Abstract: A die for growing a single crystal by an Edge-defined Film-fed Growth (EFG) technique includes a first outer die plate; a second outer die plate; and at least one central die plate positioned between the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate such that at least two capillaries are formed between the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate. First ends of the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate have a slope extending away from at least one of the at least two capillaries to form a growth interface at a top of the die. Second ends of the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate are immersed in a raw material melt provided in a crucible. The raw material melt is configured to travel to the growth interface by capillary flow of the raw material melt through the at least two capillaries.

Abstract: A method for treating a material comprising: applying energy to a predetermined portion of the material in a controlled manner such that the local chemistry of the predetermined portion is altered to provide a predetermined result. When the material is a shape memory material, the predetermined result may be to provide an additional memory to the predetermined portion or to alter the pseudo-elastic properties of the shape memory material. In other examples, which are not necessarily restricted to shape memory materials, the process may be used to adjust the concentration of components at the surface to allow the formation of an oxide layer at the surface of the material to provide corrosion resistance; to remove contaminants from the material; to adjust surface texture; or to generate at least one additional phase particle in the material to provide a nucleation site for grain growth, which in turn, can strengthen the material.

Abstract: A construction structure includes a substrate made of a concrete material and has an external surface, and a reinforcement attachment made of a metallic material having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface. The attachment is secured to the substrate with the inwardly facing surface bonded to the external surface of the substrate, and has first portions and second portions. At least one of the surfaces of a first portion of the attachment is pre-treated and attached to the substrate such that when the construction structure is under loading the first portion(s) block(s) or reduce(s) spreading of strain sustained by the attachment along the attachment to avoid or at least delay complete detachment of reinforcement from substrate.

Abstract: A method for refining a metal such that, after a base material derived from the metal is melted by being irradiated with an electron beam, the base material is refined by solidifying the base material which was melted, the method including: a step melting all of the base material by irradiating the electron beam over an entire surface of the base material loaded inside a water-cooled crucible placed inside a high vacuum atmosphere; a step gradually solidifying the base material which was melted from a molten metal bottom part of the base material which was melted toward a molten metal surface part at a side being irradiated by the electron beam by gradually weakening an output of the electron beam while maintaining a condition in which the base material which was melted is irradiated with the electron beam; and a step removing a molten metal part which is not solidified, after the base material which was melted is solidified to a certain percentage.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for a remelt block containing aluminum designed for making aluminum alloy for the aircraft industry in which scrap containing mainly aluminum alloys used in the aircraft industry is supplied during a supply stage, the scrap is melted in a smelting furnace in order to obtain an initial molten metal bath during a smelting stage, the initial molten metal bath is subjected to purification by fractional crystallization in order to obtain a solidified mass and a bath of residual liquid during a segregation stage, and the solidified mass is recovered in order to obtain a remelt block during a recovery stage. The invention is particularly useful for the recycling of aluminum alloys used in the aircraft industry as it makes it possible to purify scrap of series 2XXX or series 7XXX alloys for iron and silicon, without eliminating additive elements such as zinc, copper and magnesium.

Abstract: A method of forming a single crystal in a thin film by progressively rapidly heating (and cooling) a narrow band of amorphous material. The amorphous thin film may be of shape memory alloy such as TiNi or CuAlNi. Heating may be accomplished by a line-focused laser beam. The thin film may be formed by sputter deposition on a substrate such as silicon. The thin film crystal that is formed has non-isotropic stress/strain characteristics, and very large recoverable strain in a preferred direction. The single crystal SMA exhibits greater strain recovery; Constant force deflection; Wider transition temperature range; Very narrow loading hysteresis; and Recovery that is repeatable & complete. Single Crystal SMA is manufactured by pulling a single crystal from melt, a method similar to that used by the semiconductor industry to fabricate silicon boules. This process enables manufacture of materials that approach theoretical limits.

Abstract: A melt of a hydrogen storage alloy having an arbitrary composition is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Alternatively an alloy having an arbitrary composition, after heating to a temperature equal to or more than a melting point thereof, is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Thereby a homogeneous alloy reduced in segregation, precipitates, or inclusions is obtained. The homogeneous alloy is excellent in the hydrogen storage amount, in the plateau property and in durability.

Abstract: Method for the purification of an aluminium alloy containing an alloying element wherein the aluminium alloy is subjected to a fractional crystallisation process. At least the aluminium alloy is separated into a product stream having a content of the alloying element less than the content of the alloying element in the aluminium alloy and a downgrade stream having a content of the alloying element higher than the content of the alloying element in the aluminium alloy. The downgrade stream is subjected to a process of separation of intermetallics wherein an additive is added to the downgrade stream to form a mixture containing intermetallics formed, and from this mixture a waste stream and a recycle stream is separated which waste stream contains a higher content of the alloying element than the recycle stream, and the recycle stream is fed at least partly into the fractional crystallisation process.

Abstract: A melt of a hydrogen storage alloy having an arbitrary composition is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified, alternatively an alloy having an arbitrary composition, after heating to a temperature equal to or more than a melting point thereof, is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified, and thereby a homogeneous alloy reduced in the segregation, precipitates or inclusions is obtained. An effective hydrogen storage amount, the plateau property and the durability more excellent than ever can be obtained.

Abstract: An aluminum bloom more than 99.95% pure is obtained by segregation of aluminum from an impure parent liquor. Heat supplied to the parent liquor during growth of the bloom is adjusted as a function of the height of the bloom.