The present invention relates to a hard particle powder for a sintered body, the powder including, in terms of mass %, 0.01≤C≤1.0, 2.5≤Si≤3.3, 0.1≤Ni≤20.0, 5.0≤Cr≤15.0, and 35.0≤Mo≤45.0, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, in which the powder before performing sintering comprises an alloy phase comprising a hexagonal crystal structure of C14 type Laves phase.

The present invention relates to a hard particle powder for a sintered body, the powder including, in terms of mass %, 0.01≤C≤1.0, 2.5≤Si≤3.3, 0.1≤Ni≤20.0, 5.0≤Cr≤15.0, and 35.0≤Mo≤45.0, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, in which the powder before performing sintering comprises an alloy phase comprising a hexagonal crystal structure of C14 type Laves phase.

Techniques are disclosed for milling an iron-containing raw material in the presence of a nitrogen source to generate anisotropically shaped particles that include iron nitride and have an aspect ratio of at least 1.4. Techniques for nitridizing an anisotropic particle including iron, and annealing an anisotropic particle including iron nitride to form at least one a″-Fe16N2 phase domain within the anisotropic particle including iron nitride also are disclosed. In addition, techniques for aligning and joining anisotropic particles to form a bulk material including iron nitride, such as a bulk permanent magnet including at least one a″-Fe16N2 phase domain, are described. Milling apparatuses utilizing elongated bars, an electric field, and a magnetic field also are disclosed.

Techniques are disclosed for milling an iron-containing raw material in the presence of a nitrogen source to generate anisotropically shaped particles that include iron nitride and have an aspect ratio of at least 1.4. Techniques for nitridizing an anisotropic particle including iron, and annealing an anisotropic particle including iron nitride to form at least one a″-Fe16N2 phase domain within the anisotropic particle including iron nitride also are disclosed. In addition, techniques for aligning and joining anisotropic particles to form a bulk material including iron nitride, such as a bulk permanent magnet including at least one a″-Fe16N2 phase domain, are described. Milling apparatuses utilizing elongated bars, an electric field, and a magnetic field also are disclosed.

An iron-based sintered alloy material having, at the surface of the material, a hardened layer exhibiting a martensite phase containing a solid solution of nitrogen in a supersaturated state. The iron-based sintered alloy material may contain at least one of chromium, copper, molybdenum, manganese and nickel. A production method for the iron-based sintered alloy material includes: subjecting an iron-based sintered alloy substrate containing carbon to a nitriding treatment by heating the substrate to a nitriding temperature of at least 590° C. in an atmosphere containing ammonia, and then performing quenching by rapidly cooling the substrate.

An iron-based sintered alloy material having, at the surface of the material, a hardened layer exhibiting a martensite phase containing a solid solution of nitrogen in a supersaturated state. The iron-based sintered alloy material may contain at least one of chromium, copper, molybdenum, manganese and nickel. A production method for the iron-based sintered alloy material includes: subjecting an iron-based sintered alloy substrate containing carbon to a nitriding treatment by heating the substrate to a nitriding temperature of at least 590° C. in an atmosphere containing ammonia, and then performing quenching by rapidly cooling the substrate.

Provided are: a production method for silver fine particles that retain capabilities such as conductivity and make it possible to form wiring at even lower temperatures; and silver fine particles. A silver fine particle production method in which silver powder is used to produce silver fine particles by means of a gas phase method. The silver fine particle production method has a step for supplying an organic acid to the silver fine particles. The gas phase method is, for example, a plasma method or a flame method. The silver fine particles have a surface coating that includes at least a carboxyl group.

Provided are: a production method for silver fine particles that retain capabilities such as conductivity and make it possible to form wiring at even lower temperatures; and silver fine particles. A silver fine particle production method in which silver powder is used to produce silver fine particles by means of a gas phase method. The silver fine particle production method has a step for supplying an organic acid to the silver fine particles. The gas phase method is, for example, a plasma method or a flame method. The silver fine particles have a surface coating that includes at least a carboxyl group.

A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.

A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.