A method and system for marking a workpiece at a marking location by infusing colorant into targeted surface material within a region of the workpiece via laser-induced chemical etching are disclosed. The system includes a laser subsystem for generating a pulsed laser output and a transport subsystem including a medium containing the colorant mounted immediately adjacent the marking location to transfer the colorant to the targeted surface material upon impact by the pulsed laser output. The system also includes a delivery subsystem for irradiating the medium and the targeted surface material with the pulsed laser output to melt the targeted surface material to obtain molten material and to transfer the colorant from the medium to the molten material. The molten material allows the transferred colorant to thermally diffuse into and chemically bond to the molten material. Each laser pulse creates a microtextured colorized spot of material on the workpiece.

A method for treating a metal material to make a surface portion hydrophobic. The method includes oxidizing an untreated surface portion of the metal material to form an oxidized surface portion. The untreated surface portion has metal atoms. The oxidizing step forming bonds between the metal atoms and oxygen atoms. The method further includes doping the oxidized surface portion with a liquid containing a fluorine-containing salt to form a fluorinated surface portion. The doping step forming bonds between fluorine atoms and at least a portion of the metal atoms and the oxygen atoms. The fluorinated surface portion is hydrophobic.

A composite material includes a substrate that is thermochemically treated in order to harden the surface thereof and that is, therefore, not subject to deformations as a result of high stresses sustained by the outer layer. The composite material also includes an adhesion layer overlying the treated layer. Subsequently, an intermediate layer and a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) layer are added, wherein the DLC layer has a structure based on an amorphous carbon film. The composite material may be used in valves built into submarine equipment. The composite material is thermochemically treated and comprises a treated substrate and an adhesion layer onto which is disposed an intermediate layer that receives a final DLC layer. All of these layers are disposed on the surface of a substrate of a gate valve.

A composite material includes a substrate that is thermochemically treated in order to harden the surface thereof and that is, therefore, not subject to deformations as a result of high stresses sustained by the outer layer. The composite material also includes an adhesion layer overlying the treated layer. Subsequently, an intermediate layer and a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) layer are added, wherein the DLC layer has a structure based on an amorphous carbon film. The composite material may be used in valves built into submarine equipment. The composite material is thermochemically treated and comprises a treated substrate and an adhesion layer onto which is disposed an intermediate layer that receives a final DLC layer. All of these layers are disposed on the surface of a substrate of a gate valve.

An anti-coking surface having a thickness up to 15 microns comprising from 15 to 50 wt. % of MnCr.sub.2O.sub.4 (for example manganochromite); from 15 to 25 wt. % of Cr.sub.0.23Mn.sub.0.08Ni.sub.0.69 (for example chromium manganese nickel); from 10 to 30 wt. % of Cr.sub.1.3Fe.sub.0.7O.sub.3 (for example chromium iron oxide); from 12 to 20 wt. % of Cr.sub.2O.sub.3 (for example eskolaite); from 4 to 20 wt. % of CuFe.sub.5O.sub.8 (for example copper iron oxide); and less than 5 wt. % of one or more compounds chosen from FeO(OH), CrO(OH), CrMn, Si and SiO.sub.2 (either as silicon oxide or quartz) and less than 0.5 wt. % of aluminum in any form provided that the sum of the components is 100 wt. % is provided on steel.

An anti-coking surface having a thickness up to 15 microns comprising from 15 to 50 wt. % of MnCr.sub.2O.sub.4 (for example manganochromite); from 15 to 25 wt. % of Cr.sub.0.23Mn.sub.0.08Ni.sub.0.69 (for example chromium manganese nickel); from 10 to 30 wt. % of Cr.sub.1.3Fe.sub.0.7O.sub.3 (for example chromium iron oxide); from 12 to 20 wt. % of Cr.sub.2O.sub.3 (for example eskolaite); from 4 to 20 wt. % of CuFe.sub.5O.sub.8 (for example copper iron oxide); and less than 5 wt. % of one or more compounds chosen from FeO(OH), CrO(OH), CrMn, Si and SiO.sub.2 (either as silicon oxide or quartz) and less than 0.5 wt. % of aluminum in any form provided that the sum of the components is 100 wt. % is provided on steel.

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.

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.

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.