions of a crystal orientation difference from the S1 {241} <112>orientation of 10 or less or a crystal orientation difference from the S2 {231}<124>orientation of 10 or less, and S.sub.B represents an area of a region having a crystal orientation difference from the Brass {011}<211>orientation of 10 or less.

Systems and methods of threading a metal substrate on a rolling mill include receiving a coil of the metal substrate. The method also includes uncoiling the metal substrate from the coil while the coil and guiding the metal substrate to a work stand of the rolling mill with a threading system.

Systems and methods of non-contact tensioning of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor is spaced apart from the metal strip by a first distance. The systems and methods also include tensioning the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is tensioned in an upstream direction or a downstream direction. In other aspects, rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that a force normal to a surface of the metal strip is applied to the metal strip.

Systems and methods of hot forming a metal blank include receiving the metal blank at a heater and positioning the blank adjacent a magnetic rotor of the heater. The systems and methods also include heating the metal blank through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal blank such that the metal blank is heated.

Systems and methods of pre-ageing of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor of a reheater. The systems and methods also include heating the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is heated.

A compact heat treatment line can include a short heating zone capable of rapidly bringing a metal strip to a suitable solutionizing temperature through the use of magnetic rotors, such as permanent magnet magnetic rotors. A fast and efficient soaking zone can be achieved as well, such as through the use of magnetic rotors to levitate the metal strip within a gas-filled chamber. Magnetic rotors can further levitate the metal strip through a quenching zone, and can optionally reheat the metal strip prior to final coiling. Magnetic rotors used to heat and/or levitate the metal strip can also provide tension control, can facilitate initial threading of the metal strip, and can cure coatings and/or promote uniformity of coatings/lubricants applied to the metal strip without overheating. Such a heat treatment line can provide continuous annealing and solution heat treating in a much more compacted space than traditional processing lines.