The present disclosure provides for a gold alloy composition that has a greater hardness than conventional gold alloys of the same composition. The gold alloy composition includes 96.4-97% gold by weight. The composition also includes elements improving hardness and golden yellow color in the proportion of 3-3.6% by weight, which are one or more elements among: silver, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, gallium, tin, antimony, and iron. The composition also includes elements improving the flowing of melted gold alloy and surface smoothness, which are one or more elements among: iridium, palladium, aluminum, indium, silicon, germanium and lead. An example procedure is also provided to increase the hardness of gold alloys.

A gold sputtering target has a gold purity of 99.999% or more. In such a gold sputtering target, an average value of Vickers hardness is 20 or more and less than 40, an average crystal grain size is 15 m or more and 200 m or less, and a {110} plane of gold is preferentially oriented to a surface to be sputtered of the gold sputtering target.

A method of producing electrodes includes selecting a palladium alloy, annealing the palladium alloy at a first temperature above 350 C., cold working the palladium alloy into a desired electrode shape, and annealing the palladium alloy at a second temperatures and for a time sufficient to produce a grain size between about 5 microns and about 100 microns. The method further includes etching the palladium alloy, rinsing the palladium alloy with at least one of water and heavy water, and storing the palladium alloy in an inert environment.

A method of producing electrodes includes selecting a palladium alloy, annealing the palladium alloy at a first temperature above 350 C., cold working the palladium alloy into a desired electrode shape, and annealing the palladium alloy at a second temperatures and for a time sufficient to produce a grain size between about 5 microns and about 100 microns. The method further includes etching the palladium alloy, rinsing the palladium alloy with at least one of water and heavy water, and storing the palladium alloy in an inert environment.

An improved sterling silver alloy. Like all sterlings, the improved alloy is at least 92.5 percent silver by weight. It has less copper than traditional sterlings: 3.0 percent versus the traditional 7.5 percent. Additionally, the improved alloy includes about 2.75 percent palladium, about 1.0 percent tin, and about 0.75 percent zinc, all by weight. A grain refiner, such as ruthenium, may also be provided. The components of the preferred alloy are melted, degassed, remelted, and then formed into casting grains, wire, and etc. The resulting alloy is significantly harder, as cast, than traditional sterlings: 95-120 Vickers versus 65 Vickers for traditional sterlings. The improved alloy also exhibits improved corrosion resistance. Other than a slightly higher (<200 F.) liquidus temperature, the improved alloy may be worked in substantially the same manner as traditional sterlings. Pieces cast from the improved alloy may be age hardened to about 160 Vickers, if desired.

An improved sterling silver alloy. Like all sterlings, the improved alloy is at least 92.5 percent silver by weight. It has less copper than traditional sterlings: 3.0 percent versus the traditional 7.5 percent. Additionally, the improved alloy includes about 2.75 percent palladium, about 1.0 percent tin, and about 0.75 percent zinc, all by weight. A grain refiner, such as ruthenium, may also be provided. The components of the preferred alloy are melted, degassed, remelted, and then formed into casting grains, wire, and etc. The resulting alloy is significantly harder, as cast, than traditional sterlings: 95-120 Vickers versus 65 Vickers for traditional sterlings. The improved alloy also exhibits improved corrosion resistance. Other than a slightly higher (<200 F.) liquidus temperature, the improved alloy may be worked in substantially the same manner as traditional sterlings. Pieces cast from the improved alloy may be age hardened to about 160 Vickers, if desired.

Systems and methods disclosed herein relate to the manufacture of metallic material with a thermal expansion coefficient in a predetermined range, comprising: deforming, a metallic material comprising a first phase and a first thermal expansion coefficient. In response to the deformation, at least some of the first phase is transformed into a second phase, wherein the second phase comprises martensite, and orienting the metallic material in at least one predetermined orientation, wherein the metallic material, subsequent to deformation, comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient, wherein the second thermal expansion coefficient is within a predetermined range, and wherein the thermal expansion is in at least one predetermined direction. In some embodiments, the metallic material comprises the second phase and is thermo-mechanically deformed to orient the grains in at least one direction.

Systems and methods disclosed herein relate to the manufacture of metallic material with a thermal expansion coefficient in a predetermined range, comprising: deforming, a metallic material comprising a first phase and a first thermal expansion coefficient. In response to the deformation, at least some of the first phase is transformed into a second phase, wherein the second phase comprises martensite, and orienting the metallic material in at least one predetermined orientation, wherein the metallic material, subsequent to deformation, comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient, wherein the second thermal expansion coefficient is within a predetermined range, and wherein the thermal expansion is in at least one predetermined direction. In some embodiments, the metallic material comprises the second phase and is thermo-mechanically deformed to orient the grains in at least one direction.

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a needle for root canal treatment devices having improved ductility. The method of the present disclosure includes a step of manufacturing a hollow needle body in a desired shape using an alloy or a single metal, a step of filling the hollow of the needle body with a packing member, a step of heat-treating the needle body at a predetermined temperature under an inert gas atmosphere after the needle body is placed in a vacuum chamber, and a step of cooling and hardening the needle body.

A production method for a gold sputtering target includes: producing a gold sputtering target which is made of gold and inevitable impurities and in which an average value of Vickers hardness is 40 or more and 60 or less, an average value of crystal grain size is 15 m or more and 200 82 m or less, and the {110} plane of gold is preferentially oriented to a surface to be sputtered of the gold sputtering target.