The present invention provides a method capable of stably producing a zinc oxide single crystal in which a large amount of dopant forms a solid solution at a high level of productivity and reproducibility without using a harmful substance. The method of the present invention comprises providing a raw material powder that is mainly composed of zinc oxide, comprises at least one dopant element selected from B, Al, Ga, In, C, F, Cl, Br, I, H, Li, Na, K, N, P, As, Cu, and Ag in a total amount of 0.01 to 1 at %, and is substantially free of a crystal phase other than zinc oxide, and injecting the raw material powder to form a film mainly composed of zinc oxide on a seed substrate comprising a zinc oxide single crystal and also to crystallize the formed film in a solid phase state.

A sucker rod for use in oil well production and a method for making the sucker rod are disclosed. The sucker rod comprises two end portions and a rod body between the two end portions. Each end portion comprises an end section, a shoulder section, a tool engagement section and a tapered enlargement section. The shoulder section, the tool engagement section and the tapered enlargement section are coated by an alloy coating (such as a corrosion-resistant Ni-based alloy). The rod body is coated by a non-metal coating (such as a corrosion-resistant polymer coating).

A sucker rod for use in oil well production and a method for making the sucker rod are disclosed. The sucker rod comprises two end portions and a rod body between the two end portions. Each end portion comprises an end section, a shoulder section, a tool engagement section and a tapered enlargement section. The shoulder section, the tool engagement section and the tapered enlargement section are coated by an alloy coating (such as a corrosion-resistant Ni-based alloy). The rod body is coated by a non-metal coating (such as a corrosion-resistant polymer coating).

A system for inspecting thermal spray coated cylinder bores of aluminum alloy cylinder blocks, the system includes a failure detection apparatus, a heating apparatus, a cooling apparatus, and a control unit in electronic communication with each of the failure detection apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the cooling apparatus, and wherein the control unit includes a memory and a control logic sequence for operating the system.

A method for manufacturing a component is provided. The method includes providing one or more notches on a surface of the component. Further, depositing a coating on the surface to provide a thickness of the coating on the surface, is performed. The method also includes removing, at least partially, the coating from the surface such that the thickness of the coating over the notches is different from the thickness of the coating on the surface adjacent to the notches.

Apparatus and methods are described for performing additive manufacturing. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber for fabricating a workpiece composed of deposited metal, a table positioned within the vacuum chamber, and configured to support fabrication of the workpiece on a substrate, and one or more multiple droplet emitters coupled to the vacuum chamber, and arranged to irradiate the workpiece with a stream of molten metal droplets during fabrication.

A rotary seal comprising: a shaft with a chromium oxide coating provided at a seal contact area; wherein said coating has a hardness of at least 55 Rockwell-C. The coating may have a surface roughness parameter (Ra) of between 0.2 and 0.4 circular. The coating may have a thickness of at least 0.1 mm. The coating layer forms part of a rotary seal with a flexible seal element that is biased into contact with the surface of the coating. The flexible seal element may be biased against the shaft by a spring to increase the pressure of the flexible seal element against the coating. The coating is preferably deposited by a plasma spray process.

A rotary seal comprising: a shaft with a chromium oxide coating provided at a seal contact area; wherein said coating has a hardness of at least 55 Rockwell-C. The coating may have a surface roughness parameter (Ra) of between 0.2 and 0.4 circular. The coating may have a thickness of at least 0.1 mm. The coating layer forms part of a rotary seal with a flexible seal element that is biased into contact with the surface of the coating. The flexible seal element may be biased against the shaft by a spring to increase the pressure of the flexible seal element against the coating. The coating is preferably deposited by a plasma spray process.

A method is described that can be used in electrodes for electrochemical devices and includes disposing a precious metal on a top surface of a corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The precious metal can be thermally sprayed onto the surface of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate to produce multiple metal splats. The thermal spraying can be based on a salt solution or on a metal particle suspension. A separate bonding process can be used after the metal splats are deposited to enhance the adhesion of the metal splats to the corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The surface area associated with the splats of the precious metal is less than the surface area associated with the top surface of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The thermal spraying rate can be controlled to achieve a desired ratio of the surface area of the metal splats to the surface area of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate.

A method is described that can be used in electrodes for electrochemical devices and includes disposing a precious metal on a top surface of a corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The precious metal can be thermally sprayed onto the surface of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate to produce multiple metal splats. The thermal spraying can be based on a salt solution or on a metal particle suspension. A separate bonding process can be used after the metal splats are deposited to enhance the adhesion of the metal splats to the corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The surface area associated with the splats of the precious metal is less than the surface area associated with the top surface of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The thermal spraying rate can be controlled to achieve a desired ratio of the surface area of the metal splats to the surface area of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate.