A permanent magnet may include a Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase in a strained state. In some examples, strain may be preserved within the permanent magnet by a technique that includes etching an iron nitride-containing workpiece including Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 to introduce texture, straining the workpiece, and annealing the workpiece. In some examples, strain may be preserved within the permanent magnet by a technique that includes applying at a first temperature a layer of material to an iron nitride-containing workpiece including Fe.sub.16N.sub.2, and bringing the layer of material and the iron nitride-containing workpiece to a second temperature, where the material has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the iron nitride-containing workpiece. A permanent magnet including an Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase with preserved strain also is disclosed.

A permanent magnet may include a Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase in a strained state. In some examples, strain may be preserved within the permanent magnet by a technique that includes etching an iron nitride-containing workpiece including Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 to introduce texture, straining the workpiece, and annealing the workpiece. In some examples, strain may be preserved within the permanent magnet by a technique that includes applying at a first temperature a layer of material to an iron nitride-containing workpiece including Fe.sub.16N.sub.2, and bringing the layer of material and the iron nitride-containing workpiece to a second temperature, where the material has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the iron nitride-containing workpiece. A permanent magnet including an Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase with preserved strain also is disclosed.

Provided is a process for preparing an electrode comprising an iron active material. The process comprises first fabricating an electrode comprising an iron active material, and then treating the surface of the electrode with water to thereby create an oxidized surface. The resulting iron electrode is preconditioned prior to any charge-discharge cycle to have the assessable surface of the iron active material in the same oxidation state as in discharged iron negative electrodes active material.

Provided is a process for preparing an electrode comprising an iron active material. The process comprises first fabricating an electrode comprising an iron active material, and then treating the surface of the electrode with water to thereby create an oxidized surface. The resulting iron electrode is preconditioned prior to any charge-discharge cycle to have the assessable surface of the iron active material in the same oxidation state as in discharged iron negative electrodes active material.

Provided is an oriented electrical steel sheet including a groove existing on the surface of the electrical steel sheet and a forsterite layer formed on a part or all of the surface of the electrical steel sheet, in which forsterite which is extended from the forsterite layer and penetrates to a base steel sheet in an anchor form is present on the surface of the side of the groove.

Provided is an oriented electrical steel sheet including a groove existing on the surface of the electrical steel sheet and a forsterite layer formed on a part or all of the surface of the electrical steel sheet, in which forsterite which is extended from the forsterite layer and penetrates to a base steel sheet in an anchor form is present on the surface of the side of the groove.

A material layer for a laminated core of an electric machine is made of iron-containing ferromagnetic material and includes an electrically insulating coating on at least one side of the material layer. The electrically insulating coating Includes an electrically Insulating material which Is produced through controlled oxidation of the ferromagnetic material of the material layer and contains iron monoxide and/or triiron tetraoxid. The material layer is produced from a green body, which Is sintered under a reducing atmosphere.

A grain-oriented electrical steel plate of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a groove formed on a surface, wherein a curvature radius RBb at a position where a depth of the groove is maximum is 0.2 μm to 100 μm, and a curvature radius RSb on the groove surface from the position where the depth of the groove is maximum to a quarter-way position of the depth D of the groove is 4 μm to 130 μm.

A grain-oriented electrical steel plate of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a groove formed on a surface, wherein a curvature radius RBb at a position where a depth of the groove is maximum is 0.2 μm to 100 μm, and a curvature radius RSb on the groove surface from the position where the depth of the groove is maximum to a quarter-way position of the depth D of the groove is 4 μm to 130 μm.

A permanent magnet may include a Fe16N2 phase in a strained state. In some examples, strain may be preserved within the permanent magnet by a technique that includes etching an iron nitride-containing workpiece including Fe16N2 to introduce texture, straining the workpiece, and annealing the workpiece. In some examples, strain may be preserved within the permanent magnet by a technique that includes applying at a first temperature a layer of material to an iron nitride-containing workpiece including Fe16N2, and bringing the layer of material and the iron nitride-containing workpiece to a second temperature, where the material has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the iron nitride-containing workpiece. A permanent magnet including an Fe16N2 phase with preserved strain also is disclosed.