The present invention concerns nickel alloys in powder form comprising at least 40 wt.-% Ni, about 20.0 to 25.0 wt.-% Cr, about 5.0 to 25.0 wt.-% Co and about 1.5 to 5.0 wt.-% Ti, which have a content of B in an amount of less than 40 ppmw. Corresponding alloys have the advantage of providing minimal or no micro-cracks as well as an improved ductility in creep conditions compared to similar alloys having a higher content of B, when the alloys are processed by additive manufacturing to prepare three-dimensional objects. The present invention further concerns processes and devices for the preparation of three-dimensional objects from such nickel alloy powders, processes for the preparation of corresponding nickel alloy powders, three-dimensional objects which are prepared from such nickel alloy powders and the use of such nickel alloy powders to minimize and/or suppress micro-crack formation and/or to provide improved creep ductility.

An ABs-type hydrogen storage alloy is provided that has a low Co amount and uses Mm composed of La and Ce, which is capable of preventing a decrease in lifetime characteristics. The hydrogen storage alloy has an ABx composition constituted with an A-site composed of an Mm and a B-site composed of Ni, Co, Mn, and Al, or Ni, Mn, and Al, wherein Mm is composed of La and Ce; the molar ratio of Co is 0.0 or more and 0.11 or less when the molar ratio of Mm is 1.00; the ratio (Al/Mn) of the molar ratio of Al to the molar ratio of Mn is 0.35 to 1.10; and the ratio of the c-axis length to the a-axis length in the CaCu.sub.5-type crystal structure is 0.8092 or more.

A controlled thermal coefficient product manufacturing system and method is disclosed. The disclosed product relates to the manufacture of metallic material product (MMP) having a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range. The disclosed system and method provides for a first material deformation (FMD) of the MMP that comprises at least some of a first material phase (FMP) wherein the FMP comprises martensite randomly oriented and a first thermal expansion coefficient (FTC). In response to the FMD at least some of the FMP is oriented in at least one predetermined orientation. Subsequent to deformation, the MMP comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient (STC) that is within a predetermined range and wherein the thermal expansion of the MMP is in at least one predetermined direction. The MMP may be comprised of a second material phase (SMP) that may or may not transform to the FMP in response to the FMD.

A controlled thermal coefficient product manufacturing system and method is disclosed. The disclosed product relates to the manufacture of metallic material product (MMP) having a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range. The disclosed system and method provides for a first material deformation (FMD) of the MMP that comprises at least some of a first material phase (FMP) wherein the FMP comprises martensite randomly oriented and a first thermal expansion coefficient (FTC). In response to the FMD at least some of the FMP is oriented in at least one predetermined orientation. Subsequent to deformation, the MMP comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient (STC) that is within a predetermined range and wherein the thermal expansion of the MMP is in at least one predetermined direction. The MMP may be comprised of a second material phase (SMP) that may or may not transform to the FMP in response to the FMD.

A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting nitinol stent includes shaping a composite wire into a stent pattern, wherein the composite wire includes an inner member, a nitinol intermediate member, and an outer member. After the composite wire is shaped into the stent pattern, the composite wire is heat treated to set the nitinol intermediate member in the stent pattern. After heat treatment, the composite wire is processed to remove the outer member and the inner member without adversely affecting the intermediate member. Openings may be provided through the intermediate member and the lumen of the intermediate member may be filled with a substance to be eluted through the openings.

A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting nitinol stent includes shaping a composite wire into a stent pattern, wherein the composite wire includes an inner member, a nitinol intermediate member, and an outer member. After the composite wire is shaped into the stent pattern, the composite wire is heat treated to set the nitinol intermediate member in the stent pattern. After heat treatment, the composite wire is processed to remove the outer member and the inner member without adversely affecting the intermediate member. Openings may be provided through the intermediate member and the lumen of the intermediate member may be filled with a substance to be eluted through the openings.

Producing a Ni superalloy component in which the superalloy has a γ phase matrix containing intermetallic γ′ precipitates. Providing a Ni superalloy casting of the component; solutioning the component by heat treating the casting under vacuum and/or in an inert atmosphere at a temperature above the γ′ solvus to homogenize the γ phase; quenching and ageing the solutioned component to grow intermetallic γ′ precipitates in the homogenized γ phase. Before the solutioning step: heat treating the casting to produce a thermally grown oxide on the surface, oxide adherent to supress volatilization of Ni from the surface of the casting during the solutioning heat treatment. Performing the solutioning step under a Ni vapor pressure which is sufficient to supress volatilization of Ni from the surface of the casting during the solutioning heat treatment. During the solutioning heat treatment the component is encapsulated in a container protecting the casting from Si-doped contaminants.

Producing a Ni superalloy component in which the superalloy has a γ phase matrix containing intermetallic γ′ precipitates. Providing a Ni superalloy casting of the component; solutioning the component by heat treating the casting under vacuum and/or in an inert atmosphere at a temperature above the γ′ solvus to homogenize the γ phase; quenching and ageing the solutioned component to grow intermetallic γ′ precipitates in the homogenized γ phase. Before the solutioning step: heat treating the casting to produce a thermally grown oxide on the surface, oxide adherent to supress volatilization of Ni from the surface of the casting during the solutioning heat treatment. Performing the solutioning step under a Ni vapor pressure which is sufficient to supress volatilization of Ni from the surface of the casting during the solutioning heat treatment. During the solutioning heat treatment the component is encapsulated in a container protecting the casting from Si-doped contaminants.

The disclosure is directed to a method of forming high-aspect-ratio metallic glass articles that are substantially free of defects and cosmetic flaws by means of rapid capacitive discharge forming. Metallic glass alloys that are stable against crystallization for at least 100 ms at temperatures where the viscosity is in the range of 10.sup.0 to 10.sup.4 Pa-s are considered as suitable for forming such high-aspect-ratio articles.

The disclosure is directed to a method of forming high-aspect-ratio metallic glass articles that are substantially free of defects and cosmetic flaws by means of rapid capacitive discharge forming. Metallic glass alloys that are stable against crystallization for at least 100 ms at temperatures where the viscosity is in the range of 10.sup.0 to 10.sup.4 Pa-s are considered as suitable for forming such high-aspect-ratio articles.