Abstract: A liquid metal electromagnetic pump 17 operates by passing an electric current through the liquid metal in a direction transverse to an applied magnetic field and the longitudinal axis of the liquid metal flow pipe. The direction of the pump is reversible by reversing the electric current. It is used to transfer batches of contaminated solder from a reservoir 12 in a hot air solder leveller 11 to a treatment tank (TA or TB). Contamination of the solder is removed by a cleaning process and the liquid solder returned to the reservoir 12 after heating to the required process temperature.

Abstract: Metal matrix composite is made by blending non-metal reinforcement powder with powder of metal or metal alloy matrix material, heating to a temperature high enough to cause melting of the matrix metal/alloy and subjecting the mixture to high pressure in a die press before solidification occurs.

Abstract: A liquid is subjected to ultrasound within a stainless steel pipe (35) of wall thickness 2.5 mm. Three ultrasonic transducers (56) are equally spaced around the pipe, each fixed to one end of a tapered resonant coupler (46) with a nodal flange (48) by which it is supported with its wider end coaxially within a steel collar (38) welded to the outside of the pipe wall. The space around the sides and the end of the coupler is filled by a buffer liquid such as olive oil. When the transducers (56) are energised they resonate, as do the couplers (46), and ultrasound is transmitted through the buffer liquid and the wall into the liquid inside the pipe (35). Within the pipe the intensity can be sufficient to cause cavitation, and so to cause sonochemical effects.