An apparatus for low pressure induction carburization including a hermetic, low pressure carburization chamber fitted with an inlet port for receiving a carburizing gas; an article support base within the chamber; an article disposed or secured on the article support base; and an electromagnetic induction structure shaped and disposed with respect to the article to direct an electromagnetic field into a first portion of a surface the article for directed induction heating of the article. The carburization chamber includes a low-pressure carburizing gas that was received into the chamber through the inlet port, and the first portion of the surface of the article is at a temperature in excess of a carburizing temperature.

An apparatus for low pressure induction carburization including a hermetic, low pressure carburization chamber fitted with an inlet port for receiving a carburizing gas; an article support base within the chamber; an article disposed or secured on the article support base; and an electromagnetic induction structure shaped and disposed with respect to the article to direct an electromagnetic field into a first portion of a surface the article for directed induction heating of the article. The carburization chamber includes a low-pressure carburizing gas that was received into the chamber through the inlet port, and the first portion of the surface of the article is at a temperature in excess of a carburizing temperature.

A low-E coating has good color stability (a low E* value) upon heat treatment (HT). Thermal stability may be improved by the provision of an as-deposited crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of or including zinc oxide, doped with at least one dopant (e.g., Sn), immediately under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or including silver; and/or by the provision of at least one dielectric layer of or including at least one of: (a) an oxide of silicon and zirconium, (b) an oxide of zirconium, and (c) an oxide of silicon. These have the effect of significantly improving the coating's thermal stability (i.e., lowering the E* value).

A low-E coating has good color stability (a low E* value) upon heat treatment (HT). Thermal stability may be improved by the provision of an as-deposited crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of or including zinc oxide, doped with at least one dopant (e.g., Sn), immediately under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or including silver; and/or by the provision of at least one dielectric layer of or including at least one of: (a) an oxide of silicon and zirconium, (b) an oxide of zirconium, and (c) an oxide of silicon. These have the effect of significantly improving the coating's thermal stability (i.e., lowering the E* value).

A method for treating a workpiece made of self-passivating metal and having a Beilby layer including applying a coating to a surface of the workpiece, the coating including a reagent, treating the coating to thermally alter the reagent, wherein the thermal altering of the reagent activates and/or hardens the surface.

Methods for forming a dual-phase magnetic component from an initial component comprising a non-magnetic austenite composition are provided. The method may include: forming a coating on a portion of the surface of the initial component to form a masked area while leaving an unmasked area thereon. Thereafter the initial component may be heated to a treatment temperature such that nitrogen diffuses out of the unmasked area of the initial component to transform the non-magnetic austenite composition to a magnetic phase in the unmasked area. Thereafter, the initial component may be cooled from the treatment temperature to form a dual-phase magnetic component having a magnetic region corresponding to the unmasked area and a non-magnetic region corresponding to the masked area.

Methods for forming a dual-phase magnetic component from an initial component comprising a non-magnetic austenite composition are provided. The method may include: forming a coating on a portion of the surface of the initial component to form a masked area while leaving an unmasked area thereon. Thereafter the initial component may be heated to a treatment temperature such that nitrogen diffuses out of the unmasked area of the initial component to transform the non-magnetic austenite composition to a magnetic phase in the unmasked area. Thereafter, the initial component may be cooled from the treatment temperature to form a dual-phase magnetic component having a magnetic region corresponding to the unmasked area and a non-magnetic region corresponding to the masked area.

A method for removing a ceramic coating from a substrate is presented. The method includes contacting the ceramic coating with a composition including a fluoride source and nitric acid. A method of forming a component having a variation in saturation magnetization is presented. The method includes masking selected portions of a surface of a metallic component using a ceramic coating to form a masked metallic component; selectively diffusing nitrogen into the metallic component by exposing the masked metallic component to a nitrogen-rich atmosphere; and removing the ceramic coating from the surface of the metallic component by contacting the ceramic coating with a composition including the fluoride source and nitric acid.

A method for removing a ceramic coating from a substrate is presented. The method includes contacting the ceramic coating with a composition including a fluoride source and nitric acid. A method of forming a component having a variation in saturation magnetization is presented. The method includes masking selected portions of a surface of a metallic component using a ceramic coating to form a masked metallic component; selectively diffusing nitrogen into the metallic component by exposing the masked metallic component to a nitrogen-rich atmosphere; and removing the ceramic coating from the surface of the metallic component by contacting the ceramic coating with a composition including the fluoride source and nitric acid.

The purpose is providing a vapor deposition mask with high rigidity which can evaporate a uniform thickness film. A vapor deposition mask including a mask body having a main opening, a side surface of the main opening, an upper surface intersecting the side surface, and a lower surface opposing the upper surface, a first insulator contacting the lower surface, and a second insulator contacting the upper and side surfaces, wherein the first insulator includes a first region inside the main opening, and a first opening in the first region, the second insulator includes a second region inside the main opening, and a second opening in the second region, the mask body is sandwiched between the first and second insulators, and one of the first and second insulators includes a region located inside the main opening more centrally than the other and not overlapping with the other and the mask body.