Abstract: An extrudable aluminum alloy composition includes, in weight percent, between 0.60 and 0.90 manganese, between 0.45 and 0.75 copper, between 0.05 and 0.24 magnesium, less than 0.30 iron, less than 0.30 silicon, less than 0.05 titanium, less than 0.05 vanadium, and a Cu/Mg ratio higher or equal to 3. It also relates to aluminum alloy heat exchanger extruded or drawn tube and extruded or drawn aluminum alloy tubing having the above-described aluminum alloy composition. It also relates to a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of extruded or drawn tube sections having the above-described aluminum alloy composition and a process for manufacturing same.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for tapping molten metal from below a molten electrolyte layer less dense than the metal is described. The apparatus comprises a pipe comprising a protruding enlarged wall portion at an operative end which is immersed in the molten electrolyte and metal during tapping operation. The enlarged wall portion helps to minimize entrainment of electrolyte residue from the electrolyte/metal interface during tapping. The orientation of the enlarged wall portion may be in the general direction of the crucible.

Abstract: A process of producing an overhead transmission conductor. The process comprises: (a) continuously hot rolling a bar of AA 1350 aluminum or a similar aluminum alloy to form a rod; (b) hot-coiling the rod at a temperature preferably in a range of about 300 to 400° C. to provide an aluminum electrical conductor rod having an electrical conductivity in a range of 61.8 to 64.0% IACS and a tensile strength in a range of 8,500 to 14,000 psi; (c) without subjecting the rod to an annealing treatment, drawing the rod into wire: and (d) stranding the wire into cable to form the overhead transmission conductor. The invention also relates to an ACSS conductor produced by the process.

Abstract: A child resistant card for dispensing one or more pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets, including a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region, in which the closure part includes a blister hole and a perforated front push-through tab, and the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back push-through tab is provided. Upon folding at the fold region, the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back push-through tab. The child resistant card further includes a blister pack including a blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing portion, wherein the outlet of the blister is covered by the penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill is located inside the closed blister, wherein the blister pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through part such that the blister protrudes through the blister hole.

Abstract: A metallic alloy having a semi-solid range between the liquidus temperature and the solidus temperature of the metallic alloy is processed by cooling the metallic alloy from an initial metallic alloy elevated temperature to a semi-solid temperature of less than the liquidus temperature and more than the solidus temperature, and maintaining the metallic alloy at the semi-solid temperature for a sufficient time to produce a semi-solid structure in the metallic alloy of a globular solid phase dispersed in a liquid phase. The cooling may be accomplished by providing a crucible at a crucible initial temperature below the solidus temperature, pouring the metallic alloy into the crucible, and allowing the metallic alloy and the crucible to reach a thermal equilibrium between the liquidus temperature and the solidus temperature of the metallic alloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recyclable aluminum foil. The foil is made of an alloy containing 0.2%-0.5% Si, 0.4%-0.8% Fe, 0.1%-0.3% Cu, and 0.05%-0.3% Mn by weight. with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The foil contains at least about 2% by weight of strengthening particulates and has at least about 0.1% by weight of the copper and/or manganese retained in solid solution. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a sheet of aluminum based on an alloy which involves continuously casting an alloy of the above composition to form a sheet of alloy, coiling said sheet of alloy, cold rolling the sheet of alloy, interannealing the alloy after a first pass of the cold rolling; and further cold rolling the alloy to a final desired gauge. The foil, which is suitable for household use, has improved strength due to a larger quantity of dispersoids fortified by elements in solid solution, and can be recycled with other alloy scrap.

Abstract: A composite material is rapidly melted by furnishing a pre-wetted composite material in the form of granules, placing the granules into an induction coil, and powering the induction heater to melt the metal matrix portion of the granules to form a molten mixture. High power inputs to the induction coil may be used, so that the granules are rapidly heated to their melting point and to temperatures above the melting point, from which the molten mixture may be cast. Because of the rapid heating, otherwise-reactive composite materials may be prepared by melting in air.

Abstract: A metal-matrix composite material includes a matrix having magnesium in an amount of more than about 0.3 weight percent but no more than about 2.5 weight percent, an alloying element of about 0.8 to about 2.5 weight percent iron or from about 1.0 to about 2.5 weight percent manganese, and the balance aluminum and impurities. Dispersed throughout the matrix is a plurality of metal oxide particles present in an amount of more than about 5 volume percent but no more than about 25 volume percent of the total volume of the matrix and the particles. This material may be cast into casting molds. After casting is complete and during solidification of the matrix alloy, a high volume fraction of intermetallic particles is crystallized in the matrix alloy. The total of the volume fractions of the metal oxide particles and the intermetallic particles is from about 10 to about 40 volume percent, preferably from about 25 to about 40 volume percent.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for continuous casting of metal strip in which a layer of liquid parting agent, and any solid detritus contained therein, is completely removed from a casting surface of a rotating belt after contact with the metal, and in which a new layer of liquid parting agent is applied to the casting surface thereafter and prior to renewed contact with the molten metal. The removal of used parting agent and the application of fresh helps to present the formation of surface blemishes and defects on the cast metal strip product. Such blemishes and defects can also be minimized by using an injector having a flexible tip used to inject the molten metal onto the casting surface and preferably one or more spacers to create a gap between the tip and the casting surface itself. The spacer is preferably a screen of wire strands orientated to minimize disruption of the new layer of liquid parting agent applied to the casting surface.

Abstract: An adhesive composition constituted of a mixture of a one-part heat-curable adhesive and a substantially water-insoluble indicator material which is substantially unreactive with the components of the one-part heat-curable adhesive (i.e. curable resin, heat-activatable curing agent for the resin and accelerator) but which has the ability to produce a color change in the composition on curing of the adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive is a one-part heat-curable epoxy adhesive system. The use of the adhesive composition enables a visible detemination of the point of cure of the adhesive.

Abstract: A cast composite material is formed from about 5 to about 35 volume percent of particulate reinforcement, preferably silicon carbide particles, embedded in an aluminum alloy matrix having from about 8.5 to about 12.6, most preferably about 9.5 to about 11.0, weight percent silicon. The cast composite material is particularly well suited for use as a foundry alloy for remelting purposes. Other alloying elements may be added without interfering with the beneficial effects of the silicon.

Abstract: Alumina hydrate particles have a high surface area and low dispersity and may have a low soluble soda content. They may be made by milling a liquid suspension of alumina hydrate, subjecting the milled suspension to classification into coarse and fine fractions, recycling the coarse fraction to the mill and recycling the fine fraction to the classification stage. A narrow particle size distribution is obtained.

Abstract: A method for preparing a composite material comprises the steps of providing a first mixture of a molten aluminum-base matrix alloy having at least about 4 percent by weight magnesium, and a mass of discontinuous reinforcing particles that are not soluble in the molten matrix alloy, and mixing the first mixture to wet the matrix alloy to the particles and to distribute the particles throughout the volume of the molten matrix alloy. The first matrix alloy is diluted to reduce the magnesium content of the mixture to less than about 4 percent by weight magnesium, to produce a second mixture, and the second mixture is cast. The second mixture has at least about 5 volume percent particles, and preferably has about 5-25 volume percent particles.

Abstract: A cast composite material is formed from about 5 to about 35 volume percent of particulate reinforcement, preferably silicon carbide particles, embedded in an aluminum alloy matrix having from about 8.5 to about 12.6, most preferably about 9.5 to about 11.0, weight percent silicon. The cast composite material is particularly well suited for use as a foundry alloy for remelting purposes. Other alloying elements may be added without interfering with the beneficial effects of the silicon.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite material containing discontinuous particles in a metallic matrix is prepared by forming a mixture of the molten alloy and the particles in a closed reactor, removing oxygen from the interior of the reactor, statically pressurizing the interior of the reactor with nitrogen gas, mixing the mixture of the molten alloy and particles in the presence of the static nitrogen gas to wet the molten matrix to the particles, and evacuating the interior of the reactor in a stepwise manner. The nitrogen gas aids in wetting the metallic alloy to the particles by forming aluminum nitride at the particle-molten matrix interface, so that a lower contact angle of the alloy to the particle results. Oxygen that may be present in the sealed reactor is gettered by the aluminum, and the nitrogen is removed by stepwise evacuation, thereby minimizing the introduction of gas into, and retention of gas within, the melt.

Abstract: A component subjected to zonally differential thermal stress for engines, machinery or other devices, in particular a component for combustion engines. In these components, in order to arrange more favourably the stress variation as a function of temperature in the thermally highly stressed parts or regions, so that the adjoining colder regions do not reduce or hinder its expansion, in the material of the component, for example a piston of a combustion engine, in the neighbourhood of the zones of higher thermal loading, at least one closed hollow chamber is provided which is completely filled with a substance which has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the material of the component surrouding the chamber.

Abstract: Cylinder head for a combustion engine which has at least one web insert embedded in the cylinder head in the bridge region between the inlet and outlet valves. In order to prevent the occurrence of heat cracks at the root of the expansion joint receiving the web insert upon cooling of the cylinder head after its casting, the web insert has at least one opening, window or lateral cutout. Through this opening, window or cutout, the material of the cylinder head located on both sides of the web insert is directly connected together.

Abstract: Metal articles are shaped by contacting a metal blank with a diaphragm of plastically deformable metal which may be superplastic aluminium and urging the diaphragm against the blank and against a mould so that the diaphragm and body are deformed. The mould may be male or female. Thin metal articles of complex shape may be made easily and cheaply.