An apparatus for manufacturing metal powder according to the present invention is a metal powder manufacturing apparatus, in which molten metal is broken up, and liquid droplets of the atomized molten metal are cooled by spraying cooling water using a cooling water spraying nozzle provided inside a chamber. The cooling water spraying nozzle is provided such that cooling water is sprayed in a fan shape, and cooling water spraying nozzles provided at different heights have increasing angles of inclination with respect to the inner wall of the chamber as the heights thereof are reduced, thereby decreasing a deviation between flying distances of the molten metal liquid droplets to efficiently manufacture metal powder having uniform properties.

A powder metal composition for high wear and temperature applications is made by atomizing a melted iron based alloy including 3.0 to 7.0 wt. % carbon; 10.0 to 25.0 wt. % chromium; 1.0 to 5.0 wt. % tungsten; 3.5 to 7.0 wt. % vanadium; 1.0 to 5.0 wt. % molybdenum; not greater than 0.5 wt. % oxygen; and at least 40.0 wt. % iron. The high carbon content reduces the solubility of oxygen in the melt and thus lowers the oxygen content to a level below which would cause the carbide-forming elements to oxidize during atomization. The powder metal composition includes metal carbides in an amount of at least 15 vol. %. The microhardness of the powder metal composition increases with increasing amounts of carbon and is typically about 800 to 1,500 Hv50.

A gear includes a sintered body, in which Fe is contained as a principal component, Ni is contained in a proportion of 2 mass % or more and 20 mass % or less, Si is contained in a proportion of 0.3 mass % or more and 5.0 mass % or less, C is contained in a proportion of 0.005 mass % or more and 0.3 mass % or less, and one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, Hf, and Ta is defined as a first element, that is contained in a proportion of 0.01 mass % or more and 0.7 mass % or less.

A gear includes a sintered body, in which Fe is contained as a principal component, Ni is contained in a proportion of 2 mass % or more and 20 mass % or less, Si is contained in a proportion of 0.3 mass % or more and 5.0 mass % or less, C is contained in a proportion of 0.005 mass % or more and 0.3 mass % or less, and one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, Hf, and Ta is defined as a first element, that is contained in a proportion of 0.01 mass % or more and 0.7 mass % or less.

A dust core includes large particles having an average particle size of 8-15 μm, medium particles having an average particle size of 1-5 μm, and small particles having an average particle size of 300-900 nm when a cross section thereof is observed. An area ratio occupied by the large particles is 50% to 90%, an area ratio occupied by the medium particles is 0% to 30%, and an area ratio occupied by the small particles is 5% to 30%, when a total area ratio occupied by the large particles, the medium particles and the small particles is 100% in the cross section. Vickers hardness (Hv) of the large particles, the medium particles and the small particles is 150-600 respectively. The small particles are alloy powder containing Fe and at least Si or N. The dust core may be included in an inductor element.

A dust core includes large particles having an average particle size of 8-15 μm, medium particles having an average particle size of 1-5 μm, and small particles having an average particle size of 300-900 nm when a cross section thereof is observed. An area ratio occupied by the large particles is 50% to 90%, an area ratio occupied by the medium particles is 0% to 30%, and an area ratio occupied by the small particles is 5% to 30%, when a total area ratio occupied by the large particles, the medium particles and the small particles is 100% in the cross section. Vickers hardness (Hv) of the large particles, the medium particles and the small particles is 150-600 respectively. The small particles are alloy powder containing Fe and at least Si or N. The dust core may be included in an inductor element.

The present invention can provide light-colored magnetic particles having a zirconium oxide coating layer formed on a magnetic core, and having a silver coating layer formed on the zirconium oxide coating layer, and a part of the surface of the zirconium oxide coating layer is exposed to the outside, but chemical resistance is excellent, and thus the magnetic particles hardly cause a change of magnetic characteristics so as to be suitable for security elements.

While a molten metal of copper heated to a temperature, which is higher than the melting point of copper by 250 to 700° C. (preferably 350 to 650° C. and more preferably 450 to 600° C.), is allowed to drop, a high-pressure water is sprayed onto the heated molten metal of copper in a non-oxidizing atmosphere (such as an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon, hydrogen or carbon monoxide) to rapidly cool and solidify the heated molten metal of copper to produce a copper powder which has an average particle diameter of 1 to 10 μm and a crystallite diameter Dx.sub.(200) of not less than 40 nm on (200) plane thereof, the content of oxygen in the copper powder being 0.7% by weight or less.

While a molten metal of copper heated to a temperature, which is higher than the melting point of copper by 250 to 700° C. (preferably 350 to 650° C. and more preferably 450 to 600° C.), is allowed to drop, a high-pressure water is sprayed onto the heated molten metal of copper in a non-oxidizing atmosphere (such as an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon, hydrogen or carbon monoxide) to rapidly cool and solidify the heated molten metal of copper to produce a copper powder which has an average particle diameter of 1 to 10 μm and a crystallite diameter Dx.sub.(200) of not less than 40 nm on (200) plane thereof, the content of oxygen in the copper powder being 0.7% by weight or less.

High strength precipitation hardening stainless steel alloy is disclosed. The steel alloy has a composition by weight %, about: 30.0% max nickel (Ni), 0.0 to 15.0% cobalt (Co), 25.0% max chromium (Cr), 5.0% max molybdenum (Mo), 5.0% max titanium (Ti), 5.0% max vanadium (V), about 0.5% max lanthanum (La) and/or cerium (Ce), and in balance iron (Fe) and inevitable impurities. The steel alloy provides a unique combination of corrosion resistance, strength and toughness and is a material for aircraft landing gears and structures.