Santoku Corporation

Qun Chen

Bao-Min Ma

Wen Cheng Chang

Charles O Bounds

James Landi

Tsong P Perng

Manganese-free rare earth-transition metal AB -type hydrogen-absorbing alloys having favorable high rate discharge characteristics, suitable for use in rechargeable batteries for electrical vehicles or hybrid electrical vehicles, include compositions of the general formula: R(Co Al M Ni ) , where R is at least one element selected from rare earth elements and yttrium (Y), M is at least one refractory metal selected from Groups IVB, VB, and VIB of the periodic table, the value of u is from 0 to about 0.25, v is from 0 to about 0.10, w is from 0 to about 0.05, and z, the ratio of R(Co Al M Ni )/R, is from about 4.70 to about 5.50. The unit cell volume is from about 87 to about 88.5 A at 25&deg; C., the plateau pressure is from about 3 to about 10 apsi at 25&deg; C., and the composition is essentially free of manganese.

AB5-type rare earth transition intermetallic compounds for the negative electrodes of rechargeable batteries

Magnetic nanocomposite materials including iron, rare earth elements, boron, refractory metals and cobalt which have favorable magnetic properties and are suitable for making bonded magnets are disclosed. Compositions of the present invention can be of the formula: (N La ) Fe Co M B , where M is at least one refractory metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W; v is from about 5 to about 15; w is greater than or equal to 5; x is from about 9 to about 30; y is from about 0.05 to about 0.5; and z is from about 0.1 to about 5. Preferably M is at least Cr. These materials have good magnetic properties and are suitable for use in preparing bonded magnets.

High performance iron-rare earth-boron-refractory-cobalt nanocomposite

Magnetic nanocomposite materials including iron, rare earth elements, boron, refractory metal and, optionally, cobalt are disclosed. Neodymium and lanthanum are preferred rare earth elements. The amounts of Nd, La, B and refractory metal are controlled in order to produce both hard and soft magnetic phases, as well as a refractory metal boride precipitated phase. The refractory metal boride precipitates serve as grain refiners and substantially improve the magnetic properties of the nanocomposite materials. The materials are particularly suitable for making bonded magnets.

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Peoria, AZ, United States of America

Qun Chen