Abstract: An apparatus for use in hot pressing metal alloy foils, such as by HIP, directly from metal alloy powders. The invention is a metal container with a cavity having near-net shape of a thin metal foil. The cavity may be lined with a diffusion inhibiting material, so as to inhibit the interdiffusion between the metal container and the metal alloy powder during hot pressing. The apparatus also may include an integrally formed orifice for evacuating the metal container.

Abstract: A method for the electroslag refining of metal is provided. The method involves providing a refining vessel to contain an electroslag refining layer floating on a layer of molten refined metal. An ingot of unrefined metal is lowered into the vessel into contact with the molten electroslag layer. A refining current is passed through the slag layer to the ingot to cause surface melting at the interface between the ingot and the electroslag layer. As the ingot is surface melted at its point of contact with the slag, droplets of the unrefined metal are formed and these droplets pass down through the slag and are collected in a body of molten refined metal beneath the slag. The refined metal is held within a cold hearth. At the bottom of the cold hearth, a cold finger orifice is provided to permit the withdrawal of refined metal from the cold hearth apparatus. The refined metal passes from the cold finger orifice as a stream and is processed into a sound metal structure having desired grain structure.