In various embodiments, planar sputtering targets are produced by forming a billet at least by pressing molybdenum powder in a mold and sintering the pressed powder, working the billet to form a worked billet, heat treating the worked billet, working the worked billet to form a final billet, and heat treating the final billet.

A method of forming a wrought material having a refined grain structure is provided. The method comprises providing a metal alloy material having a depressed solidus temperature and a low temperature eutectic phase transformation. The metal alloy material is molded and rapidly solidified to form a fine grain precursor that has fine grains surrounded by a eutectic phase with fine dendritic arm spacing. The fine grain precursor is plastic deformed at a high strain rate to cause recrystallization without substantial shear banding to form a fine grain structural wrought form. The wrought form is then thermally treated to precipitate the eutectic phase into nanometer sized dispersoids within the fine grains and grain boundaries and to define a thermally treated fine grain structure wrought form having grains finer than the fine grains and the fine dendritic arm spacing of the fine grain precursor.

A steel material superior in high temperature characteristics and toughness is provided, that is, a steel material containing, by mass %, C: 0.005% to 0.03%, Si: 0.05% to 0.40%, Mn: 0.40% to 1.70%, Nb: 0.02% to 0.25%, Ti: 0.005% to 0.025%, N: 0.0008% to 0.0045%, B: 0.0003% to 0.0030%, restricting P: 0.030% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Al: 0.03% or less, and having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, where the contents of C and Nb satisfy C—Nb/7.74≦0.02 and Ti-based oxides of a grain size of 0.05 to 10 μm are present in a density of 30 to 300/mm2.

Provided is a NdFeB sintered magnet which can be used in the grain boundary diffusion method as a base material in which RH can be easily diffused through the rare-earth rich phase and which itself has a high coercive force, a high maximum energy product and a high squareness ratio, as well as a method for producing such a magnet. A NdFeB system sintered has an average grain size of the main-phase grains magnet is equal to or smaller than 4.5 μm, the carbon content of the entire NdFeB system sintered magnet is equal to or lower than 1000 ppm, and the percentage of the total volume of a carbon rich phase in a rare-earth rich phase at a grain-boundary triple point in the NdFeB system sintered magnet to the total volume of the rare-earth rich phase is equal to or lower than 50%.

The present invention provides a high Al-content steel sheet having an excellent workability and a method of production of the same at a low cost by mass production, a high Al-content metal foil and a method of production of the same, and a metal substrate using a high Al-content metal foil, that is, a high Al-content steel sheet having an Al content of 6.5 mass % to 10 mass %, the high Al-content steel sheet characterized by having one or both of a {222} plane integration of an α-Fe crystal with respect to the surface of the steel sheet of 60% to 95% or a {200} plane integration of 0.01% to 15% and a method of production of the same, a high Al-content metal foil and a method of production of the same, and a metal substrate using a high Al-content metal foil.

A method of manufacturing a high-strength galvanized steel sheet includes hot-rolling a slab to form a steel sheet; during continuous annealing, heating the steel sheet to a temperature of 750° C. to 900° C. at an average heating rate of at least 10° C./s at a temperature of 500° C. to an A1 transformation point; holding that temperature for at least 10 seconds; cooling the steel sheet from 750° C. to a temperature of (Ms point—100° C.) to (Ms point—200° C.) at an average cooling rate of at least 10° C./s; reheating the steel sheet to a temperature of 350° C. to 600° C.; holding that temperature for 10 to 600 seconds; and galvanizing the steel sheet.

A method for treating a component comprising a metallic or ceramic material with a crystalline, semi-crystalline or amorphous structure. According to the method, to case-harden the component, at least part of the surface of the component is exposed to an oil jet, while the temperature of the oil and/or the component is regulated. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the method.

A metal material is contacted with a treatment solution containing zirconium and/or titanium compound, and a polyamine compound having a number average molecular weight from 150 to 500,000 and containing from 0.1 mmol to 17 mmol of primary and/or secondary amino group per 1 g of solid content and at least one siloxane unit. Concentration of zirconium and/or titanium compound in the metal surface treatment composition is from 10 ppm to 10,000 ppm with respect to the metal element, and mass ratio of the zirconium and/or titanium element is from 0.1 to 100 with respect to the polyamine compound. The metal material is washed with water after contacted by the treatment solution.

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for performing rapid thermal processing. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus includes a heating source disposed outside a chamber body and configured to provide thermal energy towards a processing volume. The substrate support defines a substrate supporting plane, and the substrate support is configured to support the substrate in the substrate supporting plane. The heating source includes a frame member having an inner wall surrounding an area large enough to encompass a surface area of the substrate, and a plurality of diode laser tiles mounted on the inner wall of the frame member. Each of the plurality of diode laser tiles is directed towards a corresponding area in the processing volume.

A manufacturing method for a composite steel part including manufacturing a first steel part by preparing an intermediate product in which an extra portion is added, and heating the intermediate product to an austenitizing temperature in a carburizing atmosphere to form a carburized layer, cooling the intermediate product at a rate less than a cooling rate at which martensitic transformation is caused and in which the intermediate product is cooled to a temperature equal to or less than a temperature at which structure transformation due to the cooling is completed, heating the intermediate product to an austenitizing range by high-density energy and thereafter cooled at a rate equal to or more than the cooling rate at which martensitic transformation is caused to form a carburized quenched portion, cutting the extra portion of the intermediate product, and welding the first steel part and the second steel part to each other.

A method for manufacturing a hot-rolled sheet attains grain refinement of the steel sheet whose grain size is extremely fine. In particular, a ferrite grain size of less than average 2 μm is obtained, which is not laminar but has ferrite grains with equiaxed morphology and exhibits high formability in forming. The method comprises the steps of rolling and cooling, wherein the rolling reductions, cooling steps, and temperature are closely regulated. A hot rolled sheet made from the method of manufacturing has a controlled ferrite grain in different regions of sheet thickness.

A component composition contains, by % by mass, 0.0016 to 0.01% of C, 0.05 to 0.60% of Mn, and 0.020 to 0.080% of Nb so that the C and Nb contents satisfy the expression, 0.4≦(Nb/C)×(12/93)≦2.5. In addition, the amount of Nb-based precipitates is 20 to 500 ppm by mass, the average grain diameter of the Nb-based precipitates is 10 to 100 nm, and the average crystal grain diameter of ferrite is 6 to 10 μm. Nb is added to ultra-low-carbon steel used as a base, and the amount and grain diameter of the Nb-based precipitates are controlled to optimize the pinning effect. Grain refinement of ferrite is achieved by specifying the Mn amount, thereby achieving softening and excellent resistance to surface roughness of steel.

A low alloy steel ingot contains from 0.15 to 0.30% of C, from 0.03 to 0.2% of Si, from 0.5 to 2.0% of Mn, from 0.1 to 1.3% of Ni, from 1.5 to 3.5% of Cr, from 0.1 to 1.0% of Mo, and more than 0.15 to 0.35% of V, and optionally Ni, with a balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities. Performing quality heat treatment including a quenching step and a tempering step to the low alloy steel ingot to obtain a material, which has a grain size number of from 3 to 7 and is free from pro-eutectoid ferrite in a metallographic structure thereof, and which has a tensile strength of from 760 to 860 MPa and a fracture appearance transition temperature of not higher than 40° C.

This invention provides a copper alloy sheet material containing, in mass %, Ni: 0.7%-4.2% and Si: 0.2%-1.0%, optionally containing one or more of Sn: 1.2% or less, Zn: 2.0% or less, Mg: 1.0% or less, Co: 2.0% or less, and Fe: 1.0% or less, and a total of 3% or less of one or more of Cr, B, P, Zr, Ti, Mn and V, the balance being substantially Cu, and having a crystal orientation satisfying Expression (1): I{420}/I0{420}>1.0 (1), where I{420} is the x-ray diffraction intensity from the {420} crystal plane in the sheet plane of the copper alloy sheet material and I0{420} is the x-ray diffraction intensity from the {420} crystal plane of standard pure copper powder. The copper alloy sheet material has highly improved strength, post-notching bending workability, and stress relaxation resistance property.

A metal laminated substrate for an oxide superconducting wire is manufactured such that a non-magnetic metal plate T1 having a thickness of not more than 0.2 mm and a metal foil T2 made of Cu alloy which is formed by cold rolling at a draft of not less than 90% and has a thickness of not more than 50 μm is laminated to each other by room-temperature surface active bonding, after lamination, crystal of the metal foil is oriented by heat treatment at a temperature of not less than 150° C. and not more than 1000° C. and, thereafter, an epitaxial growth film T3 made of Ni or an Ni alloy having a thickness of not more than 10 μm is laminated to the metal foil.

A cobalt-nickel base alloy is disclosed. The alloy includes, in weight percent: greater than about 4 % of Al, about 10 to about 20 % of W, about 10 to about 40 % Ni, about 5 to 20 % Cr and the balance Co and incidental impurities. The alloy has a microstructure that is substantially free of a CoAl phase having a B2 crystal structure and configured to form a continuous, adherent aluminum oxide layer on an alloy surface upon exposure to a high-temperature oxidizing environment. A method of making an article of the alloy includes: selecting the alloy; forming an article from the alloy; solution-treating the alloy; and aging the alloy to form an alloy microstructure that is substantially free of a CoAl phase having a B2 crystal structure, wherein the alloy is configured to form a continuous, adherent aluminum oxide layer on an alloy surface upon exposure to a high-temperature oxidizing environment.

A welding method for welding workpieces made of highly heat-resistant superalloys is provided. The method includes generating a heat input zone on the workpiece surface by means of a heat source, feeding welding filler material into the heat input zone by means of a feeding device, and generating a relative motion between the heat source and the feeding device on one hand and the workpiece surface on the other hand by means of a conveying device. Furthermore, according to the welding method, the mass feed rate is ≦350 mg/min.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for coating aluminum substrates. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of applying a coating on an aluminum substrate including contacting the aluminum substrate with a first solution. The first solution can include a zinc metal salt, a sugar acid or alkali metal salt thereof, and an alkali metal hydroxide. The method can also include contacting the aluminum substrate with a second solution. The second solution can include a molybdate salt, an alkanolamine, and a fluorine acid. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Aqueous compositions useful as pretreatments prior to painting and to prevent the formation of white rust in the uncoated condition include an organopolyphosphonic acid or salt thereof, an organosilane, and a trivalent chromium compound. A method for treating a surface of a zinc-containing metal includes contacting the surface with an aqueous composition including an organopolyphosphonic acid or salt thereof, an organosilane, and a trivalent chromium compound. The composition may also include an agent for reducing hydrophilicity, such as a polyacrylic acid. The aqueous composition has been found to be particularly well-suited for treating a zinc-containing metal to passivate the surface, improve paint adhesion, and/or improve corrosion resistance.

The invention concerns a cold-rolled aluminum killed steel sheet, which includes by weight between 0.003 and 0.130% of carbon, between 0.10 and 1% of manganese, between 0.010 and 0.100% of aluminum, between 0.0015 and 0.0140% nitrogen, the remainder being of iron and impurities resulting from the manufacturing, and which has a content of carbon in solid solution (Css) of at least 50 ppm, as well as a method of manufacturing packaging from said sheet.

A multiphase steel sheet has a steel composition containing, in percent by mass, more than 0.015% to less than 0.100% of carbon, less than 0.40% of silicon, 1.0% to 1.9% of manganese, more than 0.015% to 0.05% of phosphorus, 0.03% or less of sulfur, 0.01% to 0.3% of soluble aluminum, 0.005% or less of nitrogen, less than 0.30% of chromium, 0.0050% or less of boron, less than 0.15% of molybdenum, 0.4% or less of vanadium, 0.02% or less of titanium, wherein [Mneq] is 2.0 to 2.8, the balance being iron and incidental impurities.

An aluminum alloy wrought product including, in wt. %, Mg 3.0 to 7.0, Zn 0.6 to 2.8, Mn 0 to 1.0, Cu 0 to 2.0, Sc 0 to 0.6, at least one element selected from the group of Zr 0.04 to 0.4, Cr 0.04 to 0.4, Hf 0.04 to 0.4 and Ti 0.01 to 0.3; Fe maximum 0.3, Si maximum 0.3, inevitable impurities, and balance aluminum. The range for the Zn-content in wt. % is a function of the Mg-content according to: lower-limit of the Zn-range: [Zn]=0.34[Mg]−0.4, and upper-limit of the Zn-range: [Zn]=0.34[Mg]+0.4.

Provided is a method of preparing a nanocrystalline titanium alloy at low strain to have better strength. The present invention is characterized in that an initial microstructure is induced as martensites having a fine layered structure, and then a nanocrystalline titanium alloy is prepared at low strain by optimizing process variables through observation of the effects of strain, strain rate, and deformation temperature on the changes in the microstructure.

There are provided a permanent magnet and a manufacturing method thereof enabling carbon content contained in magnet particles to be reduced in advance before sintering even when wet milling is employed. Coarsely-milled magnet powder is further milled by a bead mill in a solvent together with an organometallic compound expressed with a structural formula of M-(OR)X (M represents V, Mo, Zr, Ta Ti W or Nb, R represents a substituent group consisting of a straight-chain or branched-chain hydrocarbon, X represents an arbitrary integer) so as to uniformly adhere the organometallic compound to particle surfaces of the magnet powder. Thereafter, a compact body of compacted magnet powder is held for several hours in hydrogen atmosphere at 200 through 900 degrees Celsius to perform hydrogen calcination process. Thereafter, through sintering process, a permanent magnet 1 is formed.

A steel for an induction hardening including, by mass %, C: more than 0.75% to 1.20%, Si: 0.002 to 3.00%, Mn: 0.20 to 2.00%, S: 0.002 to 0.100%, Al: more than 0.050% to 3.00%, P: limited to 0.050% or less, N: limited to 0.0200% or less, O: limited to: 0.0030% or less, and the balance composing of iron and unavoidable impurities, wherein an Al content and a N content satisfy, by mass %, Al−(27/14)×N>0.050%.

The galvannealed steel sheet includes: a galvannealed layer formed on at least one surface of a steel sheet and contains includes an amount of 0.05 mass % to 0.5 mass % of Al, an amount of 6 mass % of 12 mass % of Fe, and the balance composed of Zn and inevitable impurities; and a mixed layer formed on a surface of the galvannealed layer and includes a composite oxide of Mn, Zn, and P and an aqueous P compound, wherein the composite oxide includes 0.1 mg/m2 to 100 mg/m2 of Mn, an amount of 1 mg/m2 to 100 mg/m2 of P, and Zn, and a P/Mn ratio is 0.3 to 50, and wherein the total size of an area of the mixed layer in which an attached amount of P is equal to or more than 20 mg/m2 is 20% to 80% of a surface area of the mixed layer.

Provided is a hot-rolled steel sheet that has a chemical composition including, by mass %: C: 0.060% to 0.150%; Si: 0.15% to 0.70%; Mn: 1.00% to 1.90%; P: 0.10% or less; S: 0.010% or less; Al: 0.01% to 0.10%; N: 0.010% or less; Nb: 0.010% to 0.100%; and the balance including Fe and incidental impurities. The hot-rolled steel sheet has a microstructure containing ferrite of 18 μm or less in average grain size by a volume fraction of at least 75% and pearlite of at least 2 μm in average grain size by a volume fraction of at least 5%, the balance being low-temperature-induced phases, the pearlite having a mean free path of at least 5.0 μm.

A predetermined steel containing Te: 0.0005 mass % to 0.0050 mass % is heated to 1320° C. or lower to be subjected to hot rolling, and is subjected to annealing, cold rolling, decarburization annealing, and nitridation annealing, and thereby a decarburized nitrided steel sheet is obtained. Further, an annealing separating agent is applied on the surface of the decarburized nitrided steel sheet and finish annealing is performed, and thereby a glass coating film is formed. The N content of the decarburized nitrided steel sheet is set to 0.0150 mass % to 0.0250 mass % and the relationship of 2×[Te]+[N]≦0.0300 mass % is set to be established. Note that [Te] represents the Te content and [N] represents the N content.

A multipurpose organizer that can be quickly and easily converted into multiple articles such as but not limited to a carrying tote, a purse, a seat organizer and a head rest is provided. The method of making the multifunctional organizer and the methods of using the multifunctional organizer are also provided. In one embodiment the main body of consists of a single piece of material providing for low cost construction.

Embodiments of club head covers having a pull strap and methods to manufacture club head covers are generally described herein. Other embodiments of club head covers having a pull strap may be described and claimed.

The present invention is directed to an article of manufacture and method of manufacture relating to purses, handbags, wallets and the like. The method disclosed herein relates to utilizing text book covers off of books, such as legal treatises and case law books as the primary material for such articles. The text book cover is removed, cleaned, prepared, cut, sewn and glued together to form a purse, handbag, wallet and the like. The result of the disclosed invention is eco-friendly as it takes an old, often discarded item and forms a highly useful and quite stylish “new” article.

An advertising apparatus including a body portion adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on a support structure accessible for advertising purposes and, an interchangeable and/or replaceable advertising device, the advertising device being adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on the body portion.

An electroluminescent arrangement is described. This electroluminescent arrangement comprises the following functional layers: (a) rear electrode as layer A;(b) dielectric layer as layer B;(c) electroluminescent layer as layer C; and(d) cover electrode as layer D.

A portable movie screen includes a screen portion and a frame portion surrounding at least part of the periphery of the screen portion. The screen portion has a screen gain greater than about 0.8 and an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the frame portion. The movie screen includes at least one side connected to the front portion and a receiving space defined at least in part by the front portion and the side portion. The receiving space is configured to selectively receive a support body including at least one sealed chamber and movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The frame portion is configured such that when the support body is in the expanded configuration and positioned in the receiving space, the frame portion tensions the screen portion and substantially maintains the screen portion in a desired shape.

The invention relates to a device for identifying an animal, comprising a male part and a female part which are intended to be joined together, said female part comprising a head (12) for holding a tip of said male part, and a rigid shell (11) containing electronic identification means (42). According to the invention, a resin (41) is placed inside a housing defined in said shell so as to cover said electronic means (42) and to secure said head (12) to said shell (11).

A self-supporting sign of unitary construction comprises a middle portion having a first side, a second side, an upper side, and a lower side. A first foldable flap extends from the first side at a first distance beneath the upper side. A second foldable flap extends from the second side at a second distance beneath the upper side. A front foldable portion having a rounded perimeter extends from the lower side. In a use configuration, the middle portion forms an obtuse angle with respect to the front portion. A first slit is provided adjacent the first side and a second slit is provided adjacent the second side. The first and second slits are configured to aid in the respective folding of the first flap and the second flap with respect to the middle portion.

A poster clamp comprising first and second members, the members comprising first and second gripping surfaces, respectively, for gripping opposing sides of a poster or a like, and a poster mounting system comprising a hoarding and a plurality of such clamps, and a wire on which the clamps are to be mounted for tightening a poster within the frame of the hoarding.

Methods for cleaning a side edge of a thin film photovoltaic substrate utilizing a laser are provided. The method can include transporting the substrate in a machine direction to move the substrate past a first laser source, and focusing a first laser beam generated by the first laser source onto the side edge of the substrate such that the laser beam removes the thin film present on the side edge of the substrate. An apparatus is also generally provided for cleaning a first side edge and a second side edge of a thin film photovoltaic substrate.

Provided is a method for cleaning the inside of a pressure tight container for a blasting treatment, wherein the inside of a pressure tight container can be cleaned for a short period of time after a blasting treatment. The method is comprised of a setting process wherein a cleaning blast (1) capable of cracking a part of a residual substance remaining on the inside of a pressure tight container (10), and a solid separating material (2) which collides with a substance bonded to an inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), to separate the bonded substance from the inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), are set on the inside of the pressure tight container (10); and a separation process wherein the cleaning blast (1) blasts on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), to crack a part of the residual substance remaining on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), and the separating material (2) is divided into a plurality of granular elements by the blast, so that the granular elements are spread, and collide with the bonded substance to remove the bonded substance.

A system and method for securing tokens to be cleaned includes a tray with a curved surface defining a channel extending along a first direction and spacers projecting from the curved surface into the channel. The spacers are disposed at regular intervals along the first direction. The curved surface also has at least one opening. The tokens may be inserted into the channel between adjacent spacers and the tray holding the tokens can be submerged into a cleaning liquid. Identical trays containing tokens can also be stacked and together submerged into the cleaning liquid. The tray holding the tokens can be placed on a drying surface that has a drainage hole, and wetness remaining on the tokens can be sucked through the hole in the channel and the drainage hole by a vacuum or blown through the hole in the channel and drainage hole by an air blower.

A substrate rotates, and a liquid nozzle of a gas/liquid supply nozzle moves to a position above the center of the rotating substrate. In this state, a rinse liquid is discharged from the liquid nozzle onto the rotating substrate. The gas/liquid supply nozzle moves toward a position outside the substrate. A gas nozzle reaches the position above the center of the rotating substrate, so that the gas/liquid supply nozzle temporarily stops. With the gas/liquid supply nozzle stopping, an inert gas is discharged onto the center of the rotating substrate for a given period of time. After that, the gas/liquid supply nozzle again moves toward the position outside the substrate.

A method for cleaning a film separating device involves: a) performing positive-direction water cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is less than 1.2; b) performing reverse water cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is greater-than or equal-to 1.2; c) performing reverse chemical cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is greater-than or equal-to 2; d) performing positive-direction chemical cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is greater-than or equal-to 3.

A surface treatment composition of the present invention contains a first surfactant, a second surfactant, a basic compound, and water. The surface treatment composition has a pH of 8 or more. The second surfactant has a weight-average molecular weight one-half or less that of the first surfactant. The sum of the content of the first surfactant and the content of the second surfactant is 0.00001 to 0.1% by mass.

A method for processing a plurality of substrates after forming a photosensitive film on each substrate includes carrying each substrate into a placement buffer including a plurality of supporters by a first transport mechanism; taking out each substrate from the placement buffer to an interface by a second transport mechanism; carrying each substrate into the exposure device; carrying each substrate out of the exposure device into the placement buffer by the second transport mechanism; taking out each substrate from the placement buffer to the processing section by the first transport mechanism; performing development processing on each substrate; making each substrate stand by at the placement buffer based on timing at which the exposure device can accept each substrate; and making each substrate stand by at the placement buffer based on timing at which the developing device can accept each substrate.

A method for grit blasting tubes and for blowing swabs through tubes, automatically sensing that the swab has passed through the tube, and logging the event. Also, various methods are used for inserting the swabs into the tubes efficiently.

An engine wash system includes a manifold to secure to a nose cone of an engine; a feeder pipe connecting to the manifold to deliver wash liquid to the manifold; a plurality of nozzles connected to the manifold to direct the wash liquid into the engine; a hook connected to the manifold to connect to a slot on the nose cone; and a guide connected to the feeder to align the manifold relative to the engine.

Strategies for tool designs and their uses wherein the tools can operate in either closed or open modes of operation. The tools easily transition between open and closed modes on demand. According to one general strategy, environmentally controlled pathway(s) couple the ambient to one or more process chambers. Air amplification capabilities upstream from the process chamber(s) allow substantial flows of air to be introduced into the process chamber(s) on demand. Alternatively, the fluid pathways are easily closed, such as by simple valve actuation, to block egress to the ambient through these pathways. Alternative flows of nonambient fluids can then be introduced into the process chamber(s) via pathways that are at least partially in common with the pathways used for ambient air introduction. In other strategies, gap(s) between moveable components are sealed at least with flowing gas curtains rather than by relying only upon direct physical contact for sealing.

In a method for multiple cutoff machining a rare earth magnet block, a cutting fluid feed nozzle having a plurality of slits is combined with a plurality of cutoff abrasive blades coaxially mounted on a rotating shaft, each said blade comprising a base disk and a peripheral cutting part. The slits in the feed nozzle into which the outer peripheral portions of cutoff abrasive blades are inserted serve to restrict any axial run-out of the cutoff abrasive blades during rotation. Cutting fluid is fed from the feed nozzle through slits to the rotating cutoff abrasive blades and eventually to points of cutoff machining on the magnet block.

A body, such as a pick tool for cutting coal, includes a steel substrate and a hard face structure fused to the steel substrate. The hard face structure includes at least 1 weight percent Si, at least 5 weight percent Cr and at least 40 weight percent W. Substantially the balance of the hard face structure includes carbon and an iron group metal M selected from Fe, Co, Ni and alloy combinations of these elements. The hard face structure includes a plurality of elongate or platelike micro-structures having a mean length of at least 1 micron, a plurality of nano-particles having a mean size of less than 200 nanometers, and a binder material.

An apparatus for splitting a plurality of masonry blocks is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of first splitting blades that are configured to simultaneously move in a first direction, so as to split one of each of the plurality of masonry blocks into two or more sections during a single splitting operation. Each section has a first split surface. A plurality of second splitting blades is provided, where each is perpendicular and adjacent to one of the first splitting blades. Each of the second splitting blades is configured to form a second split surface on one of the masonry block sections that is perpendicular to at least one of the first split surfaces.