Abstract: The present invention relates to a cold crucible adapted to be discharged through the bottom. The crucible consists of a conductive wall consisting of a plurality of longitudinal hollow segments which are electrically insulated at least partially from one another and which are by virtue of the longitudinal hollows adapted to be traversed internally by a cooling fluid and which crucible is adapted to be placed inside an inductor and in which the wall is provided in its bottom part with an aperture inside which there is a removable occluding member, formed of segments which member is cooled like the wall of the crucible. The crucible is used in the processing of materials of high purity which can be recovered in the liquid state in a convenient complete and rapid manner.

Abstract: A mould for use in the casting of molten ferrous metal is described comprising a mould cavity and a runner system comprising a sprue, a sprue well and a runner, and having located in the runner a ceramic filter having an open-cell foam structure. A sealed plastics container containing particles of a treatment agent, such as an inoculant for the molten ferrous metal is located in a chamber in the runner system on that side of the filter which is further from the mould cavity such that part of the container is in the sprue well.