A low thermal expansion cast steel having a sufficient strength even at a high temperature and having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, that is, a low thermal expansion cast steel comprising, by mass %, C: 0 to 0.100%, Si: 0 to 1.00%, Mn: 0 to 1.00%, Co: 8.0 to 13.0%, and Ni satisfying −2.5×% Ni+85.5≤% Co≤−2.5×% Ni+90.5 (% Ni and % Co respectively being contents of Ni and Co (mass %)) and having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities and having, upon being subjected to suitable heat treatment, a 0.2% proof stress of a tensile test at 300° C. of 125 MPa or more, having an average coefficient of thermal expansion at 25 to 300° C. of 4.0 ppm/° C. or less, and having a Curie temperature of 250° C. or more.

A controlled thermal coefficient product manufacturing system and method is disclosed. The disclosed product relates to the manufacture of metallic material product (MMP) having a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range. The disclosed system and method provides for a first material deformation (FMD) of the MMP that comprises at least some of a first material phase (FMP) wherein the FMP comprises martensite randomly oriented and a first thermal expansion coefficient (FTC). In response to the FMD at least some of the FMP is oriented in at least one predetermined orientation. Subsequent to deformation, the MMP comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient (STC) that is within a predetermined range and wherein the thermal expansion of the MMP is in at least one predetermined direction. The MMP may be comprised of a second material phase (SMP) that may or may not transform to the FMP in response to the FMD.

The invention relates to a method for producing a screw, having the following steps: (a) rolling a screw wire made of low-alloy carbon steel to produce screw (10) having a thread; (b) heating the entire screw (10) to an austenitizing temperature under a carbon atmosphere and/or nitrogen atmosphere and maintaining the temperature; (c) quenching the entire screw (10) to a bainitizing temperature and maintaining the bainitizing temperature until the screw has a bainitic structure over its cross-section. The invention is characterized in that the screw (10) is subsequently hardened locally at its tip (22), by the tip (22) being heated to an austenitizing temperature and the screw (10) being subsequently quenched to a temperature below the martensite starting temperature (MS).

The present invention discloses a method for processing a highly alloyed aluminum alloy sheet with a high rolling yield, including the steps of cold rolling and hot rolling of an alloy sheet followed by heat treatment. The highly alloyed Al—Cu—Mg—Ag alloy sheet is subjected to short-time solution treatment and quenching at high temperature for multiple times by increasing the solution treatment temperature and shortening the solution treatment time. In this way, the mechanical properties of the alloy at room temperature and high temperature match with or even exceed those of a conventional alloy subjected to long-time solution treatment at high temperature. The present invention implements multiple times of short-time continuous solution treatment and quenching of a highly-alloyed coiled aluminum alloy sheet. This prevents a large amount of scraps caused by the conventional processes of segmented solution treatment and quenching of the coiled material and stretching straightening treatment.

A lens alignment system and method is disclosed. The disclosed system/method integrates one or more lens retaining members/tubes (LRM/LRT) and focal length spacers (FLS) each comprising a metallic material product (MMP) specifically manufactured to have a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range via selection of the individual MMP materials and an associated MMP manufacturing process providing for controlled TEC. This controlled LRM/LRT TEC enables a plurality of optical lenses (POL) fixed along a common optical axis (COA) by the LRM/LRT to maintain precise interspatial alignment characteristics that ensure consistent and/or controlled series focal length (SFL) within the POL to generate a thermally neutral optical system (TNOS). Integration of the POL using this LRM/LRT/FLS lens alignment system reduces the overall TNOS implementation cost, reduces the overall TNOS mass, reduces TNOS parts component count, and increases the reliability of the overall optical system.

A controlled thermal coefficient product manufacturing system and method is disclosed. The disclosed product relates to the manufacture of metallic material product (MMP) having a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range. The disclosed system and method provides for a first material deformation (FMD) of the MMP that comprises at least some of a first material phase (FMP) wherein the FMP comprises martensite randomly oriented and a first thermal expansion coefficient (FTC). In response to the FMD at least some of the FMP is oriented in at least one predetermined orientation. Subsequent to deformation, the MMP comprises a second thermal expansion coefficient (STC) that is within a predetermined range and wherein the thermal expansion of the MMP is in at least one predetermined direction. The MMP may be comprised of a second material phase (SMP) that may or may not transform to the FMP in response to the FMD.

A heat treatment process for through hardening results in high surface compressive stresses. The method includes heating a steel component to a first temperature, quenching the steel component to a second temperature, maintaining the steel component at the second temperature for a first duration of time, heating the steel component to a third temperature, maintaining the steel component at the third temperature for a second duration of time, and quenching the steel component to a fourth temperature when austenite to martensite+bainite or bainite transformation is at least 10% but less than 85% complete.

A method for hardening a metal component includes the steps: hating the metal component to a first temperature between 750° C. and 1100° C.; increasing the carbon content in the metal component by applying a carbon donor gas to the metal component at the first temperature; cooling the metal component to a second temperature which is by 40° C. to 100° C. lower than the first temperature; increasing the nitrogen content in the metal component by applying a nitrogen donor gas to the metal component at the second temperature; cooling the metal component to ambient temperature, wherein a sintered component is used as the metal component and, after increasing the nitrogen content in the sintered component and prior to cooling the sintered component to ambient temperature, the sintered component is heated to a third temperature which is by 50° C. to 250° C. higher than the second temperature.

Apparatus and method for construction of a rectangular deep cryogenic treatment chamber using an insulated, steel structure capable of large size and large volume cold thermal treatment. Apparatus includes end or top-mounted closure, liquid nitrogen delivery and distribution mechanisms, fan motors, cold diffusion-less thermal exchange, external heating element, electrical wiring and machined components. The design facilitates both low temperature, dry vapor thermal processing of metal and metal-matrix components down to −320° F. to enhance wear, corrosion, mechanical, thermal and electrical characteristics, and also post-cryogenic tempering capability to 300° F. The apparatus describes an external, LN2 storage dewar and solenoid-activated, gravity fed cryogen delivery via distribution hubs and distributed flow tubes. The apparatus also describes integrated deep cryogenic treatment authentication, test, validation and certification equipment. The process and method of treatment results in certification documents that authenticate and confirm treatment of the subject parts, reflect test and measurement of improved characteristics, retained data for archival purposes and to provide scientific evidence and proof of such treatment to a third-party not present at time of treatments, test or certification

A method for hardening a metal component includes the steps: hating the metal component to a first temperature between 750° C. and 1100° C.; increasing the carbon content in the metal component by applying a carbon donor gas to the metal component at the first temperature; cooling the metal component to a second temperature which is by 40° C. to 100° C. lower than the first temperature; increasing the nitrogen content in the metal component by applying a nitrogen donor gas to the metal component at the second temperature; cooling the metal component to ambient temperature, wherein a sintered component is used as the metal component and, after increasing the nitrogen content in the sintered component and prior to cooling the sintered component to ambient temperature, the sintered component is heated to a third temperature which is by 50° C. to 250° C. higher than the second temperature.