Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mold (70), which comprises a step of forming a layer (31) of combustible powdery particles (32) around a wax mold (21), which is a lost pattern, a step of forming a film (51) of a ceramic precursor slurry (52) around the wax mold (21) having powdery particles (32) formed thereon, a step of subjecting the resultant product to a heat treatment, to thereby dewax the wax mold (21), and a step of firing the slurry film (51), to thereby burn and vanish the powdery particles (32) in the slurry film (51) and form a shell (71). The mold (70) has the shell (71) and a porous layer (74) formed on the surface (76) of the cavity of the shell. The mold can be suitably used for manufacturing a porous body (90) having a porous layer (94) on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A cooling system for a vacuum processing apparatus is provided with an internal heat conduction path for transfer of heat entering the subject body through the vacuum processing apparatus, a heat radiation path for radiation of the heat to an outside of the vacuum processing apparatus and a heat conduction path for regulation of quantity of heat transfer between the internal heat conduction path and the heat radiation path. Preferably, a heat pipe is applied to the internal heat conduction path.

Abstract: Continuous casting of steel strip in twin-roll caster comprising casting rolls (16). Molten steel is delivered by a delivery system comprising a distributor (18) and delivery nozzle (19) to casting pool (68) supported above the nip (69) between the casting rolls (16) which are rotated to deliver a solidified steel strip (20) downwardly from the nip. Delivery nozzle (19) dips into casting pool (68). To minimise reactions between carbon in the delivery nozzle with oxygen containing compounds in the casting pool the delivery nozzle is made of refractory material containing a major proportion of a refractory aggregate and a minor proportion of graphite of at least 96% purity in the range of 15% to 25% by weight and an anti-oxidant additive being aluminium or an alloy thereof. The refractory aggregate may be comprised mainly of alumina.