The invention relates to the application of molybdenum alloys, which are superficially hardened by means of nitriding, for female dies and comparable construction components for extruding light and nonferrous metals. It is possible through the application of these materials to achieve distinct improvements over the materials used heretofore with respect to the tool life, extrusion rate and surface quality of the extruded material.

There is presented gold based contact materials fabricated by internal carization and method therefor. Carburizable refractory elements are carburized by internal carburization by exposing a gold based solid solution containing the refractory element to an atmosphere of a gaseous oxide of carbon at an elevated temperature. The elevated temperature is chosen to be below the melting point of the solid solution and high enough to cause gaseous decomposition of a carbon material packed with the solid solution within an enclosing container. The carburizable refractory element with the solid solution is preferentially carburized by the gaseous oxide of carbon to form hard, refractory second phase carbide particles within the gold matrix.

A method of coating an inner surface of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: directing a laser beam against the inner barrel surface to cause melting of regions thereof; introducing a coating material in one of powder, wire and ribbon form into the laser beam for melting the coating material to produce in the surface regions a molten bath composed of the molten coating material and a material of the weapon barrel; and moving the laser beam inside the weapon barrel axially thereof and relative thereto, whereby the molten substance of the bath becomes rigid as the laser beam moves away therefrom.

A method of protecting glass panes in window structures installed in buildings includes applying a polymeric foam layer to the glass pane before the storm has arrived and peeling the polymeric foam layer from the glass pane after the storm has passed. The polymeric foam layer can be a polyurethane foam, provided as a one-component system or a two-component system, and the polyurethane foam can be sprayed onto the exterior surface of the glass pane to prevent damage thereto including shattering while absorbing energy from wind-borne debris. A window structure installed in a building includes a glass pane mounted to a frame with a polyurethane foam layer disposed thereon for protection of the glass pane during storms.

A compressible structure for temporarily protecting a glass pane of a window structure includes a shaping member for removable securement on the window structure and defining a cavity over the glass pane and a layer of solidified compressible material in said cavity providing protection for the glass pane. A window protection system includes a shaping member and a supply system for supplying a compressible material in fluidic form to a cavity of the shaping member, wherein the fluidic compressible material sets to form a layer of solidified compressible material. A protected window structure includes a window structure and a panel of solidified compressible foam material disposed over at least a portion of one or more glass panes of the window structure.